10 New(er) Tools or Web/Mobile Apps

Symphonical is a collaborative whiteboard/post-it note tool that can be used to work on group projects.  With teachers roles changing and the increasing use of PLC's in schools, Symphonical would be a valuable way for departments to collaborate on lessons, assessments, projects, and other necessary agenda items.  Items can be given priority levels and notes can be categorized into rows to see who is responsible for what items.  Notes can also be dragged from one area to another, so as one part of an item is completed, it can be moved to the next person responsible.  There is also the option of embedding into a Google+ Hangout as well.

Somcloud provides cloud based storage, while also making two other apps available for users.  Somnote for creating notes and Somtodo for creating a To Do List.  Both of these apps are available on iPhone and Android devices while also providing web access.  All users can have a free account, but premium accounts are available as well.  The ability to sync all three together makes it a very user friendly application system.

UtellStory is a service for creating and sharing digital photo stories.  Users add photos, captions, and audio narration to each slide or upload a soundtrack.  Users can share their story through email, social networks, or through an embedding feature.  You can find other digital story telling options HERE.
h/t to Free Technology 4 Teachers.

FindSounds is a web search audio sounds.  Various languages are available as well as formats, resolution, sample rates, and number of channels.  If you don't want to complete a search, users can click and find categories of sounds that are already cataloged and easy to find.  For mobile users there is a mobile version and an Android version as well.

My Study Life is a free online planner for students and teachers that is designed to make life easier by storing classes, tasks, and exams in the cloud, therefore making your study life available at anytime.  This app provides users the ability to track the tasks that are due and stay on top of them.  The app offers several customization features as well in order to stay up to date.  The app is available for Windows, Chrome, and coming in 2013 Android and iPhone.  For more information, take the tour.  

JumpRope is an app for the growing concept of Standards Based Grading.  There are several features for this grade-book service which include the ability to communicate effectively the mastery of standards, makes data much more transparent.  There are also attendance options, character education, curriculum design tools, custom reporting, and much more.

Doctape is a personal document and media hub.  Like other cloud storage options, users can access the content from anywhere and get embedded security as files are scanned for viruses.  There is also an optimization feature that makes audio and video files in a format that delivers the beast streaming experience based on screen size and bandwidth.  There is an email option for sending files and an editing feature that allows users to use Google Docs to make necessary changes.  Currently, users get 5GB for free and CLICK HERE to learn about some other features.

Narrable is another option in the growing list of digital photo storytelling applications.  The main difference is that instead of captions, users narrate (music is still an option) over the slides through several different ways.  Users can record the narration via phone as well, so therefore, users could have multiple people providing narration over a story.  This service would be a valuable tool for students conducting interviews.  You can learn more about the service from this blog post as well.  

h/t to Free Technology for Teachers.

OnePAD is an app that creates a notebook page for each day of the year for iDevice users.  There are no files or folders, just a page for every day.  The app uses iCloud accounts to sync notes over various devices. Users can email a single note or export an entire collection to a text file.  A simple app for taking notes and creating to do list.  

Cruxlight is a Chrome Extension that simplifies the information and research process of the web by automatically summarizing the information on a webpage or article and highlighting the important parts.  The app also provides the important keywords that the article revolves around.  With the keywords, users can select a particular word and view a summary of the article from that point of view.  Users can determine the length of the summary and also provides a clutter-free reading environment of the article as well.  There are also several sharing and customization features as well.  Not sure where this will go down the road in terms of student use, but as a teacher reading articles for school or personal knowledge, it is an interesting tool.  

10 Apps for Students to Take Notes

As schools and districts move towards "1 to 1" and to "Bring Your Own Devices," the process of taking notes will take on a new meaning.  It the past couple years, for me personally, it has gotten to a point where writing for very long makes my hand hurt because I don't use a pen or pencil very often anymore.  While attending Master's classes and Professional Development meetings, I have started using my laptop and iPad to take notes.  I have a feeling this will become the trend in future years in education.  As we move towards this, it will be important that students have a functioning way of categorizing and keeping notes organized.  Here is a list of ten possible tools.

Evernote - A staple among educators and almost a necessity for me these days; Evernote provides users the ability to take notes, save images, and other documents, as well as record audio to go along with your notes.  For a lecture, this would make a great tool for students in the classroom.  Evernote, like most of the apps I will share provides users the ability to share notes as well.  This could be handy for teachers and students working on a group project.  Evernote is available for desktops, mobile and tablet devices.

Google Docs - A lot of schools have gone to Google as their choice for spreadsheets, word documents, and presentation tools.  Google Docs provides great note taking opportunities and also makes is easy to share notes among other users.  It is also available for mobile and tablet devices and notes are stored in the cloud for access anywhere.

Fetchnotes - More of a to do App, but does allow users the ability to take longer notes as well.  One sets it apart is the ability to apply hashtags to your notes for organizing them.  This would be a helpful addition to labeling notes as you go and easily categorizing them as well.  Fetchnotes is available for both Android and Apple devices.

Jjot is another web app option that allows users to take notes in a post-it type format and makes the notes available from any computer.  The notes can easily be shared and printed.  It allows user to bold and bullet a list and each note can have a unique URL.

Listhings is a cork board type notebook app that allows users to create notes and share them with ease.  Not necessarily meant for longer note taking, but does provide the space if desired.  Notes are stored in the cloud and therefore area available from any computer.

Penzu - More like a journal, but when taking notes, organizing by date is very important.  Penzu is an app that users can use to take notes and then easily share them with other students or teachers.  You can also get Android and Apple version of the app for mobile devices.




Simplenote is an app that makes taking notes...well, simple.  Notes can be found on the web, desktop or on a mobile device.  Search tools and tagging make it easy to organize and find your notes.  Like other note taking apps, it also allows users to share their notes, making collaboration even easier.

 Quicklyst - A note taking app that helps users create outline style notes in a structure that helps with organization and understanding of those notes.  Available for use on all devices and requires email and a password to get started.  What sets it apart is the ability to include formatted mathematical equations.

Workflowy - Another option for creating an outline style of notes and also viewing those notes in an easy way.  Email and password are required for use and contains a lot of the other features note taking apps provide, but like Quicklyst, is an app for creating outline/list style notes. 

Notes.io is a simple, no sign-up required note taking app that allows users to easily type notes, then share them with a simple URL.  Currently, printing, attaching, and sending directly are in the works to improve this service even more. 

Squareleaf

Squareleaf is another option for creating a whiteboard space for to do notes and post it notes.  It has a very simple user interface for adding notes.  You can easily choose the color for each note and make edits to each note. There are multiple ways that you can organize your information so that it is in a manner that is easy yo read and follow.  You can set a color for each item on your agenda so you can easily tell the difference between your tasks.  To see how Squareleaf works, click here.  See the images below for some examples.

Best Practices - ProjectPLN Post

So if you have not heard of the ProjectPLN Magazine (This link will take you to the first issue), now is a great time to learn about it.  The idea was started by Nick Provenzano and he collaborated with Kelly Tenkely to get it off the ground.  You can learn more about ProjectPLN from their blogs: iLearn Technology and The Nerdy Teacher.  The first issue really helps explain the idea behind a PLN (Professional Learning Network) and provides resources on how to start your own.  With the inclusion of PLC (Professional Learning Communities) it is important to develop one outside your school and help turn your community into a network.

For the next issue of ProjectPLN the discussion is on Best Practices for the start of school.  I don't currently teach, but several ideas do come to mind to help with classroom management and "getting to know" your students.  Below are several ideas for the start of the school year.  

1.) Have students create a Word Cloud of words that express their personality, values, and beliefs.  If using Wordle, have them put the most important words in their more then once so that they appear larger.  Then hang them up or keep to yourself...that will depend on the personality of your class!

2.) Many classroom management books suggest putting kids in alphabetical order, and I agree.  Makes it easy to learn names.  For a teacher at my school he made it into a competition.  He drew the class layout on the board and told the kids to find their seat according to their last name.  The class that did it the fastset won a prize.  He also did not allow them to talk.  Talk about a interesting first day.

3.) I would give my kids a challenge of building the tallest tower out of straws and only provide a certain length of tape.  They would work in groups.  The could not talk so they had to communicate in other ways.  It really helps develop team work in the first week of school and shows that talking does not necessarily help with an assignment. :)

4.) Bellringers are a huge deal.  Our school recently purchased large TV's for the classrooms and hooked those to the computer.  Several teachers have created PowerPoint's to display their bellringer.  Therefore they can save them for future use and it is easy for the kids to always know where to look when they come to the classroom to have something to work on.

5.) Use a clicker system the first day and gather information about your students.  Things you would like to know.  Computer access at home, clubs/athletics they are involved in, community involvement, etc.  Very easy to organize the data you get back in return.  You could do the same with index cards, but the clickers will help with data organization.

6.) Provide students access to computers and have students use Glogster to create a poster that tells about themselves.  Favorite movies, TV shows, music, etc.  It can be a fun activity that also allows you to introduce Glogster to your students.

7.) Have students from the previous class year share their favorite things about your class.  Or have your students write an open letter about what future students need to do in order to succeed in your classroom.  This might be a great way to use a site like Wallwisher with students at the end of a school year.

8.) Ask students to provide you with their cell phone number and their cell carrier.  You can send a text message to your students using your email.  Up to 160 characters is the limit for one text message.  This would be a great way to keep in touch with students about projects, test, etc.  Plus, you have documentation of the messages you send and their replies, because their replies will come back to your email.  It also keeps your cell phone number private as well.

9.) Show students videos from music, television, video games, commercials, current events, movies, and sports from the year they were born and discuss how much things have changed.  Be a great introduction to any unit of study and to find funny older videos to share with the class.

10.) Have an easily accessible teacher webpage.  Students need an area where they can access assignments, due dates, lecture notes, etc.  Have a website that allows for discussion through blogs or message boards.

11.) Use various social media tools such as Twitter to create a classroom account for students to get quick reminders for your class.  Nings make great social networks for your classroom as well that allows students to join and follow various aspects of your classroom.  It is also great for personalization.  You might also look at creating a Facebook page as well; although controversial, it can be a useful communication tool.  Anyway that you can increase communcation with parents and students will be beneficial.

Friday Focus #3 - Online Sticky Notes Collaboration

What I consider to be one of the best Web 2.0 resources are the new Online Sticky Note Collaboration websites.  There are four such websites that I have come across for Sticky Note Collaboration.  The one I have used the most and like the most is Wallwisher.  The others are Stixy, Pindax, and Lino.  Below you will find a brief description of each as well as links to sample boards that you can visit and mess around on to see the similarities and differences in them.

I had an original Post on Wallwisher when I first started this Blog, in fact it was my first post.  In that post you can read about how to set up an account and the benefits of using it in the classroom.  I also have a link to a Wall that I created hoping to get ideas from readers.  So if you have ideas, please share them on that Wall.

I like Wallwisher because it is easy to setup up an account, it is very user friendly (especially for those less tech savvy teachers.), and the creation of a URL that you determine makes it very easy to share.  A teacher at my school used Wallwisher to ask her students about ideas for a technology project and I used it to survey the teachers at my school for their views on the Trimester schedule.  I also realized that you could use it as a method of Peer Review.  Students could post a link to their assignment and then it could be peer reviewed on Wallwisher.

Lino it has some features that Wallwisher does not have, but for advanced users Lino offers some great advantages and features. One of the similar features is NO EMAIL VERIFICATION! Lino uses the term Canvas instead of walls.  What I don't like is that the Canvas is a limited Space.  You know how much space you have, but it is limited.  If you get a lot of Stickers, then it can be crowded.  When you create a new canvas you give it a name, select the background, choose the Access to the canvas (Private, Semi Private, or Public) and then some other details (RSS, Email options).

Once you create the Canvas the Sticky Note options are rather easy to use and offer a lot of good features.  You of course have your choice of color for your note and can even make a transparent one.  You can attach images, video URLs from YouTube and Vimeo, as well as attach a file.  Those are some of the features that Wallwisher is lacking better ability to do.  There is a calendar built in to the Canvas as well as links to other canvas'.  You can highlight new post to your canvas as well.  I have created a generic canvas that you are welcome to visit and play around on to see its features.  You can also visit a Canvas created by Lino that tells you how to use their site..  If you create a Canvas it can be embedded into a Blog or website as well.  Within the Sticky Note you can add Tags, choose your font size, font color, an icon, a Due Date (could be useful for assignments), and send the Post in an email or to another user on Lino.

PinDax considers itself an Online Message Board.  Creating an account is easy.  A great thing is there is NO EMAIL VERIFICATION...but at the same time...no email is even required.  Setting up your account is easy.  There are plenty of options when joining PinDax.  Your home screen gives you access your Boards, Groups, Profile, Polls, Favorites, Short URL's, Messages and then your Profile.  One thing I do like is there is  a constant sidebar with access to everything on your home screen.

When creating a New Board you provide a name and a description, choose the Look and Feel, Tools, Privacy, and Users.  You can choose the font for your Post-Its (Handwritten, Business, or Typewriter) and the Color Scheme for the Board.  There are tons of tools for the Post, to many to name here, but great features.  You can even choose an expiration date for the Board.  Within Privacy you can require a Password, Limit to a group of people, and make it searchable.  You can then also select User Privileges.

When you have created a Board you get a endless Board.  Moving through the Board is rather easy, but can be difficult if you get a lot of Post.  Trying to explain how the board looks and what you can do is kind of difficult to do.  I suggest visiting the Online Message Board I created for this Blog to get an idea of how it can be used.

With Stixy you create a Stixyboard.  It has a lot of the same features as the others mentioned in this blog post.  Sign up is easy and NO EMAIL VERIFICATION is required.  Your login is your email address, so no Username creation is required either.  I have created a sample Stixyboard for you to access and try out its features.

The features are fairly user friendly.  You can add Post-its, pictures, files, or even a To Do Post-It.  What I like about Stixy is that when you click to add a Post, it changes the color of the Stixyboard making it easy to know you are doing something different.  The Post are considered adding a Widget, so it gives you quite a few options.  Adding Photos, gives you quite a few features and adding a document is easy as well.


Wallwisher is still my favorite, but I think that is because I am most familiar with it.  After doing the research for this Blog, I would have to say that Stixy is one that I could see myself using more in the future following by Lino and then Pindax.

What about you...which one(s) do you prefer?  Which have you used in your professional life?

Wallwisher.com

 
Wallwisher.com is an excellent way to communicate with your students about hot topics or even to learn about your classroom.  Wallwisher.com is great for those students who would otherwise not be open to talking in class.  Take your kids to the computer lab one day and have a class discussion on the website.  All the talking should be done online.
So how does it work?

1. First you need to create an account.  Really simple.  Email address, password, and a nickname.
   
2. Click on "Build a Wall"
   
3. Choose your background color
   
4. Choose your Title and Subtitle
   
5. Choose the URL for your wall
   
6. I suggest that you check approve messages to be safe.
   
7. Share the URL with your students and monitor the discussion.

So how could you use Wallwisher in the classroom?

1. Brainstorm ideas for a project
   
2. Create a themed wall and embed videos for students to watch and comment on.
   
3. Create a Story and have students put their own twist
   
4. Have a discussion about hot topics and gets students thoughts
   
5. Submit questions for a guest speaker
   
6. A Current Events Wall
   
7. Have students research a topic and post a link to an article that supports their views on that topic
   
8. Have students organize topics into groups that you pre-posted and have them print the screen to show you their completed assignment
   
9. Students could each submit a Word Problem and give other students a chance to solve them.  Just put in a # in the name of the problem and then the students name and the # they are answering in the response
   
10. Find out background knowledge by posting a topic and have students answer what they already know.
    
11. Assess your own class - have them tell you what they liked and disliked in your class
    
12. Create an area for kids to ask questions about assignments

What ideas do you have?  Please post your ideas for using Wallwisher on my Wall that I created.
Click on the image below