YouTube video converter

If your district is like mine, you cannot access the wonderful digital content that is available for your students. It can get pretty annoying and time-consuming trying to find videos that are not originated in Youtube to use. Many of the online converters have been shut down (like Zamzar) or are blocked through the firewall.  Look no further!  I have found one that allows you to copy and paste the Youtube link and convert the file to a variety of formats (mov, avi, mp4, among others)  You then have an option to download.  Just upload into your Drive and you are ready to share your video with your students.

Voicethread

You want another great tool to collaborate online with your students?  Voicethread is your answer.  Students digital artifacts can be uploaded into the site.  A link is provided in which everyone can access the artifact.  Students and teachers can respond through a variety of different methods via voice or text and then uploaded along with the artifact.  The poster can go back and read or listen to the comments and edit accordingly.  Conversations in the cloud.  Wonderful tool!  

Primary Pad

Have you ever wondered what your students were thinking during the lesson?  Ever wondered if they are understanding what you are teaching them?  Primary pad allows for real-time collaboration with your students!  Essentially, primary pad is an online whiteboard which lets your students write questions and respond to instruction online.  Simply go to the website, click on Create Blog, and it generates a private whiteboard.  Your students simply type in the generated URL and you are collaborating in real-time!

Virtual Manipulatives

An app a day keeps the doctor away.  Isn't that how that saying goes?  No?  Oh well, here's one you will definitely enjoy!  We all know that using manipulatives for Math in your classroom  is important, right?  The problem is with tightening budgets and lack of supplies, it may be difficult to have enough for everyone to use.  To get around that issue, you need to look no further than the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives.     It provides Java-based activities for your students to manipulate from grades K-12 on any Math concept you teach!  Pretty cool, right!  Using this in conjunction to a lesson sounds like the perfect recipe for mastery of concepts.  Check it out today!  

Voki

What's better than a talking avatar?  Nothing, of course.  Voki allows students to create their very own talking avatars simply by typing what text you want it to say.  If you can type, you can create a voki.  Can't type?  No problem.  Voki also allows for you to text the words or speak using a microphone.  With a teacher account, students can access their account and share their vokis with the rest of the class.  By utilizing a private learning community in your classroom, they can post the link so everyone can see what they have created.  Want the students to learn about George Washington?  How about having your students research him and create a script of what they want the voki to say?  It's that simple.  Digital storytelling at its finest, in my humble opinion.

Kerpoof

Struggling to get your students to write?  Try this free app! Teachers can create a free account and add as many classes as they wish.  You can also create student logins that print out onto handy cards.  Kerpoof is fantastic because students can create a scene of their choice with a variety of characters.  They didn't finish?  No problem.  Kerpoof allows them to save their digital artifact on the site.  When they need to come back to finish, simply log in and start where they left off.  The best part?  Kerpoof allows your students to collaborate with each other on the site!  Can you say peer-collaboration?  There are a variety of literacy activities that students have access to including: Spell A Picture, Make a Movie, Make a Card, Make a Drawing, Make a Picture, and Tell a Story.  Check it out!

Popplet

I discovered this fantastic tool that is extremely useful for the classroom.  I love semantic maps, however I never know which one to give to my students.  Ever notice that it seems like whichever one you choose you could always use an extra box, or one of the boxes are in a bad spot on the page.  What if you could create your own semantic map and adapt it as you go?  That is what is so wonderful about this tool, Popplet.  As the neurons are firing and the brains are taking your students to different ideas, the boxes can be moved and repositioned on the page to accommodate the writing process.  Students can access the site by simply creating an account.  If you are a teacher, the account is completely free!  We love free, don't we? 

www.popplet.com

Introductory Post

Hello!

I am very excited to be on Blogger.  I welcome any feedback as I develop this blog.  I plan on writing a blog each day, posting a different Web 2.0 application that can be useful to the classroom.  I currently work for Detroit Public Schools as a Technology Teacher/Coach/Coordinator.  I wear many hats!  I am always looking for opportunities, so if you like what you see, please feel free to drop me a line! 

Sincerely,

Andy