Mini-geekfest_Links_12-13-10

Next show: Monday, January 10, 2010
==**Here's the Elluminate recording link for tonight's session. We covered so much that you may want to watch it again and pause it along the way so you can go exploring. Feel free to share the recording and this wiki with others.**==

Link for wikispace page for all of tonight's links:
http://minigeekfest.wikispaces.com/Mini-geekfest_Links_12-13-10

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDlBOENkbG1nRmlaRzZSNG43NmdjU0E6MA#gid=0
 * Survey link for tonight's webinar: Whether you participate live or view the recording you may complete the survey and request a 1-hour professional development certificate.**

http://mguhlin.wikispaces.com/writings_thinkfinitydiigo How can we organize those? Use Diigo, the social bookmarking and annotation tool, to help organize your bookmarks, and then use the slides feature of Diigo to present the web pages to students, colleagues and friends. This article addresses how to accomplish this and responds to these key questions:
 * Blog post by Miguel Guhlin with a tutorial for using Diigo webslides to create a slideshow of Thinkfinity tools and resources.**
 * 1) What is Thinkfinity?
 * 2) How can you use Diigo to store your favorite bookmarks, annotations (highlights and comments) for Thinkfinity?
 * 3) How can you use the List and Slide features of Diigo to present Thinkfinity resources to others?
 * 4) How can you enhance your Diigo Slide with audio?

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 * Examples of a Diigo webslide show I created of photo tools and Diigo tutorials/resources:**

**We Dare You! Videos** (Science)  This list will grow as you send in videos. Keep checking this page for new ones. Email Vicki Cobb if you have questions and to tell her what you are working on. [] [] Teachers, collaborate directly with Vicki via videoconferencing. She will kickoff the program with a videoconference with your class. Kids can interact and ask questions as she explains the project, which is based on her book, [|//We Dare You! Hundreds of Fun Science Bets, Challenges, and Experiments You Can Do at Home//]. You can order books directly from the publisher at a 50% discount + shipping as long as your order is for at least ten books. The price of this large format, over 300 pages, hardcover is only $10.00.


 * Interactive Math Resources**

Cool Math for Kids (math games, math puzzles, math lessons) []

Nrich Math Enrichment site from UK-fantastic problem solving resources for teachers and students-all free) []

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 * Global Education Conference Elluminate Recordings** (over 350 presentations and 50+ keynote presentations from around the world)

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 * Technology Intgegration Matrix from the AZK12 Center**

What is the Arizona Technology Integration Matrix?
The Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) illustrates how teachers can use technology to enhance learning for K-12 students. The TIM incorporates five interdependent characteristics of meaningful learning environments: active, collaborative, constructive, authentic, and goal directed (Jonassen, Howland, Moore, & Marra, 2003). The TIM associates five levels of technology integration (i.e., entry, adoption, adaptation, infusion, and transformation) with each of the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments. Together, the five levels of technology integration and the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments create a matrix of 25 cells. Can download a PDF but if you use it online it is interactive with video resources.

[] 3x3Links enhances the **speed-dial** experience known from Opera, Chrome and the Firefox extension by allowing you to **take your start page with you**, organize it **your way** and to use high-speed **keyboard shortcuts**. As a bonus, it can store up to 729 links by using **folders**, display **website logos** instead of thumbnails, and performs really **fast** by using the new HTML5 LocalCache feature. Example shared by Adam Bellow (EduTecher) []
 * 3x3links**- Creates a start page for students to search safely on sites pre-selected by teacher--also great for teacher PD resources because you can organize them in folders)

[] General commercial search engines aren't designed for young learners. What may be the best search results for adults are often difficult for young users to understand. A handful of search engines for kids have been on the market for years, but most don’t do nearly enough to ensure that high-quality content written specifically for kids is easy to find. SweetSearch4Me searches only Web sites that our staff of research experts, librarians and teachers have evaluated and approved as high-quality content appropriate for young users. Only the best sites directed at elementary school students are included, and many of the results on the first page were created exclusively for kids. SweetSearch4Me was released in beta in late June 2010. We plan to spend the summer further evaluating and fine-tuning its results, and will formally release it in September 2010. "When students enter a search term into Sweet Search you know the results they are going to get have been vetted by an educator or librarian for their relativity and content. Sweet Search 4 Me is a search engine for early elementary students. Sweet Search 2 Day is a nifty site where kids can learn something new everyday. Sweet Search Biography has 1000+ bios of significant persons in history. And FindingDulcinea is a treasure trove of information for the classroom.
 * SweetSearch4Me** (yolink search enhancement on SweetSearch for Science Fair Project resources)
 * SweetSearch4Me** is a Search Engine Just for Me. Designed for safe searching for younger students--all sites are vetted by educators and librarians.

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 * Learning Beyond Walls: 21 Skype Resources by Shelly Terrell**

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 * Hyperlinked Bloom's Taxonomy with Tools** (specific tech tools identified for each level of Bloom's)

[] Get your people together, without actually getting them together. Just instantly share your screen so everybody's on the same page. No need for a plane, a projector or a sandwich platter. Just gather at **join.me**. So what is **join.me** exactly? It's an impromptu meeting space that happens wherever, whenever. It's getting a second or third pair of eyes on your presentation from across the hall or across the continent. It's sharing your screen instantly with anyone or everyone to get stuff done, quickly. It's **join.me**, the last two words in an invitation to collaborate, meet, train, demo or show-off.
 * Join.Me** (online tool for sharing your screen with others-free for both Mac and PC)

**free version

 * screen sharing
 * chat
 * file transfer
 * remote control

Fantastic compilation of tech tools for educators to encourage the use of technology following the TPACK model that integrates technology, pedagogy and content! =Techie Tech Tools for Educators = http://techie-tech-tools-4-educators.wikispaces.com/

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 * 100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom**

[] This map allows us to record on one world map locations within children's books. The intention is that the placemark shows the main location or the starting location in a book. For example, although Journey to Jo'burg is set in more than on location we have decided to place Johannesburg as the main location. Key Blue Placemarker - Picture Book Green Placemarker - Novel Red Placemarker - Short novel
 * World of Books** (have your students add to this map with the books they are reading)

[] The Free Learning Library contains the complete digital library of Teaching That Makes Sense. The Free Learning Library is proud to offer the complete digital library of Teaching That Matters to all its members for free. This special ECN Edition of the library, which includes links back to the ECN, is free to use in all schools and classrooms thanks to the generous donation of these materials by Steve Peha from Teaching That Makes Sense. Please click on the document link below to learn more about this new partnership between the EC Ning and Teaching That Makes Sense. Just one incredible example from Steve: A perfect introduction to reading response. Isn’t frustrating when you know your students can read but they seemingly have nothing to say about it? Are you tired of asking for plot summaries and answers to traditional comprehension questions? Would you rather your classroom was more like that book group you started ten years ago and have loved every minute of since? This resource provides a complete unit of study in reading response and an introduction to literary criticism in 16 thoughtfully-structured lessons (or at least they’ve always seemed thoughtfully-structured to the guy who developed them). It also includes a library of responses from readers of all ages on popular texts that you can use as models for book reviews, book talks, and journal entries.
 * Free Learning Library** (partnership with English Companion Ning and Steve Peha, Teaching that Makes Sense creator)
 * What Can You Say About a Book?** []
 * What Can You Say About a Book? (125 pages-PDF)**

[] There are 88 videos in 16 subcategories and 0 videos in this category. Even includes books about Christmas. Example-full video available that would provide lots of opportunity for students to discuss issues in the story: **Bluetoes the Christmas elf** is a wonderful story about an elf who does not fit in with the others; his only real friend is a penguin. On Christmas Eve, Bluetoes sneaks onto Santa's sleigh so that he can see his penguin friend home safely. Bluetoes goe ... s into to a house to keep warm while waiting for Santa. In this house there is a little boy and a little girl who are too poor to even have stockings, so Bluetoes takes of his socks, hangs them up as stockings and fills them with toys. Bluetoes is waiting outside for Santa in his bare feet, his toes turn blue and that it is why they call him Bluetoes.
 * WatchKnow free videos for Christmas**
 * Subcategories:** [|History of Christmas] | [|Teaching Concepts with Christmas] | [|Christmas Around the World] | [|Christmas as a Religious Holiday] | [|Christmas Music and Songs] | [|Movies and TV about Christmas] | [|Books about Christmas]

http://clifmims.wetpaint.com/page/Teacher+Toolbox+2 More than 3,000 teachers were recently informally surveyed about the Web 2.0 tools that they and their students most commonly used. This presentation will provide a hands-on introduction to these tools along with teacher-created and student-created examples. Strategies for implementation will be shared. Visit Digital Tools for Teachers' Toolboxes, Version 1 for even more tools, tutorials, examples, and resources.
 * Digital Tools for Teachers' Toolboxes**, Version 2.0

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/12/super-book-of-web-tools-for-educators.html In this book there are introductions to more than six dozen web tools for K-12 teachers. Additionally, you will find sections devoted to using Skype with students, ESL/ELL, blogging in elementary schools, social media for educators, teaching online, and using technology in alternative education settings.
 * The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators by Richard Byrne-Free Tech Tools for Teachers Blog**

Here's the list of contributors to //The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators//: [|George Couros], [|Patrick Larkin], [|Kelly Tenkely], [|Adam Bellow], [|Silvia Tolisano], [|Steven Anderson], [|Cory Plough], [|Beth Still], [|Larry Ferlazzo], [|Lee Kolbert], and [|Richard Byrne]. If you like what you read, please visit the contributors' blogs and let them know.

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 * TPACK Model**



=Kim's Shared Resources for Mini-Geek Fest-December 13th, 2010=

One Word
[|http://oneword.com] You are given 60 seconds to write about one particular word. Example: When I did this I ended up with the word "stamp". I wrote about a stamp used on a letter. For 60 seconds I typed (trying to make sense!) about stamps, asking if they were a thing of the past. When my time was up I was able to see what others had written about this as well. There website states the purpose is to "learn to flow". I found it thought-provoking and fun. :)

Where Children Sleep
[] An eye-opener for everyone. There are 13 pictures of children and where they sleep, covering a wide socioeconomic spectrum.

Saysit
[|http://www.says-it.com] Had to have one fun one in the list tonight! Says-It.com image makers allow you to create your own funny photos and graphics - simply type in some text and choose from a few simple options.

Dot Voting
[|http://www.dotvoting.org#vote5090021rewmlh1orqxg] A //quick// online voting tool.

Online Stopwatch
[|http://www.online-stopwatch.com] Nifty tool to use in your classroom, during professional development or at a staff meeting.

Jigsaw Planet
[] Jigsaw Planet was shared in our last show. This link is to an activity a Madison teacher created with Jigsaw, showing how it can be used in a language arts lesson. After viewing this example you may come up with some other ideas on you can use it in your own classroom.

Bonus links shared by participants in the webinar:
Make-A-Flake (requires Flash 6 plugin but gives you a link to download it)-Thanks to Len H.! http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/index.html

Elf Yourself-a really fun holiday site where you can create greetings and share the link with your friends! Great for both adults and kids! Really fun to do one for your "boss" Thanks to Bonnie Feather for sharing this! http://www.elfyourself.com/

TinyLetter-very easy site to use for creating newsletters. Thanks to Carl (aka @weemooseus) for sharing this! http://tinyletter.com/

Another great tip from Bonnie Feather (our local Scratch guru!!): If you like Kerpoof, think about moving up to Scratch: http://scratch.mit.edu And Carl (aka @weemooseus) shared: I am getting ready for nine weeks of Scratch, put my unit on Moodle (another guru for all of us!!)

Jenny Brandon shared: Let your kids check out http://www.activitytv.com/ Another great site for How-to videos for kids.

Carl (aka @weemooseus): http://interactivesciencedictionary.weebly.com/ to go along with the videos (shared by Carol to supplement the science videos on the above site by Vicki Cobb)