Using Technology to Differentiate Instruction

I came across a great website today that shares how to use technology when differentiating instruction! Check it out! Using Technology to Differentiate Instruction

Shortcuts for Mac OS X

Here is a great website that will show you any shortcut imaginable for Mac OS X!

http://www.danrodney.com/mac/index.html

ActivBoard Pen

Are you having any trouble with your ActivBoard Pens?   Here are some tips to make sure the pens are working effectively:

1. Make sure the pen nib (tip) is pushed all the way in. If not, the board will not read it properly.
2. Don’t wear your ID badge when at the board. The magnets in the badge can interfere.
3. Make sure you update your Driver from Promethean Planet.

Apps In Education

Found this great site that focuses on nothing but Apps in Education. Check it out!

Apps In Education

Dragon Search

Have you ever wanted to search for online content on your iPhone, iPod or iPad but had too much going on to actually pick up the device to search? What about downloading "Dragon Search".  With this app, you can actually speak your search query and get results from various top websites, such as, Youtube, Twitter, iTunes, & Wikipedia.

If you haven't yet downloaded "Dragon Dictation", this is also another app you might want to download. "Dragon Dictation" allows you to speak into your device and turns your speech into text. Compose your email hands free!!

Internet Catalogue of Technology Pages

I found this amazing resource today. It's an internet catalogue of 1000's of Technology Pages. All of the pages are separated by category! This is definitely a website that you should bookmark!!!

http://cybraryman.com/technologylinks.html

This Week In Rap

The Week In Rap is a website that takes the tops News Headlines and Stories from the week and puts it into a short rap. This is a great tool to get students talking about what is happening in the world around them!

http://theweekinrap.com

Speech Techie

I found this great blog this morning called "Speech Techie". The site is geared towards looking at technology through a language lens. This website may help you find great resources for students that are language impaired.

http://www.speechtechie.com/

Five Star Guide for your iPad

I stumbled across an amazing resource for the iPad. MakeUseOf.com has a free PDF file called "Five Star Guide for your Ipad". The file explains many of the ins and outs of the iPad, guides you through many different instructions, and also provides a list of many different useful apps.

You can download the PDF file to your computer, drag it to iTunes and then you will be able to sync it to your iPad. You will then be able to read through the file in iBooks on your iPad!

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/ipad-magical-revolutionary-guide-pdf-guide/

Zooburst

Zooburst is a digital storytelling tool that let's you easily create 3-D Pop Up storybooks. Students of any age can create their own books in a 3D world. Pages of the book can be looked at from any angle in a 3D space. Share your book through a unique URL or embed on a website or blog. Zooburst provides an exciting new way for students to publish their work! Sign up for an account for free!!

http://www.zooburst.com

iPad Academy

I ran across a fantastic iPad resource tonight. iPad Academy is a one-stop shop for all things iPad.  There are links to many tutorials, tips and trainings.  If you have an iPad or plan on getting an iPad, this is a great resource to explore!

iPad Academy

Boardmaker Share

https://www.boardmakershare.com/

Thank you @Room5Friends for tweeting this website out last night. Boardmaker Share is an amazing tool for teachers who are using Boardmaker in their classroom. You can download activities that have been created by others, or you can upload your Boardmaker activities to share. There is also a social networking aspect to the site, where you can add friend, create groups and network with others.

Create a free account and look around!

Special Education App of the Week - ABA FlashCards Actions

ABA FLASHCARDS - ACTIONS

ABA FlashCards (Actions) is an iPhone/iPod app that presents 52 colorful images with action words. There is also an audio component which is useful when seeking vocal imitation from the student.  These flashcards are great for students with emerging language skills. Visual and auditory learners will benefit from these Action flashcards!

The flashcards include: Bathing, Blowing, Bouncing, Brushing, Catching, Clapping, Climbing, Crawling, Crying, Cuddling, Cutting, Dancing, Drawing, Drinking, Eating, Flying, Hugging, Jumping, Kicking, Kissing, Knocking, Laughing, Licking, Listening, Looking, Painting, Peeking, Petting, Playing, Pouring, Reading, Riding, Rolling, Running, Singing, Skipping, Sleeping, Sliding, Smelling, Smiling, Spinning, Splashing, Stacking, Swinging, Tasting, Thinking, Throwing, Tickling, Washing, Waving, Whispering, Winning.

You can download the app here: ABA Flashcards - Actions

QR Codes....The Next Big Thing in Smartphones

What is a QR Code? QR stands for "quick response" and is a 2 dimensional bar-code created in Japan in 1994.  The creator of the QR Code wanted to allow the contents of the code to be downloaded at a high speed. Basically, you just scan the QR Code with your Smartphone and the embedded information appears on your screen. QR codes can be embedded with text, URL's, and other data. 


One website you can use to generate data is http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ . Enter in the data you want to be embedded in the code, and it will generate a QR Code for you.  Scan this QR Code to take you this website: 

There are many apps that have been created for smartphones for the purpose of scanning QR Codes. I currently use ATT Scanner  (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/at-t-code-scanner/id381292358?mt=8).  Scan this QR Code to take you to the download link for the app:  

Once you have an app on your smartphone, you can scan pictures of QR Codes anywhere! They can be found in magazines, billboards, restaurants and many other places. Best Buy has QR Codes all throughout their store to provide information and pricing on their products. 


The possibilities are limitless!  Scan the code below to get all of my information:

My PortaPortal

I have been working feverishly on my Portaportal. This portaportal is aligned to the state standards and provides numerous websites that would be great to use with an interactive whiteboard in the classroom setting.  I have completed the Reading/Language Arts section and am now working to complete the Math section.  Please feel free to visit and check back often for updates!

AllisonTech Portaportal

Kindle Lending Club

Do you own a kindle? Now you can borrow books from others for free! Any Kindle book that has lending enabled can be loaned by one kindle owner to another. You have 14 days from the time you borrowed the book to finish reading. Once your 14 days is up, the book is automatically returned to the owner.   You can also loan your books if lending is enabled for particular titles.

What a great service to be able to read books for FREE!

Click here to go to the Kindle Lending Club

Apps for Special Education

I found this list of apps for special education compiled by Eric Sailers. This list is very extensive and has apps sorted into the following categories:

• Communication
• Organization
• Reading
• Writing
• Math
• Music
• Song
• Art
• Game
• Accessibility

It's worth spending some time going through these apps! I will go through them in a more in depth manner and post the ones that stand out to me the most! I will try to post an "App of the Week"!

Here is the list of apps:  Click here for the list

Tango - Free Mobile Video Calls

Tango is a free app that you can download to your smartphone to make video calls. The difference between Tango and Facetime (which comes standard on the new iPhone 4) is that you can use Tango over 3G, 4G or wireless, where Facetime can only be used on a wireless connection.

When you download Tango, the app populates the Tango contact list automatically from your existing contacts. Anyone in your contact list that already has Tango installed will show up in your Tango contact list!  If you have a dual camera phone, you can switch cameras and swap screens to show what is going on around you.

Tango is supported on Apple iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod Touch and Android phones.

Let's Tango!

Download Tango HERE!

"A video is worth a thousand pictures, a picture a thousand words. So by our count a video call is worth a million words." ~ The Tango Team

Fill Any PDF

Did you know that you can turn any form on your computer into a PDF and edit it? The website http://www.fillanypdf.com enables you to upload any PDF and type directly onto it. Long gone are the days of having to print out PDF forms and fill them out by hand!  Give it a try!

Downloading/Importing Resource Packs for ActivInspire Software (Promethean Planet)

This screencast walks you through the necessary steps to download and import Resource Packs into ActivInspire for your Promethean ActivBoard.  

(I apologize for the fuzziness of the video. This is my first screencast, and I need to play with my settings when creating my movie file).