SCRATCH Jr

If you are familiar with the coding program SCRATCH...check out this free new app ScratchJr
especially for iPads. ScratchJr is an introductory programming language that enables young children
(ages 5-7) to create their own interactive stories and games.
It looks FUN!

Read more

and more here

Learn Launch

Learn/Launch is a helpful place to be in touch with the latest ideas from start-ups for use in classrooms. Many of these start-ups offer their apps for free to teachers, all they ask is for some feedback from your experience using it with your classes. 

Get in on the ground floor for a lot of cool educational apps!

Read more from their latest mailing 

Google Educator Groups

A great resource for educators...
Are you familiar with Google Educators Groups?

See below for more information below and to sign up for a group or even create your own.

Google for Education

"We are pleased to announce the launch of Google Educator Groups (GEG), a program supporting communities of educators who learn, share, and inspire each other to meet the needs of their students through technology solutions, both in the classroom and beyond. GEG empowers educators around the world to expand their social and professional networks, and gain skills to deliver the best possible education through open technology.

GEG takes place both online and offline, and provides a space for educators to build relationships, collaborate, and learn through Google+ communities and hangouts or in-person events and workshops. Whether you’re a teacher, professor, or principal, anyone is welcome to join GEG to learn. Each group is organized by a local volunteer (GEG leader) and is entirely independent from Google.

Interested in joining a GEG or starting a new one? Check out the WEBSITE at www.google.com/landing/geg to learn more, spread the word, and get involved. See you in GEG!"

Vi Hart on Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant

If you aren't already familiar with Vi Hart's creative and inspiring videos, you should be. Some of your students might just latch right on to her somewhat quirky approaches to math topics! She has posted hundreds of very quick paced, creative and thought provoking videos on all sorts of topics that show her love of math and art.

Post them onto your blog, webpage, or your Chalkup class platform so your students can watch them on their own time. (a tip - some of them need to watched more than once to "get it")
Vi Hart also has a blog that you and your students may find entertaining, inspiring and challenging.

If you have, share with us how you have used Vi Hart videos for your classes.

DIGICATION

Recently many colleges and universities are including E-Portfolios as a platform for students, teachers, alumni, etc. to showcase their work and ideas. Digication is one of these wonderful sites that many universities are using. High School students should take note as this sort of portfolio will be helpful to you as you apply to colleges...It will be quite impressive on your college applications if you set up your own e-portfolio of your HS work, internships, employment, volunteer work, etc. It also helps your future schools and employees see your experience, achievements and background.  Students and teachers can include artwork, writings, videos, coursework, collaborative work, research, etc. on a platform like Digication.

Some colleges now include this as a mandatory part of their graduation coursework. An e-portfolio program like Digication is actually an excellent way to present your work, your background, your creativity, your coursework to future employers/life opportunities. Many colleges also are now incorporating Common Core Standards and state teaching frameworks as part of an e-portfolio presentation. It creates a comprehensive package of your educational/life learning experiences that will impress anyone you present it to as you approach your life interests.
Check out this intro video from DIGICATION.

Wordle Tutorials

You've probably seen those Word Splashes on your screen within various presentations - these are made with a simple little program called Wordle. Just click on this link and it will bring you to the program you need to build these word splashes. You dont need to dowload anything to your computer for this, though you may like to Bookmark Wordle onto your computer for quicker access. Students and teachers alike can use this program in a variety of ways - key vocabulary words from Science class; words that a students feels describe themselves; names of characters from a book; math terms; Social Competency terms, etc.

The mechanics of using Wordle are quite easy. Once you open the program, just enter your list of words/names in the space provided. Just to experiment and see how it works, you may want to start off with a short list (8-10 words), however the bigger Word Splashes are sort of fun and can often turn into a type of "Word Search" for students.

Check out this VIDEO for more advanced work with Wordle - copying poems, using website URLs, changing  the layout, colors, font style, cutting out words, etc.

You can use your Snipping Tool to save your Wordle creation. A short little video to help you locate your Snipping Tool in Windows 8/8.1

A quick note - make sure that JAVA is uploaded to your computer at home and the school computers if you intend to have students create their own word arrangements.

Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts

A lot of folks are moving on to Windows 8, 8.1, and more than a bit perplexed by all of the features that it offers. Put in a search for "Windows 8 Tutorials" and you will find several videos that offer you more information about some of the variety of features that it now offers. This short video tutorial from CNET will help familiarize you to some shortcuts in working with Windows 8, 8.1.

Let me know if you find some good shortcuts and short informative and helpful videos on this!