"SuperStorm Sandy" - we have our power back

Superstorm Sandy has devastated NYC and Long Island, NJ and the CT shorelines. I live a few miles from the shore and was lucky to only lose power for 24 hours. No damage to our cars or condo. Other people in the area weren't so lucky, with many having serious damage or even total loss to their homes. A friend of mine from EMS lost his uncle, a CT Volunteer Firefighter who died after the fire engine was hit by a tree when on an emergency call during...

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Livescribe Sky WiFi Smartpen - save notes and audio via WiFi to Evernote

I love my Livescribe SmartPen. I use it all the time to take notes at meetings and keep myself organized. I love how it also records audio and keeps it in sync with your handwritten notes. The only issue was that I had to go back to my computer and plug in the pen to get the files uploaded to either Evernote, Google Docs, or other services.That has now changed. Livescribe has just announced it's Sky WiFi Smartpen. It works just like the other smartpens...

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The Physics Front - teaching resources for Physics

The Physics Front is a free site that contains teaching resources on Physics and Physical Science. The resources are searchable and are arranged by level: K-8 Physical Science, Physics First, Conceptual Physics, Algebra Based, and AP / Calculus. Resources are then organized by topic.It's part of the ComPADRE education community resources. There are lesson plans, links to other resources, technology, links, and other resources to help educators when...

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Symbolab - Science and Math Search Engine - search with symbols too

Symbolab is a site I learned about from David Kapuler on his blog. It is a "Science and Math Search Engine" and makes it easier to find science content online. It specifically searches for science content using semantic search tools.You can search from the site, or use a free download for Chrome and Firefox.The other unique feature that truly sets it apart is that it lets you use math and science symbols and equations to search. This is especially...

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Another update to Google Drive - drag-and-drop to upload folders

Google has had drag-and-drop to upload files to Google Drive, upload pictures to Google docs and sites, and other drag-and-drop capabilities, for a while now. This makes it easier to use and work with these apps. Google just recently announced that you can now also drag-and-drop to upload folders to Google Drive. This makes Drive a much more usable cloud storage option and makes it easier to add your files to your Drive.For more information: htt...

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Google now has one click access to Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Google just announced this week a nice addition to Google Drive - the ability to immediately start a new document. Instead of having to go into Drive and then click on New___, you can install Docs (documents), Sheets (spreadsheets) and Slides (presentations) as apps from the Chrome Web Store and use them to immediately start a new file. The shortcuts appear as apps on the new tab page in Chrome. Docs, Sheets, and Slides will appear in your apps list...

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TechForum NY was 10/22 - here are some resources from it

TechForum NY, a great educational technology conference, was this past Friday, October 19th. I presented two sessions and saw quite a few people from my PLN and added some more.For those of you who couldn't or didn't attend, you can still get some great resources.Presenters posted resources from their sessions here: (more are coming in so check back often)http://www.techlearning.com/events/techforum/newyork12/programThree sessions were also Livestreamed...

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Woopid - free technology tutorial videos

Woopid is a site that has free video tutorials on a variety of tech topics. There are thousands of video tutorials for PCs, Macs, apps and software, hardware, internet, and Ubuntu. and include basic troubleshooting. The videos are searchable and the main page lists the most popular and new videos.You can sign up for a free account to track your videos and create a favorites list, or you can just view videos. The videos are great quality and explain...

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Lino - free Sticky Note and Canvas web service

Lino is a free sticky note and canvas web service I learned about from our school's webmaster. He is using it on the school's main website page as a place for teachers to post notices about clubs and other information. It was started because we have a large group of students who attend a regional aquaculture school in the morning and miss the morning announcements. This is a great, easy way for teachers to post updates and info.Lino is free,...

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SciencePrimer - free site with science resources and activities

SciencePrimer is a free web site that has some great science resources. The site has illustrations (animations with explanations) of concepts, practice questions and problems with hints and solutions, calculators and conversion tools, and a science glossary.The illustrations are really good. They include interactive animations that let you change different specifications or characteristics, an explanation of the topic, and videos.This site has some...

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TechForum NY is tomorrow - can't make it? Join in the LiveStream!

TechForum NY, a great educational technology conference, is tomorrow. I am presenting two sessions and looking forward to seeing a lot of people from my PLN.For those of you not going, you can join in on the LiveStream of some of the sessions tomorrow. Check out the information below on how to join us live.Tech Forum is Doing It Live!Tune in this Friday, October 19 to Tech Forum Live Online, Tech & Learning's live broadcast stream direct...

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Clouds Over Cuba - intense interactive history lesson about Cuban Missile Crisis

Clouds Over Cuba is a new interactive history lesson about the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is a multimedia documentary on the Cuban Missile crisis and was just released, 50 years to the day that JFK learned that the Soviets were building missile sites in Cuba.The project was developed by the Martin Agency for the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. This group also produced "We Choose the Moon" web site about the space race.The interactive film has...

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STEM Flix - STEM videos for middle school classes

STEM Flix is a STEM Video series for middle school classes created by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and Science Bob. The videos include demonstrations that engage the students and then explore STEM career fields and topics and how they are applied in everyday life.There are two videos - Having Fun with STEM and Fun with Microelectronics - and the site also has instructions for doing experiments shown in the films, as well as fact sheets on STEM...

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Free Resources for Earth Science Week, Oct 14-20

Next week, October 14-20th, is Earth Science Week. It is a way to promote awareness of important Earth Science topics and the importance of Earth Science in education.The theme for this year is "Discovering Careers in the Earth Sciences." There are classroom activity ideas and resources, including materials, lesson plans, and more at the site.There are some really good materials available online and you can also order a full classroom kit of materials,...

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Any.do popular to-do app adds 12 new languages - still free

Any.do is a very popular, free, to-do list app for Android, iOS and Chrome. It has now added 12 new languages and is available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Chinese (simplified & traditional) & Russian. This makes this highly popular task app even better.What's nice about Any.do is that your task list is synced across all of the versions, from the Chrome...

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MyPhysicsLab - Free Physics Simulations

MyPhysicsLab is a free site that contains, you guessed it, physics lab simulations. They are simple and created in Java, but illustrate the physics concept quite well. They are organized into topics: springs, pendulums, combinations, collisions, roller coasters, molecules. There is also a section that explains how they work and the math/physics/programming behind creating them.Simulations are a great way to really explore and visualize a topic. Many...

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Tackk - creatively share content online

Tackk is a free web service that allows you to instantly and easily create and share content online. No login, no fees. Just go to the Tackk page and start typing. When you are finished, you can share it via the web or social networks.You can have a title, subtitles, photos, change fonts and colors, media, text and lists.It's great for quick messages and notices, as well as for other projects. Tackk about the upcoming class project, the next school...

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How To Smile - collection of math and science resources

How To Smile is a collection of math and science resources for teachers and students. There are activities that help teachers connect science and math to pretty much anything, including things in the students' homes.The site is hosted by a group of science museums and collects STEM education materials from the web, as well as from educators.The site is searchable, has tons of activities organized by topic and searchable, comments and sharing, and...

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How to Get Students to Pay Attention Using Technology - guest post

Remember the days when you would sit in a classroom listening to the monotone voice of a teacher buzzing in the air and fight a bout of sleepiness?  How many times did you have to mentally shake yourself awake or wish that bell would ring?Today, however, teachers can engage their students in a variety of ways using technology.  Many teachers have found that the implement of educational technology in their learning environment encourages...

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Osy Osmosis - fun game that helps teach about osmosis

Osy Osmosis is a fun, educational game where you help Osy stay safe as she navigates through a very cool world collecting stars. The trick is to use osmosis to keep her in balance.The game is not free ($1.99) but is very good, very fun, and educational. It was developed by researchers and educators and profits go towards creating other educational games.It could be used as a great way to help teach osmosis in a fun way.&nb...

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