Classroom+Management

Cloud-based alternatives to SRS have begun to emerge offering institutions the ability to utilize a low cost system that relies on the tech that students already carry. These applications work by allowing the students to utilize a cell phone or a web-enabled device (iPod, etc.) to record responses. Obviously this isn't going to work very well for elementary schools (unless the school has iPod labs). ** Poll Everywhere ** And **Socrative** With Poll Everywhere [] you setup the quiz by computer and then the respondents may answer by using a cellphone through text, twitter, or browser, or by a computer through the browser. You can view the results live through the website or you can install a widget into a powerpoint slide and view them. There is no charge for creating quizzes with up to 30 participants, but to get some of the really cool features, like grade reporting, response moderation, custom keywords, etc. you have to get the pay version [] Socrative is very similar in what it does but they take a slightly different approach. The teacher creates the quiz online and then opens a room for student to log in. Students use ipod touches, iphones, androids, or basically any cell phone with a browser or a Mac/PC to log in and answer the questions. The responses are displayed on the teachers web page in real time. [|http://m.socrative.com/lecturer/#trainingTour]
 * Online Student Response Systems**

eClicker/eClicker Host


eClicker is a student response system that is designed to use any wifi connected device as the student responders, while the teacher can use an iPad, iPhone, or iPod as the host.

** Social Media for Education **


[|Edmodo] is a site, that is trying to position itself as a Facebook/Twitter-type application specifically designed for teachers. It’s a web 2.0 application that allows for networking and working with groups. Unlike Twitter, which does not have the capability of uploading and storing files or creating threaded discussions, Edmodo has a great deal of potential as an educational tool. It seems to combine features of an on-line class platform with the instantaneous communication and micro-blogging capabilities of Twitter. [|Edmodo] offers a number of features that will allow creative and technologically-savvy educators and class leaders to create some very powerful learning tools. Edmodo allows a teacher or group participant to post short messages to group members. It allows for direct messaging and has a ‘public timeline’ where everyone in your group or class can see what is posted instantly. Edmodo allows users to create accounts, and offers that "social media" feeling of instant communication. Each user has a personal account page to use in managing his or her information. Users can upload or choose a picture or avatar for personal identification. However, the creators of this site have added a number of features that will make it far more attractive to educators than the typical social media outlets. Instead of having to track down and install endless outside applications to help you accomplish simple yet essential tasks, Edmodo offers capabilities to do these things already built into the system.

Edmodo offers different types of main account pages, depending on whether you are signed up as a teacher or a student. Teacher pages offer a great deal of control over what their student pages can access. Edmodo allows educators to create groups of students for different classes, and to grant different privileges to each. Teachers can post assignments, announcements, and reminders in their various classes. There’s also a file-sharing feature that allows students to turn in assignments within the system. Students do not need a separate email account to use their classes on Edmodo, which can be a real boon to those who have very limited internet access. If parents and teachers wish, the system can be kept completely separate from the wider internet with its various temptations and pitfalls. Read more: [|http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/reviews/33632.aspx#ixzz1F0aScmYG]

Wallwisher Online bulletin board – It’s great for sharing ideas, opinions, images, videos, etc. instantly and forever. Example: High Incidence Special Ed Class: [] Activity: []
 * 1) Show a video about a concept.
 * 2) Ask students to post opinions, clarifying info, etc. on wall
 * 3) Can be anything from simple text to Youtube videos
 * 4) Make sure you check the box to approve all posts!

Live Binder - An Online Notebook for Teachers and Students


 * Review from a teacher that uses LiveBinder...**

Like most teachers my lesson plans are located in a three-ring binder. I have hard copies of any electronic documents, presentations and notes located in this binder. I also have a flash drive that contains all of my electronic items. Bookmarks of relevant sites to my curriculum are saved in Google Bookmarks as favorites. I have always wished that I could keep all of these nice and organized in one place. Live Binder is the answer to this wish. [|Live Binder] allows you to add text, upload files, and upload links to an online notebook. There are options to share the notebook by email or by embedding it on a blog or webpage. I found it to be pretty easy to create a notebook. It took me a while to gather all of my materials that I wanted to place in the book. The sample notebook that I created below is an AP Statistics unit that is a work in progress. I can easily update it with new items or remove outdated items that I no longer need. The link will always find the most current version. Live Binder is still in beta and I hope that they add a few more features. I would like to be able to copy and paste pictures from my computer to illustrate some of my lessons. Pictures can be uploaded, but won't appear until they are downloaded. Currently, pictures from Flicker can be added to illustrate the text. I would also like for there to be an option to turn my documents into ipaper. I could have gotten around this by uploading my documents to Scribd then uploading that link to my Binder. However, I was in a hurry and did not take the time to do this. I see LiveBinder as a valuable tool for teachers. They can use it for personal use to keep track of their lesson plans as I did in my sample. A department could also display common items to all teachers to embed in their webpage for students and parents to access. The science teachers at McCullough Junior High School have created a Live Binder for their common science forms, links, and assignments. It is located at[|www.livebinders.com/][|edit?id][|=2440] This binder is private and requires an access code. The access code was given to students and is on the science teachers' websites. However, I will not list it here to maintain their privacy. It is nice to have the privacy option available for the content in Live Binder. My sample is public so that you can view it. There are also several other public notebooks at the Live Binder site. Hopefully, you will find this application useful for your classroom. []

Blabberize allows you to upload a picture, draw a mouth on it, and then add an audio file so that the picture can become animated. __ Classroom uses: __ Photosynthesis raps http://5daled2010.wikispaces.com/Photosynthesis+Raps 1. Blabberize an important figure from the past to have that person summarize his/her accomplishments or point of view 2. Blabberize a student of the day for a "Who I Am" section 3. Blabberize a famous mathematician explaining a solution to a math problem 4. Blabberize in a foreign language 5. One student per week can blabberize a summary of the topics covered

Voki is a free service that allows you to __ [|create] __ personalized speaking avatars and use them on your blog, profile, and in email messages. [] ** Classroom uses: ** One class conducted research on North American Explorers. Each student kept notes on the accomplishments made by their explore, their conflict and/or cooperation with the Native Americans, and the reasons they set out for North America. The students then created their Voki to resemble their explorer. Another project involved the creation of a book talk. Their task was to create a Voki that could persuade others to read the book of their choice. Another possibility is to create a Voki to persuade others to start a colony on the newest moon found in our Solar System. [] Lesson Plans []

Vizzle
VizZle is a Web-Based curriculum tool designed especially to benefit students who are visually oriented (ASD, etc.). Benefit: Access all your lessons, supports and images on any computer connected to the web. And VizZle updates automatically, so every user has access to every content upgrade and new feature instantly. The shared user library has hundreds of peer-reviewed, ready-made lessons in every academic subject and therapeutic discipline – with more added every day. Benefit: Teachers, parents and therapists no longer have to “reinvent the wheel” every time they need a visual lesson or support, saving valuable time and resources. Everything is customizable – from the content to the reinforcers and everything in between. Benefit: Because it is so quick and easy to personalize, every child – no matter what the age or ability level – can have the differentiated educational content he or she needs to thrive and succeed. VizZle lessons and supports display interactively on computers, touch screens and whiteboards. Benefit: Kids love it! Higher engagement leads to better outcomes. ====**SurveyMonkey** is the leader in web-based survey solutions. Founded in 1999, SurveyMonkey helps millions of people gain the insights they need to make more informed decisions. Customers include 100% of the Fortune 100, as well as other businesses, academic institutions, and organizations of all shapes and sizes. ====

====**Wufoo** is a web application that helps anybody build amazing online forms. When you design a form with Wufoo, it automatically builds the database, backend and scripts needed to make collecting and understanding your data easy, fast and fun. ==== ====Because we host everything, all you need is your web browser and a few short minutes to build a form and start using it right away. While we've collected a few of our favorite features here, the best way to experience Wufoo is first hand. So be sure to [|sign up] today for free or try out the [|demo] see how form building was meant to be done. ====