Welcome to the first in a short series of mega posts.
More for personal reasons I decided to audit the different web / ict resources I use, have used or intend to use. This list is those web-based resources I have used in class or for other professional reasons. I have tried to give examples (where appropriate), along with a screenshot. So here goes.
firefox
great free open source web browser, built to work with RSS technology. Lots of add-ons (foxy tunes links directly to your computer's media player and allows you to control media player from browser) and customisability. Blocks pop ups, links easily with different google apps and as with most open source stuff safe because those in the know work to protect it. Cross platform usage (windows, mac, linux etc)
flock
specialised social networking browser. Just out of beta. Links all your social networks together in one browser. I use it for uploading to flickr (great resource for this puprpose..multiple uploads easy batch tagging). Just seems to have too much going on at one time for me. I like to ...browse with my browser.
animoto
great way of putting together slideshow. Free for 30 second videos. Upload copyright free music to go with photos. Quick way of putting together an exciting slideshow to include in a presentation. There is a pro version which allows you to produce full length videos, about $30 I think for one year.
bubbleshare
Nice way of presenting photos in a slideshow
BubbleShare: Share photos - Here comes Halloween!
slideshare / slidecast
Used it for publishing my own slides from presentations, but have used slidecast to produce vocab learning resources. Could be used to promote pupil produced resources. Slidecasts are quite easy to produce and synchronise but you need to have a url for a voice file, I just uploaded to my blog and used the post's url. Would be great if you could upload sound file direct.
zamzar
Great little resource to convert all kinds of file. etc into other formats. Have used it to convert my .mov files to .wav files and vice versa. All conversions carried out on zamzar servers. They then send email of link where to download converted file. Simple and efficient.
pbwiki
Wiki for collaborative work - collaboration depends on collaborators getting on board, but this is very simple. As easy as a Peanut Butter sandwich. If you can email or word process you can use this. I am currently using it to promote our activities in our Connecting Classroom partnership. You can upload files (limited file space if you have a free account) or you can embed using the plugin menus...I find this a great way to post videos without using too much space.
I want to get into using it with students as a way of helping improve writing skills and helping them build a portfolio of work.
wikispaces
as above but above but I prefer look and feel of pbwiki.
google docs
as I am disorganised with paper this is a great way for me to keep documents. No need to worry about school server packing up. However not as feature filled as office and I some times find it a bit frustrating...although I hear microsoft are coming up with a web based version of their office suite to rival it. Includes word, xl, powerpoint equivalents. The ace thing about these docs is that there is a share/collaborate tool which allows you to work together on a document.
gmail
great easy to use unlimted webspace email. just about impossible to fill up inbox. Also creates conversations with mails exchanged between same people. The search facility is fantastic as well. A million times better than the new yahoo mail where I also have an account. (Compare these figures, in the last week my yahoo account had over 100 spam mails, gmail account had 2 so there is very good spam protection.) I am considering whether to start an experiment with a class where each student sets up a gmail account. I can then link them all to their own blog / wiki or whatever, but there is also an IM chat facility so I could specify a time online where difficulties with homework could be rsolved away from class... WHAT DO YOU THINK?
feedburner
creates feeds...don't ask me to explain how it works or what it does but it works. Basically if you create sound files or write blogs you can ensure that potential subscribers can follow your every outpouring...you can probably tell I don't fully understand it but it works.
typepad
blogging platform, paid but comes with all the whizz bangs necessary. You can link text, embed videos slideshows...as you can see from this very post. Extremely simple to use.
flickr
photo sharing website. Great for photo blogging etc. I have used the creative commons search facility to find photos for use in class. It can be used to share photos from class trips or school events etc. There are loads of "toys" that can be used with your flickr photos (motivational posters etc.). Try flickrvision for a few minutes, its mesmerising.
flickrslidr
produces embeddable slideshows from your flickr photos
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
skitch
allows sharing of screenshots. These can be annotated. Does lots more that I've not yet discovered. ONLY FOR MAC. I STILL HAVE 2 INVITES AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO LEAVES A COMMENT. See examples on this post.
bloglines
This is my feed reader. allows me never to miss what people whose blogs I enjoy reading write. Also does a whole heap more that I've not discovered.
youtube
video sharing website. Upload films and share with the world. Embed or link to your blog, social networking site etc.
teacher tube
video sharing website specifically aimed at educators. Self moderated
school tube
As teacher tube. requires registration via a school based email address and videos are moderated before publication. Doesn't seem to be as easy to use as tt but allows for longer films and are able to identify more specific channels for film. Was excited about it at first but am cooling on it very fast.
delicious
Bookmark sharing. Great way of helping students find web-based resources also enables you to bookmark interesting sites on whatever computer you are using. Here are my own favourites.
vixy.net
"record" videos from you tube etc to your own hard drive. In other words allows you to convert youtube files to files viewable on PC, iPod, PSP etc. Great when school network doesn't let you see you tube
miro
A bit like itunes specifically set up to search video sharing websites
rss
really simple syndication. aggregates everything that interests you on the web. rather than you going out to look at something all the time this is the technology that brings it to you, via bloglines in my case. Look out for the little orange logo in your browser address bar which lets you know you can subscribe to the site via an aggregator (eg bloglines, netvibes, my yahoo, google reader etc.)
Talking avatars. Create cartoon type characters from the available types then record, text or upload voice file (max 30 secs). Great way of encouraging kids to speak without having see themselves, good amusement factor as well.
flashmeeting
open university hosted free web based video conferencing. can chat in back channel, exchange urls etc. All conferences are also recorded and available afterwards, including all chat. This links to the recording of a flashmeeting organised by Joe Dale.
That's it for now. Hope this wasn't too long. Maybe I should have written a separate post for each application...hmm!
Uploaded with Skitch!
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Posted by: Lloyd34Sheila | Monday, 24 May 2010 at 21:33
Hi Adam
I have just come across your web site via an online course on Web 2.0 that I an taking - what a great web site and your British sense of humor is wonderful and so refreshing!! I am a brit living in the US and actually miss the brit sense of humor - I have never quite figured out what the difference is but there is a difference! the video from New Zealand that you posted on 'what old people do" was hilarious!!!
I work in a middle school in up state new york - I am the Instructional Technology Specialist - I actually do not like that word - I really am the Instructional tech integrater - working with teachers and students to help incorporate and integrate ICT ( Information communication Technology) into the curric grades 6-8. No need to go into details here to bore you - but I love the job and every day is different etc etc
I watched with fascination your UTube video sample on the Refugee Awareness day from your school - the kids looked just like ours!! I suspect you are already working with other schools across the world but wondered if you or any one else would be interested in a connection in NY state? At my school we do not integrate at all with other schools internationally - and with Skype it would be so easy - if you care to and have time let me know.
I am sure you could google me and find out more about me - not really sure how much is out there about me - you would probably find the link to the Nordic ski web site that I maintain - that says alot about my 'other' life! and our school web site - in fact I have included that URL above
By the way I love your link to your Delicious account - I have just recently started an account as well - it is absolutely brilliant!! and I have swiped 2 of your links - the Times article on girls using the INternet - fascinating! and the link to Cyber bullying - thanks so much for sharing.
Enjoy the weekend - happy Easter if you celebrate and maybe I will hear back from you - but have enjoyed chatting to Scotland!!
Anna
Posted by: anna gorbold | Saturday, 22 March 2008 at 13:11
I found this amazing website it is a WEB 2.0 that supports all media files conversion it is called http://youconvertit.com, they can do the following:
1- Convert document, images, audio, video and Archived files.
2- Convert any Youtube and other Online Video to popular formats or download the video
3- Send file(s) up to 300 MB to friends or post it on any forum for 7 days
4- Convert any type of units (Acceleration, Area, Torque and others)
what makes them amazing is you can add up to 5 different file formats, i used them to convert a document and couple of audio files.
Try them and give me your feedback http://www.youconvertit.com
Posted by: james | Wednesday, 26 December 2007 at 11:49
This is an excellent list! I stumbled upon your site while searching for a skitch invite, but yours is one of a handful I've actually read and enjoyed! I'm a K-5 tech integrator in a school in NY, and it was nice to read other opinions about all the resources out there. My kids use pbwiki for book reviews, and I totally agree with you about prefering pbwiki over wikispaces. Have you seen edublogs.org?
Posted by: Les | Monday, 29 October 2007 at 22:13
Flippin' 'eck! Do you have time to eat?
Thanks for that - I'll have a look at some. Flickr consumes my time at present!
Posted by: Mr B21 | Wednesday, 24 October 2007 at 22:16
Thanks for the 'heads up' on Miro and Vixy. Great post!
Posted by: David Noble | Tuesday, 23 October 2007 at 22:19