Technology Times

It’s that time of year — SOLs, AP tests, and then final exams. Testing can be a VERY stressful time for students, parents, and staff. So, I thought the best website to share this week would be one that was all about taking a break and having some fun. When it feels like testing will never end (I think I’m already there, and SOLs have only been going on for a few hours….), do yourself a favor and take a break. Here is a fun site where you can design your own kaleidescope. It’s very cool!

I know that we are all very busy, but it’s important to take mental breaks once-in-a-while.

I am loving Diigo. I know I’ve written about this site before, but the more I use it, the more I like it. I’ve been bookmarking sites like mad, and I’ve set up networks with a lot of the Edubloggers I read so that I have access to their bookmarks, too. It’s a bit of information overload, but most definitely provides a wealth of information and useful links. You can find my links at http://www.diigo.com/user/Tekkieteacher. If you decide to set up an account, feel free to send me a friend request and join my network. After all, in this Web 2.0 world, you are what you share!

One of my latest additions is Boolify Project. If you’ve ever wondered how to efficiently search the web, this tool will show you the way!

I love my PLN (Personal Learning Network). During the last few months, I’ve set up networks in Twitter, Diigo, Delicious, and Classroom 2.0 and I’m learning so much! Last night I needed to find another way to convert a .wav file to a .mp3 file because my converter wasn’t working. I posted a question to Twitter and had my answer within minutes!

This week’s featured websites are ones suggested by my “friends” in my PLN.

The first came from Jim Gates’ Tipline and is called Gadgets, Games, and Gizmos for Learning. The name pretty much says it all!

The second came from one of my Diigo contacts and is called 4Teachers. The primary objective for this site is to provide teachers with nice resources they can use to integrate technology with instruction.

The third one comes from Greg Smith at Tech Ed Know-How and is called Real World Math. This one looks really neat! It provides lessons where you use tools like Google Earth to teach math.

This week’s featured website is Diigo. It’s online bookmarking, social networking, and instant messaging all rolled into one site. Here’s a nice Wiki about how to use it, too!

How many hours do you think you’ve spent putting together presentations for you classes? Well, before you start you next one, check out SlideShare.net! They have a huge collection of slide shows. You might be able to find one you can use, or at the very least you can get some great ideas! Please be aware that some of the presentations posted here are going to be more (or less) appropriate for school, so search with caution. In addition, while this is a slide sharing utility, please be sure to always give credit to the original creator. It’s the nice thing to do!

This one from Alexei Kapterev is one of my favorites!

| View | Upload your own

Today I’m posting not one, not two, but THREE websites that our Social Studies and Science teachers might find useful. I can’t take credit for finding them, though. As usual, I depend on the generosity and intelligence of others to point me in the right direction.

The first site, Exploring Earth, was sent to me by our Oceanography teacher, Cathy L. Select a chapter from the left and then use the navigation buttons along the top to find some really neat resources.

The next two sites I discovered through Jim Gate’s Tipline. He is the bee’s knees (Do people still say that, or am I just a dork? – Don’t answer that. I already know the answer.) when it comes to wonderful tips and tricks. For our Social Studies teachers, check out 270towin.com to trace the history of our presidential elections. For our Science teachers, here is a nice ”clickable” periodic table.

Just two more days to go…..

This week’s featured website comes to us from Maryland, but it has some great stuff for those of us further south, too!

http://www.thinkport.org/default.tp