MCS Libraries

A blog on how to incorporate Twitter chat into socratic circles to increase student engagement and conversation.

ePals Corporation has unveiled new and enhanced tools and resources for students, teachers, and schools that encourage collaborative social learning. The upgrades include free self-directed, authentic student learning centers, new classroom management and Web 2.0 collaboration tools, and projects and resources that provide immediate support for teachers implementing the Common Core standards.

Bookshare, an online library of digital accessible books, is a literacy initiative for education and pleasure reading by Benetech, a nonprofit organization using technology to support humanity. Bookshare has released two new tools to help its members (U.S. students with qualified print disabilities and schools) organize and read ebooks. Web Reader will allow individual members to open and read books with a browser, without requiring them to download the book or use separate software. The Bookshelf will help members and sponsors organize reading, including K-12 textbooks and required reading assignments.

Advanced Academics has launched an app for iOS devices, giving students mobile access to the proprietary Robust Online Academic Delivery System (R.O.A.D.S.) learning management system. With the ROADS app, students enrolled in Advanced Academics online programs can access their grades, post to discussion boards, and get real-time assistance from teachers via an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

Mimio has announced MimioMobile, an app that enables teachers to connect student iPads with lessons displayed on the classroom's interactive whiteboard. The connection uses a Quick Response Code (QR), eliminating the need for educators to enter an IP address, port, or any additional information to connect the application to classroom computers or tablets.

The new Gaggle iPad app solves the problem of shared iPads in a classroom cart environment. Using the app, each student using the iPad logs into her own account, so sharing the tablet is easy and documents are kept safe and secure. Features include Gaggle email, an Assignment Drop Box, and the ability to digitally grade assignments and return them to students with the Mark it Up! pen.

Belkin has released an iPad app that combines the convenience of a document camera with the power of an interactive whiteboard. The Stage app enables educators to sketch and annotate over live videos or objects using the iPad camera. With a connection to a projector or second screen, iPad creations can be shared with an entire classroom.

Another creative tool that allows students to analyze a group of words. While it lacks the flashy pictures and clouds that Wordle can create, it has substance in creating lessons that can be used to really understand a word passage. VocabGrabber analyzes text and generates lists of the most useful vocabulary words then displays how those words are used in context. Copy text from a document and paste it into the box, and click Grab Vocabulary! VocabGrabber will automatically create a list of vocabulary from the text, which can be sorted, filtered, and saved. Click on any word in the cloud and a snapshot of the Visual Thesaurus map appears along with definitions for that word, and examples of the word in the text.

A creative tool put out by Image Chef. This is one tool in their suite of tools to be used for people who like to create. It allows for different shapes, colors, and fonts. It makes a real cool word cloud but may have limited use in the classroom. Items can be emailed and embedded in different social network forums. By pressing the more button you can save a jpeg. Larger images with higher resolutions are available for a price. Login or email does not appear to be required. Be sure to read terms of use of any usage outside of persona

This hidden gem from Stanford University doe not give the pretty effects of Wordle, but does give several awesome features that allow students to really analyze a word cloud. One unique feature allows words to be listed by how common or rare they are. Also allows for words to be listed in alphabetical order. Wordsift allows the user to click on words to view in an online visual thesaurus with dictionary, google images, and word sentence placement. It even allows the user to view words by subject area and cross curricular areas by unique color coding and definitions that relate to specific disciplines.

While it does not give the color,unique style, or layout variation of of Wordle, it does allow one to see frequency of words. It also allows a file to be uploaded or a URL address to be used. The word cloud creations can be saved as a PDF files or printed from a full screen print menu. No login or email is required and free use of the product is for nonprofit use listed under creative commons.

Much like Wordle, it creates word clouds out of any text that you paste into the text box. This application allows the word cloud to be customized by size, font, and color scheme. Word It Out also allows the user to ignore certain words and thus keeps them out of the word cloud. Can be used without a login, although the saving option requires an email. Can work around this option by right clicking to save as jpeg and/or screen print.

This application may be the most Wordle like and, in fact, operates much like Wordle. It creates final results that allow for font change, color change, and a randomized layout. It does not seem to provide the function on word frequency, important to older users. Save options are in jpeg format and there are print options. If you are used to Wordle this application may be an good alternative. It does not require email or log in.

Students create music online that can then be downloaded or used anywhere.

A site like Discovery Streaming and is great for finding educational videos for K-12.

One of the best sites I've seen for making stunning animated presentations.http://playfic.com/