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"Microsoft SkyDrive has been around for a while, but was recently given a fairly significant update. We took some time to talk to Microsoft about the new features and play with it all, so here's a breakdown of what you can expect. You'll need a Windows Live account to start making full use of SkyDrive. For those too lazy to read - there's 25gb of storage, web-based versions of popular Office apps; collaborative editing that doesn't require everyone to login; and an iPhone app you should probably avoid for now."

I have played with this a bit. It is quite good.

A fantastic, simple real-time document conferencing tool, Sync.in allows students to collaborate on the same piece of work at the same time without becoming confused about whose contributions are whose. The tool allows multiple users to edit the same document simultaneously, but marks each contributor's edit in a different colour and instantly reflects any changes on every contributor's computer screen, so the document updates for each user in real time. Brilliant for brainstorming, project planning or sharing group revision notes and text guides.

One of the common concerns we hear from K-12 users of Google Docs is the lack of clip art. This is understandable as most people are used to the large amount of clip art available in Microsoft Office programs. Well, that may be changing a little bit now. Today I was working in Google Documents (updating a Chrome help guide), when I noticed a new option for inserting something called "Stock photos". Basically if you go to insert an image as usual, you now have five options: Upload URL Google Image Search Picasa Web Albums Stock photos

"On the 18th January 2012, hundreds if not thousands of sites/online services are going offline in protest of SOPA. Underneath you can find a list of the more major websites which are said to be going offline (not all will be confirmed, but a majority will be). This will be updated as the intentions of other sites become clear."

Phil Brady's Blog post 60+ Fake and spoof websitesI've updated the pages on my site that deal with science spoofs, commercial fake sites  and social, political, historical, news, religious, travel and educational spoof and fake sites. I know from the feedback that I get that these sites are well used, so I have deleted the few that no longer work and I have added some more in. There are now a total of 61 sites split between the two pages. It's not a complete listing, and it's just my personal choice, but you might be interested in them. They're primarily designed as a teaching aid, but some of them are very amusing indeed, if you have that sort of a mind!

Cell Phones in the Classroom More and more students have access to cell phone technology. How do "we" (educators) embrace this technology, utilize its updated cellfoneart.jpgtechnology in the classroom as well as ensure the safety of our students? Below are a variety of websites, articles, slideshares (online powerpoints) and research - all discussing cell phone use in the classroom."

"Keep that status update to yourself. That's the advice teachers are being given as the education system grapples with the expanding use of social media by students. Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation has been conducting workshops with high school teachers in Algoma in recent months after the Ontario College of Teachers issued an advisory that teachers should keep their distance from students when it comes to Facebook, Twitter and other electronic communication."

With twitter it would be worth encouraging teachers wanting to use it with students to keep one that is private/professional pln related and create different accounts for their classrooms using alternative emails.

Tony Vincent offers an extensive amount of updated information on how to use all types of mobile devices for educational purposes.

It never fails-you're gathering materials for an upcoming class or presentation and all you can find is the pdf version of an important document. New and exciting items need to be added to your document but the pdf format doesn't really allow for that easily. Fortunately, there are several free options to get that pdf document into Microsoft Word format and then you can update your document. For the time being you can get AnyBizSoft's PDF to Word Converter by liking their Facebook Fan Page. Regularly $29.99 it's free for now.

Apple Configurator makes it easy for anyone to mass configure and deploy iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch in a school, business, or institution.

"A Teacher's Guide to Fair Use and Copyright"

It was updated in 2010 so should be fairly accurate.

"Five Characteristics of an Effective 21st-Century Educator"

Real time search

This is a great real time search engine. Google also alows you to search in real time.

game-based learning units for the everyday teacher