Cool New Tools

Linktivity Presenter -
A Free screen annotation software that allows the user to write on any document, anytime anywhere.

This allows teachers to mark up a word document, do a math lesson or annotate a web page in class, using a mouse or tablet. The tool bar is easy to use (picture-upper right, and allows on screen notes- picture below, red marks). PC only. Link to Linktivity




iQuizmaker -
Make multiple choice quizzes for iPods. Free, easy and powerful. When you've made your quiz, it can be emailed out right from iQuizmaker. Science quizzes, vocabulary, Constitution quizzes all become a little cooler to practice for. No, you don't even need an iPod, it'll run on your computer alone. Mac only right now, PC coming. Link to iQuizmaker


Tuxpaint -
Another whiteboard software, with more of a primary feel, although plenty
powerful. Tuxpaint is an open source "paint" software that has many of the same
qualities that a good whiteboard software needs. It's Free, for Mac, PC or Linux.

Here's a look at the tool bar....very easy training curve,
I'd say about 15 minutes for most users.

Download Tux Paint

iReading +http://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.size.gif iWriting + iThinking + T/n = Lx3

iReading + iWriting + iThinking + T/n = L3

UCF's Sunlinks

This an amazing group of links about the idea of combining reading, writing and thinking
all into a learning model that is more powerful together than separately.

It's about using the tool that already is there, as foreseen by Dr Seuss...

And I said, "With my net I can get them I bet. I bet, with my net, I can get those Things yet!" --from Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

If you are looking for tools to integrate your projector into class wide activities,
this site is a gold mine!

A TINY SAMPLE of the tools include:

Fable Arcade and Activity Center	Games from the makers of Fablevision.
Thinking Fountain	Science related activities to make kids of all ages think.
ChessKids Academy	Learn to play chess. Puzzle of the day with answers. Links to other chess related sites and clubs.
KidsPsych	Thinking activities and games for ages 1-5 and 6-9.
Discovery School Brain Booster Archive	Hundreds of thinking activities arranged by category: lateral thinking, logic, number and math play, reasoning, spatial awareness and word and letter play.

and on the "viewing" link....

Visual Literacy and Picture Books	Links to many resources about picture books and how to begin to develop visual literacy with early learners.
Visual Literacy and the Internet	Students learn from what they see. How can we help them learn to be more critical viewers. A short module for teachers.
Online Visual Literacy Project	What is visual literacy? A look at the elements of all visuals.
Animation
Bembo's Zoo	Flash and non-flash version of the concept alphabet book. Highly creative. Both kids and adults will enjoy looking at these!
Fablevision: Fable Library and Reading Room	Fanciful books and stories to download and/or to read online. Also FableVison TV, where you control the channels!
Kids' Animated Alphabet	Each letter is animated . A is for Ant, B is for Bird, etc.

Good job, UCF, worldclass, any comments? Ideas? Favorites?

New stuff, just for Madera COE

Here's the latest in cool projector links:

How about watching a poet's recorded keystrokes in real time?
See the entire process, including revision @ Quickmuse

New low price leader in wiring and goodies!
Thanks to CTAP workshop alum Larry Rego from Hilmar
for this hot link! Cheap cables abound... Monoprice.com



And, for the librarian types (and more) the fabulous
International Children's Digital Library hundreds of books
all for free and ideally formatted for shared reading from
a digital projector.

And Thinkport, a website that is developed to encourage
learning via gameplay. Amazingly enough, developed by the
state of Maryland.

And just for fun, Linerider. Imagine kids designing tracks that
illustrate and label all of the principals of Newtonian physics,
demonstaring them instead of just memorizing.

Ok Merced County!

Let's hear some thoughts about the "big idea"!

Have some new twists?

Have some hang ups?

Please comment and collaborate - welcome to web 2.0.

Gliffy Draw and Share Diagrams on the Web

Here's a great new tool that's totally free.
Throw out the transparencies and the Expo pens.



You can have all your favorite graphic organizers at your fingertips. Copy your old favorites (Venn Diagrams) and have them anywhere, anytime.











Gliffy allows you to print and "save as" in several common formats.




Gliffy even has an embedded image search function, very cool, not to mention fast.

• 

But one of the best features Gliffy has is the ability to have your diagrams shared on the web, imagine that in the computer lab, and people can work on their diagrams collaboratively, no scissors or glue.


Give it a try, it's way easier than those commercial diagrammers that cost a lot more and you don't even have to install it because it's web based.

I'll be looking for people to share examples.

Training Recap

Here's a quick recap of some of the ideas presented dring the
CTAP7 Squad's training session, please comment on favorites
or ideas you've got, whether it's building on what we shared or it's
something totally new. We were gratified to see how you all
understood the potential of Bluetooth tablets, and the GTCO
CalComp School Pad product that you were supplied.

Carol:
• Using Power Point as an interactive tool, not necessarily
as a "show"
• Using chart and table features in Powerpoint to allow kids
to do sorting activities
• On Windows machines, using the video screen capture in
the Interwrite Software to save lectures for review and
podcasting
• Sharing her 5th graders initial video projects, made without
cameras, just recompiling still pictures and adding narration
• Using the Bluetooth slate to free your self from your desk and
interact with your computer from anywhere in class
• The awesome Brain Pop interface

Jon:
• Cabling options - use vga and svideo whenever possible
• Turn on subtitles when watching movies
• Download free video @ Google.com (pick iPod format for mp4s)
or Archive.org
• The Epson 82c requires a 3.5 mini male x 3.5 mini male for sound
when using vga video, sample:
https://www.cablesforless.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=14811
• Download 8pARTS
http://www.ctap7.org/docs/8parts%20form.pdf
• Download Sentence pARTS -
http://www.ctap7.org/docs/sentence%20pARTS.pdf
(.doc files upon request)
• Download Cable Camp -
http://www.ctap7.org/docs/cable%20camp.pdf
• Use iTunes as your free media library - audio and video

Brian:
• Find and use your local County's Portal
• Download The Student of Today in pdf format -
http://www.ctap7.org/docs/Today's%20students.pdf
• Visit Brian's excellent podcasting page
http://ctap7podcasting.blogspot.com/
• Use your iPod as a DVR to house all your favorite clips
• Watch and control your clips with an iPod dock and remote -
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=281709
Shop around for the best prices
• Math Activities: http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

Share with the group

Click on "comments" below to share your early successes,
whether they are grand or just cool. Check out the dialogue
from Carol and The Renegade, lots of good discussion, ideas
and tips!

Share what you want, specific teaching techniques
are just as welcome as good stories or you can comment
on the technologies you are using or planning to use.