York Ed Tech Council

Use this free tool created by an educator to create great objectives for differentiated instruction.

There are a lot of cool things about DataMasher: the available datasets, the community built around that data, the unique visualization tools, and the easy-to-use interface of the site. What is truly intriguing about the site is the way users take two different datasets and create visual hypotheses. For example, to visualize the Most Reproductive States (US), one user combined the number of US births witH population figures from the 2008 US Census.

Verifiable allows users to upload, mash and visualize data. Verifiable just launched earlier this year and has fewer publicly available data sets, but it does offer greater flexibility on how the data is styled and presented. Graphic designers will appreciate the ability to change and tweak the presentation and add details like custom labels and shading. Verifiable is free to use if you keep your charts public, but also has a inexpensive pricing plan for those who want to keep their work private.\n

Widgenie lets users upload data from a variety of sources such as Excel spreadsheets, CSV files or Google Spreadsheets and using a drag and drop interface to create custom charts and graphs. Once the data has been arranged and styled, it is presented as a widget that can be embedded in web sites and social networks. Widgenie also has a premium service that offers unlimited widgets and branding opportunities.

Socrata is an online space for data lovers to browse datasets as well as create new visualizations to share with others. The data itself can be visualized in a number of ways including, charts, maps, graphs and tables. The site has hundreds of datasets to choose from which can be mashed and downloaded into a variety of file formats including CSV, PDF and XML. \n

Swivel features more than 15,000 data sets for users to play with in various categories ranging from Economics to Health to Technology. From the data, users have created hundreds of thousands of graphs, charts and infographics, including the one below that visualizes the amount of rainfall in California since 1870. You can get started by copying and pasting your data or uploading an Excel spreadsheet or CSV file to the site. Once you've create your visualization, you can embed it anywhere on the web.\n

If you don't have the Kindle device, you can still enjoy any of these Kindle books on your Windows computer using the free Kindle for PC application. Amazon is also working on a Mac version of Kindle Desktop but until that happens, you can download the free Kindle app from iTunes store and read books on the move using your iPhone or iPod Touch.

New web application that allows users to compare and merge text documents online. You can upload different versions of the same text document and see what has been changed. It automatically color codes changes it finds between the different revisions of a document and provides user with an easy way to approve, reject, or set aside a change.

new social bookmarking service that provides you with an easy way to include visual clues in your bookmarks. You can include links, images, videos within your bookmarks. All of your bookmarks can be organized into folders which can then be shared publicly or privately. 2.5 min video explaining Toobla - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV3TKcm56f0

Livebrush is a drawing application. It employs an easy-to-use brush tool that reacts to your gesture. By combining simple motion controls with brush styles, Livebrush offers a fun and unique way to create graphics.

Free Online OCR service.

"In 1994, Dr. Christopher Moersch developed the Levels of Technology Implementation (LoTi) scale in an effort to accurately measure authentic classroom technology use. This scale focuses on the use of technology as an interactive learning medium because this particular component has the greatest and lasting impact on classroom pedagogy and is the most difficult to implement and assess. The challenge is not merely to use technology to achieve isolated tasks (e.g., word processing a research paper, creating a multimedia slide show, browsing the Internet), but rather to integrate technology in an exemplary manner that supports purposeful problem-solving, performance-based assessment practices, and experiential learning--all vital characteristics of the Target Technology level established by the CEO Forum on Education and Technology."

There's a "disconnect" between school administrators and parents. While more than half of America's school principal's said they think they're "doing a good job" preparing students for the 21st century, only a third of parents of middle school and high school students agreed, according to research released by Project Tomorrow and Blackboard.