A superb storyboarding site where users click and drag items onto the screen. A great tool for a class just being introduced to storyboarding.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/English
I love this site. This site provides a safe online space for children to upload their art, craft and design creations to share with the whole world. For teachers, it is a great place to find inspiration for your own class projects.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Art%2C+Craft+%26+Design
A superb series of radio programmes from the BBC and the British Museum about the history of humans told through 100 artefacts. The website has all the shows archived and lots more resources to help you retell the human story in your class.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/History
A good collection of flash-based Chemistry activities to use in your class. Activities are grouped by age. Click 'index' to see them all.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Science
This is a superb online recording tool where you can make a 30 second audio recoding at the touch of a button. Just share the short link to share your message. There are apps for mobile devices and a bookmarklet for quick access. It's a wonderful way to give homework/instructions and for students to ask questions when away from class.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Music%2C+Sound+%26+Podcasts
This is a nicely designed musical resource from the San Francisco Symphony. Explore music, instruments, how music is composed and more. The radio area has a good selection of classical tracks to listen to with your class.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Music%2C+Sound+%26+Podcasts
Science teachers will love this - a mystery of silk towers in the Amazon is finally solved. These structures went viral after someone posted and asked what they were on the Internet and now it has been discovered: a spider - although no one is really sure how.
It baffled entemologists. This whole topic is very cool because it is science but it is also social media and how the two have become inextricably intertwined. This is a great one to talk about in your science classes because there are so many ways you can go with it. So cool.
Welcome to your new Google smarthome - not smartphone - smarthome. They've bought a smart thermostat maker - I can imagine all kinds of cool things with Google Glasses, Droids, and other Google integrations with this. This interesting article covers many of the things Google has gone into besides their traditional search box/ advertising model and it tells you about the future of our world as a major giant positions for the Internet of Things which moves far beyond our screens into the air we breathe.
This will impact our schools beyond what we understand as our surroundings become smarter and able to be controlled remotely in ways we can't really understand today. These are trends I'll be discussing in my Intro to Computer Science classes.
"Google Inc announced plans to acquire smart thermostat maker Nest Labs Inc for US$3.2bil (RM10.54bil), signalling the Internet company's intention to expand into a broader array of devices and bringing valuable hardware design expertise in-house. "
As my classes pursue inventions during our genius hour each week, I keep coming back to the makezine website for fantastic ideas. Here is something inexpensive that beginners can do using coffee cans and the Aurdino - it does require some soldering so you might want to reserve that part for an adult unless you have older kids capable of it.
You can now plan a Mystery Skype by registering on Skype. They've got information on how to do it and a system to help you pair with classes your age. I'm all in this!
"While I did enjoy David Burgess' Teach Like a Pirate, and the hangout that she shared with us, I'll admit… it made me kind of sad. Not because of the content itself! But because of the hard memories it brought up. I used to teach creatively and encourage innovation in my classroom like that. When I graduated college, I was chock full of ideas and adored hands-on learning. But my communication skills was parents was very weak and my administrator was a frustrated man who decided his best way of control was micromanaging. It's a bit of a long story, but the end result is I was knocked down to stop being creative; to just follow the curriculum and to push worksheets. "
Wow. As I read this teacher from Dr. Lee Graham's class (they are in gamifi-ed with my students) I'm so touched by how the teacher helps us feel what is happening to TOO MANY TEACHERS. Too many teachers are being pushed down to teach the wrong way. Worksheet wonders and we wonder why no one loves to learn. This is sad and must change. I hope you'll comment.
Listen up: nothing is ever free! If you're gong to take a MOOC or other course, you have far less accountability and must have far more discipline. Maybe paying for college classes is more paying for someone to hold your feet to the fire. But the failure rate in these MOOCs is atrocious. If you look at the cost per passing student, it might just be back up there at the regular credit price.
Nothing, I repeat NOTHING is free and that ESPECIALLY includes education. Read this article and discuss. What do you think, what is the place for MOOCs? (If you write on your blog, please leave a link in the comments so others can see.)
Children (and most adults) love looking at themselves on a webcam and this flash based site lets you add over 70 filters and effects. Use the snapshot button to grab an image. There are lots of ways to use this tool in class. Use the mirror functions in maths for symmetry and compile a music video by adding a screencast tool.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Photos+%26+Images
Erin Klein has great ideas for redesigning the classroom. I'm interviewing her this week for my online show (to be posted soon) about aesthetically pleasing brain-friendly classrooms. Take a look.
Scientists confirm new element after atoms collide
New Element #115 has been announced but is not officially "approved" (which must happen before it is added to the official periodic table.)
Scientists "slammed calcium atoms into americium." Then, the element vanished quickly into a flash of radiation - but scientists could measure it. It has 115 protons at its center so that puts it at 115 on the table. This would be a great one for classes to discuss in chemistry. Neat topic.
This is a superb site for creating mobile browser apps online. The builder is quick and easy to use with lots of functions to include. You can continue to update and tweak your app. It's a great way for your class to begin making apps before they move on to full coding.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/ICT+%26+Web+Tools
I love this very real post that includes a term I've never heard before "door knob lesson plan" -- this is as real as it gets and is on an important topic for November.
"What am I most grateful for each day at school? My students. Classes are a sanctuary from the black funnel cloud, and let's face it, they are why I wanted to teach in the first place. Not for the paperwork. Not for the technology. Not for the budgets or schedules. Not for the data. For the kids."