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Apple's new iPad is out, and the big question for us is how it might help teaching and learning in school. So to test it's metal, I'm writing this article on an iPad. Writing is first in line of the things students do most with their computers in school, so this should be a good test. But how about the other things at students need to do in a typical day? That's the real test. So we'll go back a few weeks to an article called A Day in the Life, and see how many of the things that Sally needed her computer for could be done with the iPad.

"If, like most people, you haven't "layered" since last winter and only "merge" at speeds of 60 mph and over, getting accustomed to the lingo and layout of Photoshop (Adobe Photoshop) can be daunting. These nine free resources are good places to learn how to lasso, dodge, burn, paint, filter or do whatever else you need to in order to accomplish your desired photo editing task. If we didn't mention your favorite Photoshop tutorial, add it in the comments below and let us know how it helped you in your design endeavors."

How could we possibly use these in Education? Hopefully, with a bit of help from some iPod savvy educational enthusiasts we will find out. So please feel free to add to the discussion.

Want the quick and dirty on Web 2.0 tools? Do you need help getting started with the Read/Write Web? The 5 answers these questions and features five main ideas educators should know about a variety of technology integration tools, focusing particularly on Web 2.0 resources.

"5 K-12 Technology Trends for 2010 A look at the top technology tools and trends to keep an eye on in the coming year * By Bridget McCrea * 12/10/09 With technology evolving at the speed of light, and everyone looking to benefit from the latest, greatest hardware and software, keeping up can be challenging for educators, administrators, and school districts themselves. To help, THE Journal spoke with a handful of technology experts and came up with a short list of top tech trends you'll want to watch in the new year. Here they are: "

"Feds release cyber safety booklet" A new booklet released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other government agencies helps parents and teachers steer kids safely through the online and mobile-phone worlds. The booklet, titled "Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online," was unveiled Dec. 15 at Jefferson Middle School in Washington, D.C., by FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski. At the middle school, which is known for its emphasis on science and technology, the officials met with students and teachers to discuss online safety.

"This space is designed to support the growth of connections within Missouri education. We represent over 500 different districts and thousands of schools and communities. The MEC is here to show you the power of collaboration. Join us in discussion, study, and sharing as we work together to help ensure our students' get what they deserve: the best we have to offer."

"with iPod Touches Keep students connected to your curriculum from home and back. If you use iPod Touches in your classroom and students have access to either an iPod Touch or an iPhone, here are some "Apps" that we have on the AUHSD iPod Touches that can help with continuity of learning. iTunes required to access the links. Use the "Sort" link to find Apps by discipline. Items labeled "z-Possible" are possibilities to add to the iPod Touch library once they are evaluated by teachers."

"More and more websites are coming online to give students the ability to unleash their creativity in new and innovative ways. From abstract art to pointillism, students now can click and draw their way into original works of art, and today's freebie gives you a great list of places to begin. The sites are labeled by grade level to help guide you to those that best suit your students. In addition, I've added ratings to give teachers and students an idea of how much interactivity is available at each site. Some allow students to create from beginning to end, while others simply generate the final product with minimal effort. What you will not find here are basic virtual coloring sheets. I tried to find sites that would give students a chance to generate their own original works of art. What could be better? I will warn you that some of these sites will drag you in to create for long periods of time. Don't worry, you'll just be channeling your inner artist. Have fun!"

" Technology adds to students' math comprehension Studies show how visual learning tools can help students understand abstract ideas"

"Only You Can Control Your Online Privacy * Kids are growing up in public -- and this is especially true when it comes to Facebook. * Everything they say or do adds up and affects their reputations. * You can help your kids protect their privacy by making sure they use their privacy settings. * Every time Facebook introduces new privacy controls, you'll need to update your settings."

"Video: The Amazing Youtube Choir Social media continues to amaze me. I believe a new online collaborative art form has emerged in which several people contribute to create a masterpiece. This virtual choir conducted by Eric Whitacre and produced by Scott Haines will show you what I mean by a collaborative masterpiece. Read the rest of the story of how this was created here. You may also want to see the collaborative video masterpiece my PLN has helped me create. This video was tweeted by @larryferlazzo."

"Create your own children's book. StoryJumper is a place to create and discover stories for kids. What's your story?™ Harold & HankThe Three Nails * * * * * * * * * Simple Not sure how to start? Our StoryStarter makes telling stories easy. We'll help you write a story in just 7 steps. Fast Use our art or your own drawings & photos to illustrate your story Fun Show the world that you're an author. Share stories online and order beautiful hardback books starting at only $24.95"

Donors Choose Donors Choose is an online charity, non-profit organization that makes it easy for everyone to help students in need. Teachers create classroom project requests, donors choose which projects to fund and receive photos and thank-you notes from students in return. Projects under $400 have the best chance of being funded, but larger requests are possible.

"26 Learning Games to Change the World by Jeff Cobb darfur-is-dyingThe 5th annual Games for Change Festival is coming up soon, and while I don't think it is in the Mission to Learn budget for me to attend, it seems like a good time to poke around and see what sorts of games might be out there that are geared towards teaching people something that will make a difference in the world. Fair warning, you could easily eat up a big chunk of your day following the links in this post. Buy hey, you'll be helping out the world a bit in the process. Here's what I found :"

"Learning new vocabulary can be quite daunting for most students. We just have to look at the literacy rates to see how much children struggle with vocabulary. Rote learning of vocabulary does not really work. Experience has taught me students remember what they use and explore. Students need to have fun, engage with the material, and explore how their new knowledge works. Vocabulary lists are boring, but word clouds can be quite engaging. Therefore, I am sharing my favorite ways to help your students begin to explore new vocabulary through various word cloud tools, tips, and resources."

"Help spread this important message: Show our military there are still plenty of people who appreciate their service and sacrifice. Pass this YouTube video link to every person you know so it will eventually reach every present and former military person across the globe! Love your freedom? Thank your military."

"There are new web 2.0 tools appearing every day. Although some of these tools were not originally meant for use in the classroom, they can be extremely effective learning tools for today's technology geared students and their venturesome teachers. Many of these teachers are searching for the latest products and technologies to help them find easier and efficient ways to create productive learning in their students. More and more teachers are using blogs, podcasts and wikis, as another approach to teaching. We have created a list of 100 tools we think will encourage interactivity and engagement, motivate and empower your students, and create differentiation in their learning process. "

"The links below are categorized to help you find Web 2.0 tools that might be of use to the K-12 classroom teacher. "

"Welcome to the wonderful world of Ziggity Zoom where you can play games, color pictures, read and listen to stories about many different characters, watch kids videos or explore Play Worlds and other activities. This site is designed for kids and their parents to encourage creativity, reading and to really let your imagination soar. Our mission is to encourage kids to learn, be creative, be active, and to help parents by providing worksheets, tools, and articles that promote positive values and healthy living."