BCT Tools Recommendations
Software & Projects - Web 2.0 Internet-Based Sites & Activities - Articles
| Software & Projects | |
| Tools | Uses |
| Shockwave | a must-have for much of the educational interactive sites on the Internet. |
| Flash | a must-have for much of the educational interactive sites on the Internet. |
| Java | a must-have for much of the educational interactive sites on the Internet. |
| VLC Media Player | Perhaps the most flexible of all media players, VLC will play almost any audio or video file. It is a "must-have" utility for those who acquire clips from a variety of sources. Further to this, using VLC will remove the need to install endless, exotic codecs. |
| Paint.Net | Paint.Net is a med-level image editor. An image editor is important to Power Point presentations in that it allows the user to resize or combine images; thereby allowing for smaller Power Point files. |
| Format Factory | Format Factory allows the user to convert any audio/video file to any other audio/video file. Format Factory is an important tool when using Power Point since Power Point only accepts WMV video files and WAV audio files. |
| Download Helper | Saving YouTube or
web-based videos Download Helper Job Aid |
| Drop Box | Allows saving to
the "cloud"; makes files portable - up to 2GB How To Use DropBox - Video |
| Audacity | podcasting; records
speech & music Audacity Guide - Short |
| Flip Cameras |
creates quick & easy-to-display video records of an event A Flip Camera Job Aid 7 Things To Know About Flip Cameras Flip Camera Project Ideas |
| Movie Maker | Free Windows video
editor. Windows Vista & 7 users can download Movie Maker
here. Movie Maker Job Aid Movie Maker Live (on-line) Job Aid |
| Amazing Web 2.0 Projects | A striking
collection of Web 2.0 projects Amazing Web 2.0 Projects |
| Digital Storytelling | Literacy through a
new medium Microsoft's Digital Storytelling Book Digital Storytelling - A Journey (Video) |
| Power Point | the most direct
path to digital representation & animation Designing Effective Power Point Presentations Power Point 2003 Cheatsheet You Suck at Power Point, Jesse Dee Power Point Animation |
| Pedagogical Use of Search Engines | Google & Bing can
provide effective research tools. Search Tips Bing - Getting Started Developing Critical Thinking Through Web Research Skills |
| Smart Boards | To begin a journey into the world of interactive white boards, you would first need to download Smart Notebook. You will also need a product key which you can acquire from the SWLSB RECIT. A wide variety of pre-written Smart Board activities can be had at the SWLSB RECIT Smart Board Resource Site and Smart Exchange. |
| CELTX | Celtx is a unique pre-production software application which allows students to create film, audio, comic, and storyboard scripts. It also contains sample scripts. |
| Freemind | Functionally similar to Inspiration, Free Mind allows for organization along visual lines. |
| Skype |
Skype is a video and telephone-based communications software application which allows video conferencing for up to four people for free.
|
| Tandberg Video Conferencing | The standard unit employed within the SWLSB to connect classes to the world. |
| Web 2.0 Internet-Based Sites & Activities | |
| Wordle |
 Word Clouds - Educational Tools |
| VoiceThread |
A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that
holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to
navigate slides and leave comments in 5 ways - using voice (with
a microphone or telephone), text, audio file, or video. VoiceThread Job Aid |
| Aviary | On-line image & sound editing |
|
Survey
Monkey Zoomerang |
On-line survey tools |
| Google Blogger | Safe and secure
journaling on the Internet Google Blogger Job Aid An Introduction to Blogs & Wikis |
| Google Docs | Share documents
among many users Google Docs Rocks |
| Wikispaces | Certainly the most
teacher-friendly wiki site on the Web. Wikispaces Job Aid An Introduction to Blogs & Wikis Wiki While You Work |
| Balado Web | Students are
invited to produce podcasts in the form of audioguides that
highlight their immediate cultural environment. Local works of art, the history behind the name of a street or waterway, a statue, a piece of architecture, the birthplace of an author, anything of cultural interest. Balado Web Video Balado Web Brochure Balado Web Power Point Presentation |
| Voki | Voki allows students to share their knowledge of a topic in 60 seconds or less. Makes students organize their thoughts to focus on key details with customizable avatars. |
| Penzu | Penzu encourages students to do some online journaling. |
| EyeJot | Quick video messaging |
| Collaborize Classroom | A very unique CMS (Content Management System) structured around student-teacher collaboration. |
| Edmodo | The look and feel of Facebook with an educational perspective…polls, assignments, a gradebook, and now quizzes! |
| Tagxedo | Wordle on steroids |
| Geogebra | The ability to dynamically look at mathematical concepts for free makes it one of the most useful web 2.0 tools for teaching and learning mathematics. Not to mention all of the materials which are being shared on http//www.geogebratube.org. |
| Jing | An interesting, freeware program that allows recording over websites or images, producing a video file – excellent for short tutorials by students or teachers. |
| Celly | A free, mobile network – connect your class! |
| Xtranormal | A truly wonderful site, allowing users to create animated movies simply; however, there is a small cost. |
| Class Dojo | Class behavior recording and reporting tool |
| Concept Board | A non-flash, collaborative whiteboard tool |
| Prezi | An excellent tool for sharing and engaging the audience with more creative, imaginative content. |
| UStream | Ustream.tv is a great place for anyone to broadcast whatever they want live - from podcasts to news to school special events. |
| Articles | |
| Getting Started - Microsoft Free Tools | |
| Ten Tips for Teaching with New Media | |