Time Toast

If you ever need to show a timeline or have your students create one, this tool is for you! It’s free and allows you quickly and easily create a timeline on a topic you teach. Try it out and let us know what you think! Meanwhile, check this one out on the Beatles!

Ted-Ed Announcement

We have previously posted in this blog about TED, the global nonprofit organization whose mission is “Ideas Worth Spreading". Their short videos are inspiring and informative.

On March 13 Ted announced TED-Ed. TED-Ed will launch with a dozen videos aimed at teachers and high school students. Chris Anderson, TED curator, stated that the goal is to eventually add one video per day. The first 12 TED-Ed videos can all be viewed on TED-Ed’s YouTube Channel. Perhaps you can find something useful for your class.

Taking a Poll...

A few of us went to an E-Learning conference last week and picked up some new cool *free* tools to share with you! In many of the ones I attended, they took polls to gauge the audience (“what education level are you representing?”), check for comprehension &/or relevance (“do you feel like you could use this tool in your class?”), or provide a quick mental break (“what is your favorite candy bar?”) At first, I was the girl in the back bumbling for my phone, trying to be the first one to text my answer and see it appear on the projector, but as it continued, I realized the benefit these would serve in many classrooms! The kids want to use their phones anyway, why not turn them into an engaging teaching tool? Maybe start your class with a question to assess whether they’ve read the assigned material? Or do one halfway through to see if they’re following you? It’s easy and fun, and might be just what you’re looking for to freshen up your next meeting, whether it’s online or face-to-face! Polls can be taken via email, text or even tweet and can be embedded into a PowerPoint, ANGEL, or a variety of other options. Check them out (flisti & polleverywhere are two I saw) and let us know if we can help!

Introducing Poll Everywhere from Poll Everwhere on Vimeo.

Join Us this Week!

Do you know how to MindMap? Come learn this intrepid technique for organizing research! Mindmapping 101, Thursday, March 15, 10 - 11am, in Andover.

There's more to life than YouTube! Come explore some of the BEST video repositories and leave with some fresh ideas to help you implement video clips in your course.
It's a Wrap, Thursday, March 15, 11 - Noon, in Andover.

Click here for workshop details. Let us know if you want to attend one or even both workshops. For reservations, contact Tara Canfield at 316.218.6376 or tcanfield@butlercc.edu

U-Socket

I just read about this device last night, although it won Best of Show at MacWorld back in 2010. The U-Socket replaces your regular electrical wall outlet with one that supplies 2 USB connections. This means you can charge your phone and iPod/Pad while still using the original electrical outlets.

You can buy one of these handy little devices in white or almond at FastMac for around $25. The video demonstrates how easy it is to install the U-Socket.

How will you Grade my Work?

I wanted to share a resource I started providing for my students this semester (see the table below). I did this initially to address QM Standards but have really been surprised at the positive student response.  In a general "How is it Going?" survey 85% of students mentioned in the additional comments question how much they like this tool. When I forgot to add it one week I received several emails asking for it.

Week 02 Assignments Point Structure

Assignment	Points
02 Discussion	10
02 Project 1 Reflection	20
02 Skype Address Dropbox	25
02 File Heirachy Jing	10

 

A Day in the Internet

What do you do online on a daily basis? This infographic, A Day in the Internet, provides a peak into what many people do. Some of the information provided is amazing. For instance, iPhone sales outpace the human race?!
I was also surprised also to see that Pinterest is closing in on Google+ and LinkedIn for the number of different visitors. Hope your find this interesting. After opening the link, click on the graphic to enlarge it.

Snapanda - Free Android Dictionary

I just read about Snapanda on David Andrade's blog, Educational Technology Guy. Snapanda is a free Android app that delivers definitions in, well, a snap. Just scan any typed word - online or paper - point to the word on the device's screen and Snapanda will find and display the definition. Share this one with your students. View the demo below to learn more.