Check out http://historytech.wordpress.com

Check out http://historytech.wordpress.com

Six Great Ways to Publish Student Work

We know that the world is moving online and that to prepare our kids for that world, we need to train them to use that world’s tools.

We know that publishing student work beyond the classroom encourages authentically engaged kids who create high-quality work.

We know that integration of writing and visuals increases cognitive activity

Publishing student projects online in visually stimulating formats is now easier than ever.

Get the drop on Dropbox.....

I love my Dropbox. 

'It save files on your home computer and open up and read them on your iPad or any internet connected computer. 

Don't miss out! For plenty of howtos and tips and hints:

The Complete Dropbox for Educators

Publish writing to iDevice Using Smashwords and Bluefire Reader.

Ebook By Kristin Fontichiaro

Publishing Student Writing to the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch Using Smashwords and Bluefire Reader 

"This short work describes how educators can gather student work into an eBook, quickly create cover art using PowerPoint, format it for uploading to Smashwords (including links to Smashwords Style Guide), upload it, and then invite students to download it to their iDevice via the free Bluefire Reader app. No cables, syncing, or iTunes required! " 


Read more about this eBook and download @ http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98070


It is available in a number of different formats.
Read this eBook online

  

Apps, apps, apps.....however, not all apps are educationally sound.....

There are so many lists and guides that offer us apps to use in school but what about their quality? In times gone by all resources that were included in a school library underwent evaluation by rigorous criteria before inclusion, or exclusion. Times have changed so much due to many factors including the influx of learning technologies, but we still owe it to our students to ensure that we offer them high quality apps. 



Visit Kathy's iPads in the Classroom site. 



Try this  CRITICAL EVALUATION OF AN IPAD/IPOD AP from  Kathleen Schrock (kathy@kathyschrock.net) to ensure what you offer your students meets high quality criteria. Thanks  


For those of you who tweet Kathy suggests if you are tweeting a URL of your site dedicated to the use of the iPad in support of teaching and learning, use the hashtag #edtablet 


Kathy has a tremendous range of weblinks available for anyone interested in learning about, or implementing a program into their classrooms or schools. Many thanks Kathy for all your collating. 

Time to understand Prezi, the presentation tool?

Here are some useful support resources for your teachers and students who are learning how to use prezi...

Prezi - Simply stunning presentations

Using Prezi in the Early Elementary Classroom

Stephanie Greer has been using Prezi in her classroom:

 1. Prezi for telling stories

2. Prezi for watching YouTube videos.

3. Prezi for simple assessments.

Step-by-Step Tutorial on Prezi Basics | Prezi Learn Center

The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness: Prezi Theme Wizard

YouTube - Prezi for iPad

Customize colors, fonts! - Prezi.com Blog

Academy: Inserting Animations in Prezi by Balázs Turai on Prezi

Prezi For The Win? Ten Top Tips To Make a Good One | thewikiman

Powerpoint --> Prezi by Kevin McAllister on Prezi

Quickly Learn Prezi | Prezi Learn Center

Showcase | Prezi.com

New Trier Library: Time to Learn Prezi

10 Tips to Help Master Prezi

17 Interesting Ways to Use Prezi in the Classroom

Official Videos from Prezi.com

PreziVideoChannel's Channel


Are you interested in using Prezi on your iPad? 

Play your favourite tune as you countdown!!!

Countdown timer  Select a song from the dropdown menu or upload an mp3

Struggle with Word 2010 no more.

A useful resource for Word 2010 -Free Word 2010 Videos

The Microsoft Press® Step by Step video series teaches Microsoft software and technologies visually, in an easy-to-follow visual format. Each video in the series is based on a specific book in the highly successful Step by Step print book series, and adds best practices, tips, tricks, and enhanced explanations and commentary.


There are 16 videos in the series at this point. Playlist 

Downloadable, Short, Free, and Australian. What more could you ask for?

The ABC Video Library is a new library of downloadable short video clips for teachers, students and parents. The current collections are in the learning areas of History and Science including environmental issues, post-war Indonesian history and the history of the conservation movement. ABC Video Library (BETA) Australian 

Teaching and Learning Resource Pilot

This website maps ABC content to the secondary science curriculum in NSW and the Australian curriculum. You can search for audio, video and online resources by subject, year and keyword. A useful resource for secondary science teachers.


                        EdPod

EdPod presents a mix of education stories, from early childhood to the end of secondary school. It's a jargon-free look at the experience of educators, researchers, parents and students.

Check out even more at ABC Learn

Reflection on My Digital Pedagogy by Steph

There is much to be gained from reflecting on this presentation.

Reflection on My Digital Pedagogy

View more presentations from S. Hendy

Works like magic!! Kerpoof.

                              

Kerpoof is a free website, owned and operated by the Walt Disney Co., that is all about “having fun, discovering things, and being creative.” 


Students can use the site to make artwork, cards, or even animated movies—and they can evaluate and analyse  the movies, stories, and drawings that other people have made. 


Kerpoof also gives educators the ability to register students and arrange them into classes. Students may chat with each other, post creations on a class message board (moderated by the teacher), and collaborate on a project in real time from different computers. 


You can register to receive their free eMail newsletter which offers lesson plans and other ideas for using the site in the classroom.  


There is a comprehensive Teachers' Guide 


Teacher Accounts - Kerpoof offers educators the ability to register students and arrange them into classes. Students may chat with each other, post creations on a class message board (moderated by you), and collaborate on a project in real-time from different computers.

Kerpoof's free teacher accounts give you access to a range of classroom administration tools.

Classroom Ideas  includes: 

Story Starter

Genre Writing

Reading Comprehension

       Social Studies/HSIE

       Biology/Science

       Math

There are introductory lessons which can be adapted to teach any class or audience how to use Kerpoof at  Learning to Use Kerpoof

Kerpoof for Parents

Did you miss RSCON3 the free online conference?

Free and online...Two great features of this type of Professional Learning.
It allows you to be able to participate without any financial concerns and allows you to take part in the comfort of your own home. No transport required. No lost time travelling....


If you missed out on hearing the presenters, the RSCON organisers have even made the recordings available for you to sit back and learn from. 
I would love to highly recommend that you take advantage of this terrific professional learning opportunity.


"RSCON3 took place from Friday, July 29 to Sunday, July 31*, 2011 and was our biggest yet global online conference for everyone concerned with education. With 80 presenters and 12 keynote speakers it was an absolutely incredible event! 


Organised by educators for educators, it was FREE but offered more valuable and inspiring Professional Development than money could buy! If you didn’t manage to attend you can catch up by viewing the Recordings"

Music Count Us In ......Register your school.

Is your school joining in the fun? 

Music. Count Us In is managed by Music. Play for Life, the Music Council of Australia's grassroots campaign to get more Australians making music: in schools, communities, everywhere. The campaign is run in partnership with the Australian Music Association and the Australian Society for Music Education.


"For decades, countless studies have found links between learning music and a broad range of positive impacts on children and adolescents." Check out the benefits of MUSIC. Listen to the three team songs.
The National Music Workshop Report recommended that steps be taken to elevate the status of music in schools, as a priority. Download the report.

Are you registered for 2011? Click here to register now

Visit the teaching resources page for plenty of supporting resources including lyrics and IWB Notebooks .








Download the Music Count Us In app by Greg Thwaites.

Learn how to make your own apps:

AppMaker - Make your own FREE Mobile Phone Apps

"Karl Fisch started the whole Did You Know? phenomenon 

His website:The Fischbowl: It's a Thirsty World

Karlfisch

• Previous videos in the Did You Know? series are available at the Shift Happens wiki.

"The Did You Know? (Shift Happens) videos have been seen by at least 40 million people online and perhaps that many again during face-to-face conferences, workshops, etc." Scott McLeod http://bigthink.com/ideas/39600


Are you one of those 40 million plus or have you yet to experience this thought provoking video?


Australian Version (using Brenman's graphics)

This week free on Learn Central.

Webinars that are

 public,

free, 

and interactive.

Learn Central.org is a social learning network for education

Are you interested in finding out more about *scoop.it*?

 Wed 10 Aug 08:00PM Sydney Wed 10 Aug 06:00AM New York  Wed 10 Aug 10:00AM GMT

Scoop.it allows users to create attractively laid out online magazines. In this session, Nellie Deutsch will discuss the use and potential of Scoop.it in education. Learn how to create a scoopit and why it is an increasingly popular topic centred media.   http://www.learncentral.org/event/168252


Here is an example of a scoop.it on visual literacy

ACTION RESEARCH IN EDUCATION (Host Your Own Webinar Series)
Wed 10 Aug 09:30PM New York / Thu 11 Aug 01:30AM GMT / Thu 11 Aug 11:30AM Sydney
Hery The. Topics covered in this presentation are: 1) What is action research? 2) How do teachers implement the action research? 3) What are the benefit of doing an action research?
http://www.learncentral.org/event/167412

RESPONDING TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ON YOUR CAMPUS: LEGAL ISSUES AND PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS (Host Your Own Webinar Series)
Thu 11 Aug 01:00PM New York / Thu 11 Aug 05:00PM GMT / Fri 12 Aug 03:00AM Sydney
Jana Colter. This webinar will provide an overview of the ADA and Section 504 and the still uncertain impact of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Everyone knows the law, but the devil is in the details regarding institutional obligations to meet the needs of student with physical and/or psychological disabilities on your campus.
http://www.learncentral.org/event/167392

ALAN BLANKSTEIN ON IMPROVING INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS (Future of Education Series)
Thu 11 Aug 08:00PM New York / Fri 12 Aug 12:00AM GMT / Fri 12 Aug 10:00AM Sydney
Steve Hargadon. Steve interviews Alan Blankstein on his latest book, The Answer Is in the Room: How Effective Schools Scale Up Student Success. Citing wisdom from top educational experts and building on what is already working, Blankstein offers tools for finding excellence in schools, scaling these practices across learning communities, and transforming low-performing schools into high-performing schools.
http://www.learncentral.org/event/168282

CLASSROOM 2.0 LIVE (Classroom 2.0 LIVE)
Sat 13 Aug 12:00PM New York / Sat 13 Aug 04:00PM GMT / Sun 14 Aug 02:00AM Sydney
Kim Caise, Lorna Costantini and Peggy George. Join this webinar to talk about technology tools and resources used in the classroom.
http://www.learncentral.org/event/168280

We hope you will consider hosting your own public webinars using the free LearnCentral public room--instructions are available by joining the "Host Your Own Webinar" group on the main announcement tab (http://www.learncentral.org/group/3432/host-your-own-webinars).

Do you use photoshop? Need some help with the features?

Try Photoshop Users TV Many tutorials to help support you and ensure you build your proficiency.

What a great library quiz!

ProProfs Quiz Maker

Dragon Library Rules and Procedures User s License » Create quiz software

I love the look and presentation of this software.

The w w w: 2 decades on

The WWW just turned 20.


 Happy birthday

Exactly 20 Years Ago, The World Logged Online For The First Time: Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary .... 

On August 6, 1991, Tim Berners-Lee posted the first website, and the world wide web became publicly available.
For more information on the early Internet and how it all works, check out What The Heck Is The Internet

Check out what the very first page of the internet looked like in 1992 (There were no screen shots taken before then.)

How has it changed life for you and your family in that time?

Thinglink has much to offer....

ENJOY PHOTOS MORE with Thinglink

Give photos new life with sound, voice, video, social, and other fun links.

Thinglink is easy to set up for all major web publishing and blogging platforms, including Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr andDrupal. 

Here is an example: