Google Field Trip - app that finds info about where you are

Google has a cool new app for Android, called "Field Trip". It helps you find things about what's around you. It runs in the background and when you get close to something interesting, it pops up with details about that location. You can use it to learn more about historical locations, buildings, stores and restaurants and more. It takes information from a variety of sources, along with your location data, to produce these results.This would be a...

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Google Play Store vs Apple App Store - my experience

I am an Android fan and user. However, I have a loaner iPad for testing and reviewing apps. I also have a webOS tablet. I've used the app stores for all of them, and Apple's is the worst in terms of customer experience.1. Google's Play Store and Palm/HP apps were easier to search and easier to install (no need for iTunes!). I could even browse the sites and select the app to be downloaded to any of my devices remotely.2. iTunes. It is still sad that...

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Edmodo and Common Sense Media release free Digital Citizenship resource for Educators

Digital Citizenship is an important topic and something that we must teach our students (and ourselves) in today's digital world.Edmodo, a great educational app, and Common Sense Media have created a Digital Citizenship Starter Kit that teachers can download to use with their students. It is an  page PDF file that is free.The Digital Citizenship Start Kit includes a poster and lessons and activities that cover topics such as privacy, internet...

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Google Docs can import old Office Formats, but exports them as new format

Google Docs will no longer export files into the old Microsoft Office Formats (.doc, .xls, .ppt). Instead, it will download the files as .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx. You can also still download files in .odt, .rtf, .pdf. .txt formats. This will also affect Google Apps accounts. (And Google Drive since that's where everyone's Docs are going.You can still import these older Office file formats, but if you then export them, they will export in the new formats. This...

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Kustom Note - templates/fields for Evernote Notes

Evernote, one of my favorite and most used apps, is a great note taking, web clipping, and organizing app. The notes are free form though. You can make your own templates and copy/paste the template into a new note, but there is now a better way. Evernote Trunk is a collection of apps that work with Evernote. Each year, Evernote holds a conference and contest for develops and this year, Kustom Note won a Silver DevCup award. It was well deserved.Kustom...

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HelloFax - Free Online Faxing and Doc Signing

HelloFax is a web service (that also has a Chrome extension) that allows you to send faxes and sign documents, all online. No need to print, sign, scan and then send. No need to keep a fax machine (and the phone line) anymore either.It integrates with Google Drive, making it easy to keep track of your documents. You can easily send and receive faxes just by entering the fax number. A fax sent to you gets forwarded to your email as a PDF file....

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RockMelt - web browser and social media all-in-one

RockMelt is a free web browser that blends social media into the browser to keep everything in one place. It is similar to Chrome since it is also based on the Chromium web browser and fast and secure.The difference in RockMelt is that it combines your social media networks into your browser. In the browser  itself are notifications from Facebook, Twitter, news, your emial, and more. You can easily share what you are viewing online through social...

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Google Maps goes Underwater! Explore the Great Barrier Reef

Google Maps is a great resource for more than just finding your way around. It includes street view, inside building views and panoramic views, along with other resources that make it great for education. Take virtual field trips around the world and take virtual trips to museums.Google has just announced a new set of panoramas in Google Maps - The Great Barrier Reef. I'm a SCUBA diver and the Great Barrier Reef is a place I'd love to dive. But,...

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Infographic on Technology in the Classroom - What Teachers Want

An interesting infographic from PBS on what teachers want for technology in the classroom:Related:10 Essential Educational Resources for Teachers - my l...

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TechForum NY is October 19th - register today for great PD

TechForum NY, sponsored by Tech&Learning Magazine, is Friday, October 19th at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY (670 White Plains Rd., Tarrytown, NY 10591). Registration and continental breakfast begin at 7 am with the opening keynote starting at 8:15.Join us for a day of learning, sharing, collaboration and more. There will be a keynote address, breakout sessions, and round table sessions where everyone contributes in a discussion on...

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Evernote for Administrators - some ideas and tips

Evernote is a great resource for teachers and students. Take notes, organize information, clip web sites, research, lesson plans and more. But it is also a great tool for administrators.All of the notes can be created and accessed from desktop computers and tablets and smartphones, so it's easy to use and access.Evernote can be used by administrators for:1. Teacher observations and evaluations - take notes in the observation and then share the note...

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Google Code-In 2012 - contest for High School Students

Google has announced Google Code-In 2012, a contest for high school students. It is in it's third year and will begin on November 26th. The contest is for 13-17 year old students and is all about software development. It runs from November 26th to mid January and there will be 20 grand prize winners. The grand prize winners, along with a parent/guardian, will get a trip to Google Headquarters in Mountain View California.The contest has tasks that...

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Tools for Changing/Improving PD and Meetings

Professional Development and Faculty Meetings are typically held face-to-face and many times are longer than they need to be, or too much time is spent on things that only affect a small percentage of those present. There are some tools and resources that can be used to change how and when PD and Meetings are held.1. Google Docs/Google Drive - use Google Docs for meeting and PD agendas and shared resources. Participants can edit it in real time,...

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comPADRE - free resources for Physics and Astronomy students and teachers

comPADRE is a great resource for Physics and Astronomy teachers and students. It is a network and collection of free online resources for students and teachers. The collections are organized by Students, Teachers, and Faculty (higher ed). Resources include tutorial sites, games, research, career information, online magazine, teacher lesson resources, and much more.Here are three collections for teachers, along with two other recommended ones.There...

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LearnMe Calendar - help young students learn about calendars and dates

LearnMe Calendar is an app that helps young students learn about calendars. It is touch based and interactive and is very easy to use. As the students work through using the app, they learn more about today, tomorrow, weeks, months, holidays and more. There are educational games built in to help students learn. It works like a regular calendar, allowing students to add events, navigate around a week or month or year, and adds other features, like...

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Blabberize - make any photo "talk" - great for student projects

Blabberize is a fun way to create projects. The site takes any picture and allows you to make it "talk". It animates the mouth on the picture (or add a mouth to a plant or inanimate object) and adds your voice to it.It is a lot of fun, but also very educational. Students can use this to create a project, presentation, public service announcement, etc. They have to be choosy about the picture and then write and record relevant speech for the photo....

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GoAnimate! Make Amazing Animated Videos

GoAnimate is a site that lets you easily create animated videos. There is a free version and a discounted education version. The free version allows you to easily make the videos, record your own voice or use the built in ones, and share the video. The Schools account is a private environment, with school safe content and moderation available and includes all of the premium features at a discounted rate.GoAnimate can be used for teacher presentations,...

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Loopster - Free Online Video Editor

So, I'm watching American Chopper and Paul Jr. Designs is working on a new motorcycle for a company called Loopster, that has something to do with online video work. I go check it out and, lo and behold, it's a free online video editor! Very cool.Loopster is a free service that let's you easily create and edit videos online. This is great for student projects and teachers looking to create videos. Since it's all online, there is no software to download...

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