Bing Maps

Most of you are already familiar with Google Maps and Google Earth. But have you ever tried Bing Maps? It has some awesome views that Google doesn't.

"What stars and planets are over your head right now? Find out using Bing maps.
Bing has added Microsoft's Worldwide Telescope to its map section.
Now you can look up using street view and see what's going on in the sky above you.

In addition to seeing stars, the application pulls data in from the Worldwide Telescope Community including Constellations, Solar System, All-Sky Surveys, Spitzer Studies, Chandra Studies, Hubble Studies, Astrophotography, Radio Studies, NOAO Studies, Gemini Studies, Messier Catalog, Planets/Moons, Earth (Bing!), Panoramas, and Tours.

To add the Worldwide Telescope application to Bing maps, click on map apps and choose Microsoft Telescope. After you've added it you'll see some choices on the left panel, starting with "Do you want to see some stars?" and a list of the collections you can add such as Hubble studies, solar system, astrophotography, and other collections.

The Worldwide Telescope application requires Microsoft Silverlight to run - if you don't have it, you'll be prompted to install it. There are 25 Bing map apps in all ranging from Streetside Photos to Roadside Sculptures, as well as travel webcams, restaurant finders, local events and more."
Credits to Gizmos Freeware

Best Free Mac Downloads

For those of you who are using Macs, this is a good list of downloads you may want to consider putting on your Mac.
Pac for Mac

TOOBLE - Download Videos to Watch Later on Your Computer, iPhone, iPad, or iPod

What is Tooble? Tooble is like a DVR for the internet. Tooble is the best and easiest way to take all of your favorite videos from YouTube and other sites and download them straight to iTunes so you are able to watch any video on your iPhone, iPod, iPad or smartphone. And it's free!!
With Tooble Free you can:
—Download any video from YouTube
—Automatically import into iTunes
—Sync to your iPhone iPad or iPod
—And more, all in as few as three clicks
Download Educational Videos with Tooble
Teachers can incorporate great videos like this into their daily lessons.

Tooble is like a DVR for the internet, allowing you to download videos from YouTube, TeacherTube and other educational video websites straight to iTunes.
Visit: http://tooble.tv/

Creating Presentations On iPod Touches

Yes, that’s right. Students can create effective and sometimes stunning presentations directly on the iPods now. There is a new app named Keypoint that will create Keynote/Powerpoint presentations, and apps such as Animoto and Sideshow Builder create auto-run presentations that the student can then present. Just one more awesome use for iPod Touches in the classroom!

iThink iNeed iPods, iPads and iPhones in the Classroom

Don't you love the title? I actually cannot take credit for it. It is the title of one of several sessions at a free online conference taking place on April 28. For those of you who have the privilege of having handhelds in your classrom you may want to check out this conference to get inspired with some new and fresh ideas for using them in the classroom!
http://fetc.org/Events/Virtual-Conference/Home.aspx

Google Has an Educational Apps Marketplace

The apps can be integrated with existing apps such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs. Using free apps from Google's new selection - which include spelling and grammar and bibliographical management tools - could help ed-tech officials avoid installing and updating software on hundreds of computers in school. Some of the more useful apps for teachers are online gradebook apps, Brain Pop, and the Grockit Learning Platform.
Grockit,is a social networking and gaming platform that lets students learn from and compete with their peers on a range of subjects using the site's live chat service.
Google Ed Apps, is something to keep an eye on as it develops and grows in 2011!

ROAR at Radford!

I met with Dr. Matt Dunleavy recently to discuss how I was going to use ROAR - Radford's Outdoor Augmented Reality, in my schools. I learned that it is cutting edge and is still in the development stage. We discussed some uses that they are still working out, such as using it as an assessment tool. If a student gets the answer to the question correct, they can move on to the next station, if they get it wrong, they get remediated. This can be very powerful for the classroom teacher. I am excited to be able to work on making ROAR more useful for the classroom teacher! I am going to be using it for the first time with a class in the next week or two. I will update everyone on how it goes.

Podcasting - Under Used, Under Appreciated

A new study (Lecture Podcast Listeners Outperform Class Attendees) found that students who listen to lectures on podcasts test better than those who listen in class. Podcasting is a powerful educational medium, second only to books, in my opinion. But unlike reading books, you can listen to podcasts while doing the dishes.
Yet another reason to use iPod Touches and iPods in the classroom.
The lecture doesn't always have to be just a recording of a teacher. What if the students had to summarize what the teacher was lecturing on, in their own words and they recorded that instead? There would be some issues where the student didn't get all the necessary info or twisted the message. This can be controlled by working in teacher supervised groups to prepare the summation. The act of reiterating the teacher's words and putting them into their own words, reinforces the learning and teaches them an invaluable skill that they will be able to use throughout their educational career. Podcasting is nothing new, but how it can positively affect testing may be news to you.

Utilizing Technology in the Classroom Can be Frustrating!!

Inevitably you will feel frustrated when using technology in the classroom. Someone's login doesn't work, a file won't save, you can't find your file, the printer jams, the bulb goes out on your projector, and on and on. Knowing the inevitability of it, a teacher can turn it into a positive experience. The more problems we have with technology the more we end up learning from it. You can set an example of perseverance, problem solving, adaptation, adjusting, trial and error, teamwork, and exhibiting a positive attitude. These are all skills students will need in life beyond their school experience. As with any life lesson, it is a rare occasion when we get something right on the first try. We must realize that not trying technology is doing our students a major dis-service. Again, using technology will be frustrating at first, but give yourself some time to get used to it and set up some time with your Instructional Technology Resource Teacher. Technology is not something you have to use everyday, but sprinkle it in when you feel it is applicable and it will enhance your teaching and students' learning. Here's to all you teachers who brave the unknown and try technology, knowing it can fail from time to time, but are willing to persevere and teach your students life skills in the process!