[TIPS] another great pumpkin carving site

http://tinyurl.com/wg2jr

 

I almost forgot about this one. ANother truly amazing collection of pumpkin carvings.

[TIPS] Halloween sites 2 C

BOO!

 

Oh... sorry. Didn't really mean to scare you. :-) But hey.. 'tis the season, no?

 

Speaking of the season, this tip is a reminder about an oldie but a goodie for Halloween clipart. http://www.halloween-clipart.com has to be the BEST clipart site for this kind of stuff EVER. Great little animations, backgrounds, signs... much more. When viewing them, but sure to notice the Next button under the table containing the images or you'll miss most of them.

 

Then there's this site: http://www.villafanestudios.com/pumpkins.htm  I've sent out sites before that had great pumpkin carvings, but I think this one tops them all. Amazing! What talented people there are in the world.

 

- - - http://k12onlineconference.org/ update - - -

Today's topics include: "Not Just for Kids: Using Social Software to Create Community among Teachers and Provide Sustained Professional Development",
"Its a Small World After All!", "No Teacher Left Behind - The Urgency Of Web 2.0?, "Glow: Lighting Up Learning in Scotland"

 

If you haven't yet watched any of these presentations then you're in for a treat. For the most part they are VERY well done and they give practical advice and tips.

 

 

 

[TIPS] Back to school with WEb 2.0- - Part 3

http://www.solutionwatch.com/519/back-to-school-with-the-class-of-web-20-part-3/

 

This is the third in the series of "don't-miss" articles about how the new web 2.0 tools are impacting - or COULD BE impacting - our schools. If you missed the previous two parts, the links to those are along the right side.

 

Consider this professional development and read all three parts.

 

- - k12OnlineConference Update - - -

The two threads this week are "Professional Development" and "Overcoming Obstacles". Check out this week's offereings at http://k12onlineconference.org

 

[TIPS] more k12onlineconference sessions today

I was under the mistaken impression that there were no more new sessions today. Turns out that there are, and there are some more good titles. Basic/Advanced Training - “Wiki While You Work (Basic)”, “Globally Literate”, “Hardy’s Wessex:
video editing and learning online”, and “Moodling Around: A Virtual Tour (Basic)”. YES!!! One on Moodle!!

Check 'em out

[TIPS] CamStudio - Desktop Screen Recorder

http://sourceforge.net/projects/camstudio/

http://sourceforge.net/projects/camstudio/

"CamStudio records activity from your screen and audio from a microphone
into AVI video files and can also convert the AVIs into Streaming Flash
videos (SWFs) using its built-in SWF Producer."

Did you see the SourceForge name in the URL? That means Open Source.
Free. Gotta love that, eh?

- - - K12 update - - -
Have you been catching any of the k12online conference? More coming next
week. If you missed the presentations don't worry. They'll be archived
for you to watch later on. Is that a great idea, or what?

[TIPS] What happened on YOUR birthday?

Here's a fun thing to get started with your students. Get a list of their birthdays. On the given day send that student to a computer in the library and have him or her visit this site: http://www.paulsadowski.org/BirthDay.asp. (Thanks Barry) There they will enter the date of their birthday and get back all sorts of things that happened on that day. Try it yourself - unless you don't want to be reminded that Eisenhour was President, that is. :-)

- - - k12 update - -
On the agenda today:
“Listening to the voices: student empowerment through collaborative learning projects beyond the school walls”, "RSS for Educators (Advanced)", "Getting to Know FLickr", and this one with the great title, "iPods- iSpeak- iSing- iListen- iLearn”

If you do the RSS one, don't forget to watch the 4 part series from yesterday. ;-)

http://k12onlineconference.org

bits n Bytes online

The latest issue of Bits n Bytes, the newsletter for Tech Services of the CAIU, is now online. I encourage you to check it out. The article on Internet2 is especially good, I think. And then there's my column, of course. :-)

 

http://www.caiu.org/43833812384423/lib/43833812384423/_files/Oct_06PQ-issue.pdf

 

[TIPS] 180 Tech Tips - and the K12Online Conference

http://www.180techtips.com/1.htm

 

That link is to a page that was created by one of PA's Keystones teachers. A tip a day, all archived and easily accessible. Check it out. He did an excellent job, and the tips are easy to follow.

 

- - k12onlineconference.org update - -

I hope you had a chance to view the presentation yesterday on using a wiki with first graders. Catch her excitement and enthusiasm. Don't forget, wikispaces.com is still giving away free wikis to educators. You should grab one now before too many other teachers catch on to this wiki idea and the free wikis are gone.

 

What's on today's agenda? "RSS - A Four Part Series" (by some guys you might know), "Publish Your Podcast in Less Than 5 Minutes using Taking It Global.", "Two Way Teaching: An Overview of the Read/Write Web in Education", and "Second Nature - Extending Dialogue in the Blogosphere."

 

Remember, all these sessions are archived and be accessed long after this conference is over. http://k12onlineconference.org/

 

Oh... a word to the wise... the file sizes on those movies on RSS are large so be patient as they download. And don't even bother if you're on dialup. I think they may get modified for dialup users sometime soon, though. Don't you think, Kurt? ;-)

[TIPS] Using a Wiki in your classroom

I've been talking about wikis for ... a long time.. but I don't hear of many/any teachers in the area who are using them. Perhaps the reason is that they don't feel comfortable enough with the process of wiki'ing (look THAT one up in your Funk and Wagnall!).  Well, this may be just what you need in order to get you started.

http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=38

 

This is one of the four presentations from yesterday's k12onlineconference in which Vicki Davis tells how she uses a wiki (a Free wiki from wikispaces) with her classes. Give this a listen and see if it doesn't get you interested in starting one of your own. I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed in the results.

 

Today's agenda includes the following topics: "Blog if You Love Learning", "Who's Teaching Who? Are We Ready?", "Using Web 2.0 Tools in a Grade One Classroom", "All About Internet Audio" (advanced level), and "TIGed Basics: A Beginners Guide to Social Networking in the Classroom." I encourage you to check them out. Some are very good. Others... aren't. Visit http://k12onlineconference.org/ to get started.

[TIPS] k12onlineconference starts today

A reminder that the k12 Online Conference begins today at 8:00 AM. Today's topics include two in the category of, "A Week in the Classroom", and two training sessions. I'm especially looking forward to the one entitled, "I didn't know you could Could Do THAT With Free Web Tools." The home page is here: http://k12onlineconference.org/. Why not check it out and then check out the wiki here: http://k12online06.wikispaces.com/

 

- - - Never too late to sign up - - -

Just an FYI... if someone mentions that they didn't sign up for the new tips list, it's never too late. They can do so at any time. I'm just not going to be reminding you any more. :-)

 

[TIPS] - web 2.0 for school - part 2

http://www.solutionwatch.com/515/back-to-school-with-the-class-of-web-20-part-2/

This is part 2 of the series from yesterday. Very cool tools.

 

- - - last reminder - - -

This is the last reminder. After today you may still sign up, it's just that I won't be telling you how in these messages.

 

Send an email to: listserv@mailinglist.caiu.org

 

In the BODY of the email, type:

 

subscribe tips firstname lastname

 

EX:

subscribe tips James Gates

 

That's all. No more. no less. If you subscribe to my blog then you don't have to do anything. (I met two subscribers at yesterday's conference. Hi!)  :-)

 

Oh, and I don't think the emails will be coming from me. I think

[TIPS] - web 2.0 for school

http://www.solutionwatch.com/512/back-to-school-with-the-class-of-web-20-part-1/

Want to see what this web 2.0 stuff can do for your classroom? Check out
part 1 of this two part series. Part two tomorrow. How can you not love
this stuff?

I heard that! WHO SAID, "WE'RE NOT ALL GEEKS LIKE YOU?" :-)

(I'm sending this from home Wednesday night since I'm out all day
Thursday and can't do the usual delay from home.)

- - - one more day of reminders - - -
Tomorrow is the last day when I'll be sending these tips out via
groupwise. After that, if you want to get the tips you'll either have to
subscribe to my blog (http://tipline.blogspot.com) or SEND AN EMAIL to
listserv@mailinglist.caiu.org. It doesn't matter what the subject says,
but the body must say:

subscribe tips firstname lastname

Example: subscribe tips James Gates

[TIPS] - PDF Pad

http://www.pdfpad.com/
- - - snip - - -
What is PDF Pad?

PDF Pad is a comprehensive online destination where you can download and print the high quality documents you need for work, school and play, free of charge or registration hassles.
- - - snip - - -

You can print calendars, flags, graph paper, staff paper, storyboards, and sudoku puzzles.

 

------

Reminder: After Friday the only way to receive these tips is by either following the blog (http://tipline.blogspot.com/) or by being subscribed to the official tiplist. To subscribe, send an EMAIL to:
listserv@mailinglist.caiu.org

and put: subscribe tips firstname lastname in the  body.

Example:
Subscribe tips James Gates

When you receive the confirmation email, you must click the link it provides in order to complete the process.

[TIPS] - Free English teaching materials for ESL

http://www.eslgold.com/

 

If you teach the ESL kids then this is a MUST-SEE site. (I wish I could remember where I found it. Did one of you send it to me?) Tons of resources, from audio files to help with listening, speaking, reading, and more. It truly is GOLD!

 

- - - K12 Online Conference Kickoff - - -

Last night was the Elluminate broadcast of David Warlick's introduction to the K12Online Conference (http://k12onlineconference.org/). I think I saw almost 50 people there, but I had to leave early. The actual conference workshops will be made available beginning next week. Remember, all workshops are online, and asynchronous. They are being made available beginning at 8:00 AM EDT on the days listed here: http://k12onlineconference.org/docs/k12online06-agenda.html. Our presentation (Kurt P and myself) will be made available on the 25th. "RSS- A Four Part Series." I do hope you'll check it out. It just may change the way you collect and share resources and news.

 

- - - mailinglist update - - -

Reminder - Friday is the last day for this list to be distributed via my regular groupwise account. Instead, it will be sent out via an automated mailing list. If you don't subscribe to it then you won't receive the tips - unless you're subscribing to the tipline blog, of course.

 

To subscribe to the list, send an email to: listserv@mailinglist.caiu.org

 

In the body of the email, type:

 

subscribe tips firstname lastname

 

Example:

 

Subscribe tips James Gates

 

This is processed by the computer, so the syntax must be exact. You cannot, for example, type: "I want to get your tips James Gates" It must be as I've written it above. If you just can't get it to work, send me an email and I'll enroll you manually. No big deal.

 

This process has been a humbling experience as I learn the difference between the number of people who RECEIVE my tips vs. the number of people who READ them. :-)

[TIPS] - Stonehenge solved? - and k12onlineconference kickoff

I know that you know Stonehenge. Ever wonder how those rocks got there? This site is an excellent resource on the subject. But, at the bottom of the first page, click the ReadOn... link and on the second page you'll find a link to a movie that just may explain how those rocks got there and how they were set on their ends. Watch as this man moves and sets upright a 19+ ton pillar of his own. Amazing. For those of you studying simple machines this is a great movie.

 

http://discoverychannel.ca/adventure/mysticplaces/nazcalines/shpart1/

- - - -

 

It's here. http://k12onlineconference.org/ Tonight (6:00pm edt) is the Elluminate kickoff featuring David Warlick, author of, among other things, his 2 cents blog. Tune in to hear his kickoff to this first-of-its-kind conference. Then, starting next week you can tune into the site for some excellent, free, professional development courses. Here's the agenda: http://k12onlineconference.org/docs/k12online06-agenda.html There are some great "workshops" on hte new web tools and web technologies. The great thing about them is that they will be archived, too. I DO hope that you'll check them out.

 

See anyone on there that you know? :-)

[TIPS] - Dates That Matter

Thanks to CS for sharing this one.

 

http://www.teachersfirst.com/dtm/

 

Click the "Click to learn more" link under the title to see a clue about something that happened on this date in history. Not only can you get hints to the answer, but when you do get the answer you can find out why it matters. I like that!! I think  you will, too.

 

- - - - mailing list reminder - - -

Once again, the reminder about the mailinglist. If you want to receive the tips after next Friday then you'll have to signed up on the tips mailinglist. Failure to take action will result in NO tips.

 

Send an email to: listserv@mailinglist.caiu.org with the following in the body of the message:

 

subscribe tips firstname lastname

 

EX: subscribe tips James Gates

 

 

[TIPS] - bonus - the Royal Deluxe Parade in Nantes

Did you watch the Sultans Elephant movie that I sent out the other day? That's the one that had that haunting music with it.

 

Several people emailed me back to tell me about the music and one thing led to another and I found this site with some amazing still images AND movies of that event. http://www.laughingsquid.com/2005/06/03/royal-de-luxe-parade-in-nantes/

 

Under the image of that 42 ton elephant is a link that says "amazing photos". Check it out. http://www.nantes.fr/ext/royal_de_luxe_2005/ There was a lot more going on that day than just what that first movie showed us. What a show that must have been.

[TIPS] - Excel - Prevent duplicate entries

Are you ever in need of a spreadsheet where you don't want duplicate entries in a column? Recently, I was asked how that could be done and I didn't know. But, I was able to find the answer online here: http://www.mrexcel.com/tip008.shtml

It's certainly not something that I would have guessed how to do, that's for sure.

- - -

[TIPS] - Copyscape - Website Plagiarism Search

So you've had your students create web pages and you warned them against plagiarizing, yet you suspect that a couple of them still don't quite understand the concept of plagiarism. ;-) Enter Copyscape. Just fill in the student's website address and the site will go out to see if they can find a match. It's not perfect, but it's pretty darned good.

http://www.copyscape.com/

[TIPS] - The Literacy Project

http://www.google.com/literacy/

"A resource for teachers, literacy organisations and anyone interested in reading and education, created in collaboration with LitCam, Google, and UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning."

" Find books, articles and videos about literacy, or start your own literacy or reading group!"

Does anyone else think it's funny that they would use the British spelling of "organizations" on that site? :-) It wouldn't be so bad but it's not consistent throughout the site.

[TIPS] - Google Gadgets For Your Webpage - and the mailing

http://www.google.com/ig/directory?synd=open

Do you have a web page of your own for your classes? How would you like some really cool gadgets to put on your page? From games to weather or horoscopes to calculators to quotes and even crossword puzzles or Sudokus are all here - for free. I even added a Sudoku puzzle to my Moodle class. Check it out.

- - - Mailing List - It's here! - - -

The mailing list from Listserv is finally working the way I want it, and it's now officially open to subscribers. Beginning in about two weeks I'll no longer be sending the tips to you UNLESS you have subscribed to the official mailing list. Send the subscription information to anyone you think may want to subscribe.

Please note that during the period from when you subscribe until I end the current list you will be receiving two messages, but the one will stop without you doing anything.

Instructions will follow. (The instructions will NOT be posted to the blog, however) There will be a link to click that will open an email and put some things in the body of the email. All you will have to do is add your name to the end of that line and click Send. You'll then receive an verification email with a link. Click that link and you're in!

[TIPS] - xyAlgebra and a writing resource

http://www.xyalgebra.org/
- - - snip - - -

The student programs (xyAlgebra and xySolver) feature:

• Explanations of principles of basic algebra (320 instructional items).
• Step-by-step sample problems that the student can consult later.
• Practice problems randomly generated until student shows mastery.
• All solutions are entered step-by-step.
• All legitimate solution methods supported.
• Any incorrect step is flagged as soon as it is typed.
• A hint or suggested next step can always be requested.
• Intelligent help at every step, including instant prerequisite review.
• Solution strategy changes intelligently in response to the student's steps.
• 700 practice problem forms generating 100,000+ distinct problems.

- - - bonus - - -

http://writing.whatcom.ctc.edu/ - Looks like some very nice writing resources. The Online Writing Center from Whatcom Community College

[TIPS] - Podcast Free America - and book covers

http://www.podcastfreeamerica.com/index.php?/features/entry/10-podcasting-movers-and-shakers

Thinking of trying your hand at podcasting? Here's another site to check out. Who can podcast? Foreign language teachers - definately. Math teachers - certainly. English teachers - easily. Science teachers - effectively. You - absolutely!!

 

- - - Bonus - - -

Wanna make some fun book covers for your students? POC!! (Piece Of Cake!) Check this one: http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/bookcover/

 

 

[TIPS] - Tabblo and a very cool puppet

http://www.tabblo.com/studio/

Got digital pictures? Upload them to this site, arrange them as easily as dragging and dropping and resizing. Then add your text. Share them - or not. Then print them into posters, magazine, or 4x6 prints. If you're taking pictures of your students this year, keep this one handy. Wouldn't it be fun to turn it into a poster some time in May with little narrations about the things your group has done?

- - - Bonus - - -

This little movie haunts me. It was filmed in New Orleans, I believe. Nothing unusual about a puppet, right? Well, not unless it's 40 feet tall. The music here is maybe what haunts me the most. If anyone knows where it comes from I'd appreciate hearing from you.

http://electricpig.net

Click the Photography link at the top, then the link for the Sultans' Elephant movie. If it's too slow loading for you, let it load in a separate window while you work on other things. You'll have to click the large play button in the middle of the image when it comes up. Enjoy.

[TIPS] - Interactive Periodic Table - and an article

http://www.touchspin.com/chem/DisplayTable.html

Pass this one along to your science teachers. Looks like a good one. An interactive periodic table.

 

- - - article - - -

A couple weeks ago I went on about the state of education. I mentioned China and India as being powerful and serious competition, and if you read "The World is Flat" then you've heard it before. Well, this article brings home that point some more. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060929/tc_nm/life_education_india_dc_1

 

- - - bonus - - -

And here's an article that just makes you wonder just exactly when the lunatics began running the asylum. http://www.10news.com/education/9936513/detail.html