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"Google Classroom is finally available to all Google Apps for Education teachers and students. The venture into the world of learning management systems seems to be a pretty solid one. First impressions: It looks and feels like a Google product and so is familiar to most. It's clean and simple (which should make it easy to use) It provides a home base for everything you do in Drive" The author then briefly explains 12 ways she would use some of the features in a classroom situation. They offer ideas worth considering.

ginstr integrate mobile applications and web applications into their operation for decreasing error, time and labor involved in filling out paper forms and entering them into a computer system. What ginstr apps brings direct: - paperwork replaced with digital forms - one-time data entry for immediate access of collected data - tailor-made custom app for your company's specific needs - seamless integration into your current system - secure data storage in ginstr cloud and more... Effects on your Business: - receive work reports in real time - send invoices promptly - ensure consistent process adherence - monitor employee performance in real time - create an audit trail on the fly - optimise workflow efficiency and employee productivity - attach GPS-coordinates, pictures, videos, voice notes,timestamps, and digital signatures to your forms - make the solution adapt to your business and more... Free trial available at http://www.ginstr.com/

There are two primary types of MAM systems: Software as a Service and on-premise. Learn more about the two types, and discover the benefits of each.

typeSmart is a web-site designed to teach you typing in their own innovative ways. With typeSmart, you will be assured to get immediate results. Now, they have gone to considerable lengths to set up an affiliate system that is both robust and fair...

"In case the quotes didn't clue you in, this post doesn't argue against massive open online courses (MOOCs) such as the ones offered by Udacity, Coursera, and edX. I think they are very worthy ventures and will serve to progress our system of higher education. I do however agree with some criticisms of these courses, and that there is room for much more progress."

Nice to know where we stand in the world

"March 13, 2012: Audacity 2.0 Released! The Audacity Team is elated to announce the release of Audacity 2.0 for Windows, Mac, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems."

High school, middle school and even elementary school students in a growing number of districts are being encouraged to bring in the very electronic equipment they were once admonished to leave at home. "There was a certain inevitability, as these devices became more common and cheaper, that at some point kids would be bringing them to school," explains Tim Wilson, chief technology officer for the ISD 279-Osseo Area Schools in Minnesota. "If something's coming, we might as well invite it in and learn to manage it." To hear Wilson and other tech directors tell it, these devices are more than welcome. Wilson's BYOD program is called Copernicus, after the astronomer who proved that the sun was at the center of the solar system. "This is our attempt to put students at the center of our technology integration," he says.

On the surface this is a story that emphasizes the need to check your back up system. But ultimately it's also a story about collaboration! team work and striving for perfection. Also a good read for tech historian geeks ;)

The Leap is a small iPod sized USB peripheral that creates a 3D interaction space of 8 cubic feet to precisely interact with and control software on your laptop or desktop computer. It's like being able to reach into the computer and pull out information as easily as reaching into a cookie jar. The Leap senses your individual hand and finger movements independently, as well as items like a pen. In fact, it's 200x more sensitive than existing touch-free products and technologies. It's the difference between sensing an arm swiping through the air and being able to create a precise digital signature with a fingertip or pen.

"Leap represents an entirely new way to interact with your computers. It's more accurate than a mouse, as reliable as a keyboard and more sensitive than a touchscreen.  For the first time, you can control a computer in three dimensions with your natural hand and finger movements. This isn't a game system that roughly maps your hand movements.  The Leap technology is 200 times more accurate than anything else on the market - at any price point. Just about the size of a flash drive, the Leap can distinguish your individual fingers and track your movements down to a 1/100th of a millimeter."

Create your own MMO experience using Storybricks, our intuitive story building system Produce deep, engaging stories of your own making simply by clicking together bricks. Watch your stories develop as you play and create new connections between bricks.

Today saw the launch of Microsoft's Office 365 cloud collaboration and communication suite that is specifically aimed at schools and universities, replacing Live@edu, which will remain available for 18 more months to give its customers time to migrate into the newer software, writes Juan Carlos Perez for IDG News.

Smartphones and tablet computers are radically transforming how we access our shared knowledge sources by keeping us constantly connected to near-infinite volumes of raw data and information. We enjoy unprecedented instant access to expertise, from informal cooking lessons on YouTube to online university courses. Every day people around the globe are absorbed in exciting new forms of learning, and yet traditional schools and university systems are still struggling to leverage the many opportunities for innovation in this area.

Computer technology has penetrated the classroom for thirty years with little impact. After hundreds of "disruptive" education startups, the best innovation in education is still the chalkboard. This isn't the fault of the entrepreneurs, but the fault of an education system which resists innovation at every turn.

Sumo Paint is a full featured photo editing / painting application, which works right in your favorite web browser! The application can be used in Windows, Macintosh or Linux operating systems. The only requirement is the Flash Player (which usually comes preinstalled in any OS).

"Spongelab Interactive is a group of scientists, teachers, animators, artists, and programmers passionate about science education. We believe that cutting-edge technology and stunning interactive media should be available to everyone, regardless of fiscal constraints. Most of the content on our site is free. Like what you see? It's yours. To use anything identified as premium (usually full games, interactives or case studies) you can: Redeem the credits you have earned while using our site - each piece of premium content is marked with a "P" and can be redeemed when you select it from the search results page Buy a bank of credits through our PayPal ordering system - In the My Profile area, order blocks of credits in the Buy Credits section. Purchase a Site License - Get access to all content, unlimited student seats, all for $600 CAD, contact us and we do the rest. "

"Gamification is simply the application of "game" mechanics to non-game entities. The big idea here is to encourage a desired behavior. In this way, "gamification" amounts to installing mechanics or systems that recognize and reward behavior. Through increased visibility of nuance, documentation of progress, and rewarding of seemingly minor (but critical) behaviors, a specific outcome can be achieved. Since it encourages internal motivation through an outwardly-created set of circumstances, gamification sits at the awkward intersection of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation."

"IconArchive is a professional tag based icon search engine with more than 330,000 icons for web developers, end users and graphic artists. Also it is an inspiration source for new design ideas and a place to enjoy beautiful icons. You can collect, organize & share your favorite icons here with ease. If you want to customize your desktop, you can download icons for all operating systems, Win, Mac & Linux. Website or Software developers with demand for custom icon design could search for professional icon artists here. This may result in freelance jobs and/or design help for projects of any size. On our icon artists page you can select artists offering custom icon design."