Mentormob

Mentormob is a free Web 2.0 resource that allows users to create "learning playlists" for their students or even colleagues. Essentially you can create a slideshow that contains websites, uploaded files, online quizzes, or self written information pages.

As you create each new "step" containing one of the above, a you will be asked to add a description of what that step includes.  The steps can be edited, moved into a different "play" order, or deleted.

Once the list is complete, simply share the playlist with others with the shortned URL that was created by clicking the share button. As students move through the playlist, a progress meter is displayed at the top of the page letting them know how many "steps" of the playlist is left.

One of my favorite aspects, is the ability to create a quiz anywhere in the playlist.  The questions on the quiz can be multiple choice or true false.

Classroom Integration Ideas:

• Teachers can create playlists of websites they want students to use for that day or week in class. Especially useful for elementary grades since students only have to type in one URL of the playlist.
•  Use a mixture of web pages, photos, and written articles to focus a particular subject. Then evaluate their learning with a quiz inserted into the playlist.

Best of TCEA 2013

Each February, some of technology's best and the brightest gather in Austin for the annual Texas Computer Education Association's conference.  Over the new few weeks, I will discuss some of my favorite Apps and Web 2.0 sites from that conference.

Chirp is a free app that lets you share information from one device (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad) to another using sound.  Chirp 'sings' information, letting you share photos, links, notes after the user uploads that data into Chirp. Any device within the audio range that is using Chirp is able to retrieve the data.  There is no need to pair devices. 

Classroom Integration Ideas:
This could be an easy way for teachers to share presentations or web links to students without the students typing any any URLs.

 
Two Web 2.0 resources that are related but perform different tasks are KeepVid and Quitetube.
KeepVid allows you to easily download video from Youtube and save it for later use.
Ouiettube simply removes all distractions such as comments, side ads, etc.

Classroom Integration Ideas:
Great way for teachers to preview and save videos to use in class at a later date. 

Scribble Maps

Scribble Maps Pro  is a free web tool that is great for editing and drawing on top of Google maps. Unlike Google Earth Pro, this site does not require any additional downloads.
[There is also a standard version that doesn't require registration with less features that is an easy way to check out the basic features.]

A toolbar allows you to add to maps by drawing shapes, create place marks, and place text.

 Included in the drawing menu are the following features:

• Pen tool - for drawing straight or curved line segments
• Polygon pen tool - for drawing polygons
• Scribble tool - 'free form pen' for doodling
• Line Tool - for drawing straight lines segments only
• Connected line tool - for drawing connected lines (no individual segments)
• Draw shape tool (for drawing irregular shapes)
• Draw rectangles
• Draw Circles
• Place text
• Measurement tool (measures polygons, and lines)
• Markers (a variety of symbols available)
• Image - link images to the map 

You can also search for maps that have been created by other registered users.


Once maps are edited, they can be shared with an URL link, exported as an image or KML file.

Classroom Integration Ideas:

Use Scribble maps:

• in Language Arts class by inserting place markers with descriptions on the locations from stories that are read
• in Social Studies review geography lessons by having students tag locations being studied
• to chart a Flat Stanley or Travel Bug project

Trading Card Creator

Trading Card Creator is a free Web 2.0 site that allows students to create trading cards on a variety of subjects: people (both real and fictional), place (both fictional and real), physical object, event, or abstract concept. 

There is also a free iPad app (Trading Cards).   

Either version is very easy to use.  After naming and choosing the subject of your card, insert an image for the card, and fill in information specific to the subject chosen (in case of a person this includes background, major events, development, and memorable interactions).  Once the card is completed you have to option to print, save, or share (via email) your final product. 

Classroom Integration Ideas:

Students can create a set of trading cards about 

• historical figures
• characters from a novel
• places or events being studied in social studies classes
• scientific objects
• original character creations of a students own design 

The cards could be used  

• as introduction points to lessons
• study cards for tests

Free App Friday - TapQuiz Maps World Edition

This Friday's Free App is a great tool for social studies classes to master geography.  TapQuiz Maps World Edition allows users to learn the countries of the world as well as the fifty United States through a fun and engaging game.  From the main screen users can choose from the following regions:

• North America
• United States
• Canadian Provinces
• Latin America
• Europe
• Middle East
• Asia
• Africa
• Oceania

Each region has its own quiz. Once the the quiz begins, just tap the answer to each question on the map.

A timer and overall score is shown during and after the review game, challenging students kids to improve their previous scores.  In most regions, there are various sub-regions resulting in 22 overall geography quizzes.

Free App Friday - A Triple Feature

To help start off a new school year, today's Free App Friday will be a triple feature of useful apps.

Spelling City (a wonderful Web 2.0 site) now offers a free app version that gives users access to a list of over 40 thousand words.  There are separate activities such as Teach Me, Test Me, Match It, Word Unscramble, Hang Mouse, and Which Word. While registration isn't required to use, if you do register, you can then create custom lists for your students.

Applications for Education: 

• Use pre-created or custom word lists for students for spelling tests.
• Use Teach Me activity to have words or sentences read out loud to younger students.
• Use games such as Hang Mouse and Word Unscramble in learning centers.

Geometry Pad is an app students can use to learn geometry and understand key geometry concepts through practice. With Geometry Pad you can: move/resize geometric shapes and watch how its metrics are changing in real time, demonstrate theorems about incircles and excircles locations, and create and annotate complex geometric figures.

Applications for Education: 

• Create geometric shapes and measure all its possible metrics like length, angle, area, perimeter, intersections, distance between points, angles between lines.
• Demonstrate circle theorems by creating and changing inscribed and center angles.

K12 Periodic Table of the Elements is an app that lets you explore the elements and their key attributes in an easy-to-use manner.  Simply tap on the element and a display of the elements  name, symbol, atomic number, atomic mass, Lewis dots, and radius appear. Colors change in the table to show classification, melting point, boiling point, outermost orbital, radius, ion radius, electronegativity, and ionization energy. Temperatures are shown in Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit scales.


The table even includes the newly named elements Darmstadtium (110), Roentgenium (111), Copernicium (112), and Ununhexium (116).

Polls.io

Summer is over, so as you prepare for the new school year, here is a Web 2.0 resource that is perfect for student laptops or a personal student device.  

Polls.io is a free and simple site that allows you to create simple one questions polls in a matter of seconds. There is no registration required for the site. Simply go to Polls.io and type your poll question. You can enter up to eight answer choices for respondents to select from. 

A URL is given which you can then share with anyone you would like to participate in the poll. 

Classroom Integration Ideas:

• Use to poll students prior to introducing a new topic
• Take a poll during a class discussion 
• Use with faculty during a campus meeting or training