PSU Web 2.0

Kids create videos with this site.

I just tried this one and will have to see if it is blocked at school or not. I think it would be interesting to use with students if it isn't blocked. It presents a prompt for you to respond to. For example, I just responded to the prompt, "Describe when you have used something for a purpose other than its intended one." Even if it is blocked at school, I could still use it to get prompts for my students to blog about. Since I sometimes get creative block for coming up with prompts, this could be really helpful.

I think Blogger is a great tool for students and teachers to use. I love having a free spot to speak my mind and be able to connect with others in (and out) of education. I have a plan to start having my students blog about the books that they are reading as a way to document their reading towards our 25 book campaign.

EduGlogster is a great presentation tool. It helps you create online "posters" and allows for an easy way for students to make presentations. The nice thing about EduGlogster over Glogster is that it is teacher monitored, so inappropriate content will be limited. If you sign up soon, you can get 200 student accounts. Before too much longer it's going to be limited to 100.

Students can create posters for any subject.

Do you ever have a hard time getting notes to students who have missed class? Or, do you not trust them to get the right information from other students? You can either have students upload notes to this site, or you can upload your notes to let your students view them if they missed a class or to review before an exam. My students will enjoy this much more than trying to find a trustworthy friend to borrow notes from!

Have students create a book poster as part of a book report.

This website is a great way to make some quick and easy Math worksheets. You can make many different types of worksheets such as addition, multiplication and factorial worksheet. This is a great website to create some quick review worksheets over material that your students may be struggling with.

Use this site to create a slide show on the class web page of all the events that take place in the classroom and on field trips.

Picnik makes your photos unique with easy to use yet powerful editing tools. Tweak to your heart's content and get creative with effects, fonts, shapes, and frames. The regular service is free or you could upgrade for a fee. This could be a great tool for teaching a digital camera lesson. It is important to teach students about backing up work and pictures are no exception!

Type in the weekly spelling list for students to practice at school or at home.

This is a really easy tool that Teachers can use to keep track of the homework they assigned. You can type in the different subjects that you teach. Click on the date and enter the assignments and their due date! Parents can access the Teacher's calendar by typing in the Teachers ID. This is a great way for parents to keep up-to-date with their child's assignments!

This website takes regular photos and turns them into a piece of art. A normal photograph could be turned into an oil painting, a modern design (Andy Warhol, etc.), or you can even have a photo put on canvas. This isn't free, but it would be great to use for a photography club. It could also be used as an art lesson. A class could have a photo contest and the winner could get the photo made onto a canvas. The possibilities are endless. A great website (and tool) to know about!

Easy download to record audio on the computer. Could be used to make their own video for a book report or project.

Those of you that work in smaller districts and are in charge of several clubs or organizations can probably relate to making a multitude of "to-do-lists". Remember the milk is a way for you to create to-do-lists online that you can access anywhere and can even download the application to your iPhone!

This is an online notice board maker where you can post announcements, greetings, jokes; just about anything you would want to put on a Post It. I think this would be a great tool for students to use in a note taking assignment. This would be fun to collaborate multiple students' posts and try to combine them randomly to create a funny poem or short story.

On-line game for review of grammar skills.

The directions are easy: Upload your files from your desktop, edit and view your docs from any computer or smart phone. This is a great resource for teachers and students as the students can work on an assignment from their computer at home and the teacher can access it and see how they are doing.

I have used this for my 5th graders. We have our own web page, and I can put links and assignments on it for them to access. I actually have it set as the home page on all of the desktops in my classroom.

GradeFix is an online homework planner for students to use. They can keep track of homework, exams, papers, and even due dates. I think this would be an awesome resource for High School Students to use. One downside -- the cost of this site is $5/month, however, if they invite a friend it is free AND if they do some sort of graphic design for the site they can also get it for free -- so for those students that could use the extra push to be organized this would be a great site!

Lets you take pictures (your own or others) and makes them talk.

This is a bit like an avatar but it is more funny. Sometimes (If I can get lab time) I will let my kids do an "oral presentation" by using blaberize. There are lots of rules of course, but it is fun seeing them up on the smart board and the kids can get a little goofy with it.

Free video chat site. Would be great as an alternative to old fashioned pen pals!