12 Tech Tools to Check Out

This blog post was shared with me and I had to pass it along.  The teacher author shares 12 web-based tools and resources, providing a brief description and snapshot of each.  The list includes several of my favorites (you’ve probably learned of them from my previous posts) but some new ones too.  Check it out!

Large scale ed tech initiatives to follow

The U.S. Dept of Education and the Federal Communications Commission have recently launched significant ed tech initiatives, highlighting a shift in their roles from funders to facilitators.   The FCC announced its Internet Essentials program which gives families of students who receive free school lunch access to broadband Internet service for $9.95 a month, before taxes.  I was even more pleased to read that Internet Essentials will also provide families with a voucher to purchase a computer for $149.99 as well as offer free digital literacy training.  So, the offer not only provides access but the tool to get access and the knowledge to use it wisely.  Let’s see if these opportunities are well used.

Arne Duncan launched the Digital Promise center, a congressionally authorized clearinghouse dedicated to identifying, supporting, and publicizing the most effective education technology innovations.  I found the site not terribly usable (in terms of design) but I did scroll through a couple of the ideas and discussions which seemed interesting enough.  The center is definitely one to watch.  To read an EdWeek article on these two initiatives, click here.

Coming soon: Another layer to the Internet

The beauty (and power) of the Internet as we know it is that it offers everyone and anyone the opportunity to express their “voice”.  The Internet has become a platform for our voices.  Now, with the latest innovation, SoundLink, the notion of “voice” will take a new dimension, that of being heard.   SoundLink, developed by entrepreneur Chris Andrews, is an application that allows anyone to take a link and lay their voice over it.  Users record themselves speaking about a web page and then combine the URL with that recording to create a single link: a soundlink. With one click, you can not only see the website but hear a person’s particular perspective about the site content.  Hmmm, interesting, right?

The article includes thoughts from David Weinberger, a senior researcher at the Berkman Center For Internet and Society at Harvard University, who highlights two essential thoughts:  1) listening takes longer than reading, and 2) personal connections will come into play – i.e. would you want to listen to Joe Shmoe’s SoundLink?  However, think about the implications for the classroom… wouldn’t it be neat for a student to visit a number of websites on a topic and analyze the content for authenticity, all the while recording their “thinking” process?  I’m very curious to see (and hear) how SoundLink works.  Yet another innovation that highlights the prevalence of multimedia in our lives… Read an article about the innovation here.

3D printing – making physical models out of virtual data

IAAK is pleased to announce 2BOT, the newest addition to our suite of educational technology products and programs. 2BOT offers ModelMaker, a 3D model maker that makes it easy to create physical models from virtual data. Check out these videos on ModelMaker for the classroom. There is also an interesting research paper from Cornell that describes how traditional models in education have been replaced with virtual simulations due to the logistical difficulties of creating actual models. However, due to the advance of rapid prototyping technology (like ModelMaker), creating models is now more accessible and flexible, offering more direct hands-on manipulation and learning.

For those of you who are already versed in 3D printing, you may like this latest 2BOT video about creating lithophane models in the classroom.

2BOT Lithophane Tutorial

Sophia – social teaching

A recent eSchoolNews article highlighted Sophia, a free website that takes Wikipedia to another dimension.  Sophia is a social teaching and learning platform that offers free academic content.  Anyone can register and create “learning packets”, essentially tutorials including a variety of multi-media components to teach a skill or concept.  Visitors can engage in a “Q&A” with the author (and others) around the content, serving as a supplemental source of instruction.

Sophia relies on a dual-review process whereby visitors can rate and review content for usability and appeal and “self-declared subject matter experts” can also rate and review content for accuracy.  When three reviewers have declared the content valid, the learning packet is deemed “academically sound.”  I know, I know, perhaps a little concerning in the K-12 realm but think about the teaching opportunities for emphasizing the concepts of author bias, credibility, purpose, etc.  There is also the option to create a private group (invite only) which would certainly ensure that students only have access to reliable information within the environment.

Recognizing that Sophia is only as good as its content and users, the “Sophia Score” is designed to drive quality activity in the environment by leveraging gaming and social networking appeal.

When you visit the well-designed site be sure to check out the “Sophia for Educators” page.  There, you’ll find great application ideas such as asking students to create learning packets to demonstrate their understanding or asking students to review certain learning packets to determine the accuracy and validity of the information.  Perhaps a new tool or resource for your classroom?

Cool resources

I stumbled across these interesting tools and thought I’d share. 

• Storybird:  a beautiful site with a beautiful purpose.  Storybird supports collaborative storytelling, inspired by art.  The site offers lovely and diverse artwork that serves as a springboard for a story.  You can invite a friend to join your story.  You can share your story with others.  There are also monthly challenges (April’s was ‘Beginnings’) to jumpstart creativity.  It also offers a venue for artists to showcase their work and watch it bloom into stories.  Free. 
• Pixton:  Who doesn’t love comics?  There’s a unique art to crafting a successful comic – achieving the right balance of visual and written expression.  You can explore that with Pixton.  Pixton is not just a comic creation tool but a robust online collaborative environment.  IWB-integrated and standards-based, Pixton offers a project bank with rubrics.  Teachers and students can review, comment, and rate comics.  Minimal fees based on your use.

Have fun!

Today’s hyperlinked journey

Here’s a scenario you’re probably very familiar with… I started reading an interesting eSchoolNews article on how technology helps students with learning disabilities in the classroom (of particular interest to me right now).  The article mentions how important it is for teachers to know what resources are available and how they can help students.  National Center for Technology Innovation’s (NCTI) TechMatrix resource is referenced.  So, I click on the hyperlink to check it out.  It’s a collection of searchable research articles, presentations, products, etc.  I stumble upon a presentation on “New Media Tools”, part of the Moving Forward with Technology series by Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd).  The first tool shared is called Hyperwords.  My interest is piqued.  So, of course, I click on the link to learn more.  Turns out it is an interesting tool that turns any word (in a web browser) into a hyperlink.  Simply select the word, right click, and a menu of options appear.  With an additional click, I can reference more information, images, video or translate text or obtain measurement conversions.  This embedded tool is available to students when needed as a scaffold to provide background or contextual information or make things visible.  Essentially, a layer of information lies beneath the text, waiting to be uncovered by the user when he/she needs it.  Cool, I just learned about a new tool!  I return to the presentation to see what’s next… 

An hour later, I force myself to return to my emails, feeling a mix of satisfaction and frustration.  I learned about new resources and tools but failed to finish reading the article in its entirety and didn’t make it through the whole presentation.  Ah, the reality of hyperlinks!