What it is: Want to see something really super cool? You can create your very own app for multiple mobile platforms in, I don't know, 7 minutes flat! Seriously. Conduit Mobile makes it incredibly easy to create your own app out of a blog, class website, wiki, etc. and publish it to share with others. It honestly could not be easier. Type in the URL you want turned into an app. Click go. Customize and tweak to your hearts desire and publish. That. Is. It. Holy cow it is easy! You all are going to look like super geniuses when you turn your classroom blogs/wikis/websites into mobile apps that parents and students can access easily from anywhere. Better yet- turn your school website into a mobile app and then you will be super genius of the school. That is an impressive title. Once your app is published, you have the ability to send push notifications to your app users (field trip reminders anyone?). You can also easily track the analytics of who is using your app.
Embedit.In (part of Box.net) is a nifty online tool to convert most file formats to embeddable code for wikis, websites, blogs and more. Once embedded, you can write on them with an onscreen pen or highlight. When you upload the document and push 'embed', it provides a code to be copied and shows what the file will look like when it's embedded.
I have 5th graders use it to embed their projects into their wiki pages. I teach them how to save MS Office files to pdfs (through the 'save as' button) and then convert the file to an embeddable format for their digital portfolios.
Here's all you do:
Log in using your Google, Twitter, Open ID, Yahoo, WordPress or AOL identity. I like that. One less log-in to remember.
Upload the file
Wait a moment while it processes and copy the embed code to the clipboard
Paste the html code into the widget or embed code (or the html format for blogs) button and save.
This online communication tool requires no log-in or password for students, but you may choose to set up a class account to collect student projects. With Voki, students create a person, animal, fantasy character or any number of selections from the gallery, add audio via mic, text or call-in, a background from Voki's selections or one uploaded by the student (say, one that corresponds to a story being read in class), and whatever bling makes this Voki unique to the student. Once the Voki avatar is completed, it can be added to blogs, wikis, websites via a static image or an embed to keep it's interactive characteristics.
The website also offers lesson plans to spark your imagination. Here are some I've used:
have a Voki be a character in a book to discuss the story. Each student can create a Voki until all characters are covered. Then, add them to an online class page on that book.
have a Voki introduce the student's web page or blog.
have the Voki reinforce a unit on online privacy
MentorMob is a site for creating learning playlists. Within a maximum of 10 "steps" you can lead your students through the learning process focused on any topic. Since playlists can include links to websites, to files you've created or to pop quizzes you'll have a variety of media at your disposal to support student learning.
At the MentorMob site, create an account then browse the learning playlists already created by other educators. You'll find that some authors have shared their work publicly so that others can save their playlists and be able to edit them. While you're exploring the MentorMob website, be sure to also check the MentorMob blog where one of our recently created playlists is currently being featured.
Creating your own learning playlist couldn't be simpler. Begin with some basic information: a title, description, category and tags. Next, you'll decide who will be able to view and edit your playlist - these can be changed later if you'd like to start by keeping your work private while it's in development. The plus sign that you find next will help you create the first step which can be a web link, a file or a pop quiz. Keep in mind that the links could lead your students to anything on the web such as videos, online polling tools, Google forms, interactive sites, or articles. Enter a title and description for each step you create as well as a representative image. Save your work and you're ready to create a new step.
"Take a picture or make a short video of what you see on your computer monitor.
Picture/Video
Share it instantly via web, email, IM, Twitter or your blog.
Picture/Video
Simple and free, Jing is the perfect way to enhance your fast-paced online conversations."
Transform your doc, pdf, word, movie in an interactive flipbook. It's very easy: upload your file and you will receive an email with the url to your creation. You can share this with your friend, family... by email, on your blog, on facebook or twitter
Videoscribe is an IOS app that lets you or your students create presentations that look as though they are being hand-drawn right in front of you. You've probably seen this style of animation recently, (like this from Sir Ken Robinson) they've become quite popular.