Filedrop - Turn Your Phone into a Wireless USB Stick

Filedrop is an app that allows users to send files between devices within one network.  Users can launch Filedrop on two devices and then drag and drop files between them.  The theory with this app is that sharing files will be as easy as passing a pen.  Users can send files to any nearby devices, turn their phone into a wireless USB stick, stream photos, or play music.

Filedrop allows users to easily share files across platforms; meaning easily share between a Mac and Windows PC as long as both computers have the app downloaded.  Currently, the only versions that are available are for computers with iDevice and Android apps coming in the near future.  Users can sign up to receive notification when the Apps are available.  Once the Apps are available, I could see this as a valuable tool for teachers and students as sharing across platforms becomes a necessity.

See the video below for more information.

"Keep" it Together with Google

Yesterday through their Blog, Google announced a new note-taking app called Google Keep.  "With Keep you can quickly jot ideas down when you think of them and even include checklists and photos to keep track of what’s important to you. Your notes are safely stored in Google Drive and synced to all your devices so you can always have them at hand."  If you prefer to speak instead of type, that is fine, because Google Keep transcribes voice memos as well.  Users can also use a search to find archived and even deleted notes.

As users create notes you can change the color of those notes and move them around throughout the app as well.  "You can access, edit and create new notes on the web at http://drive.google.com/keep and in the coming weeks you'll be able to do the same directly from Google Drive."  For more information, see the video below.

Export Your Padlet/Wallwisher

Padlet announced yesterday through their blog that users now have the ability to export and print their walls.  Users can export their walls as a PDF, Excel document, CSV file, or as an image.  It is great to see a company listen to their users.  This feature was created due to receiving emails from users requesting its addition.  To export users just click the Share/Export button and then choose from the available options.  This is a great feature for teachers who need "paper" documentation of assignments and lessons that they have created on Padlet.

Documentary Video Directory

As a social studies teacher, I often would show videos in my classroom to provide a visual to the content that I was teaching.  Most main stream movies are good additions, but you might often run into students who have watched them.  Documentary films provide all the good information without the impact of Hollywood.  Below are two directories for documentary films.

Documentary Tube is a directory of videos that you can find on other websites.  You won't find videos housed on the site, as this website will point you to other websites where you can find the films.  Users can use the search tool or can look for videos based on categories.  Users can search the top 100 as well.  If interested, users can also suggest a videos to add to the Directory Tube.

Documentary Guide is a simple search engine that allows users to type in video information that they are looking for and discover films and videos.  Users can also define their search to help with their video discovery.

FastFig - Math Computation Website

FastFig is a website for math teachers and students.  The idea is predictive math text.  As users create problems the software will provide the answer for the user.  You can currently use it for free and by examining the website there is a plan for requiring payment to use it in the future it appears.  Through an exhaustive search of the site I was unable to find what prices will be.  Users can choose between a blank page or working in algebra, trigonometry, engineering, and even word problems.  There are various calculator functions based on the type of mathematics users will be completing.

I was pretty good in math.  But I am sure that math teachers would have a better understanding of how FastFig works.  There is a great tutorial at the beginning and also a search that helps find functions to use with the service.  I also worry about its use by students to solve problems instead of trying to solve them on their own.  At the same time, it is important that teachers know about these types of sites and that students might use them.