30 January 2011

0 It is Finally Here - Voki for Education!

YAY!!! They finally unveiled Voki for Education. For those of you who do not know what a Voki is.........

"A Voki " is a free service that enables teachers and students to express themselves on the Web in their own voice, using a talking character. Anyone can customize their Voki to resemble them or look like many types of characters, such as people, animals, historical figures, and many more. A Voki can speak using your own voice, an uploaded file, or by typing in a message (called text-to-speech). Your Vokis can be posted on your class blog, website, or anywhere online."
Why Use Voki?
"Studies show that using technology in education improves students' achievements. Voki is a unique tool to engage your students in creative expressions. As Albert Einstein once said: "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
How Can You Use Voki in the Classroom?

With the unveiling of Voki for Education...they have created a Teacher's Corner Forum and Lesson Plan Bank. Since Voki for Education just rolled out - there are not a whole lot of Elem Ed. lesson plans but I image within a few months, there will be a slew of lessons on how educators are integrating Voki into their curricula!

07 January 2011

0 Answer Garden - An Online Answer Collection Tool

Answer Garden is a fabulous collaboration and immediate feedback Web 2.0 tool.

It is very easy to create with no registration or login required. It may be embedded into any website, social network page or blog - please note: the embedding option will not work on your Frisco Apple Server blog – instead you may supply a direct link to the question. The submitted answers forms a word cloud - only 25 answers are visible per garden but as students submit the same answer, that word will grow larger - kinda like Wordle. Below are some possible ways this tool could be used in the classroom.
  • Brainstorming
  • Open-ended thinking questions
  • Classroom poll
  • Synonyms / Antonyms
  • Character analysis
  • Reflect on a story
  • Word Chunks
  • Vocabulary
How Could You Utilize Answer Garden in the Classroom?

How Could You Utilize Answer Garden in the Classroom?... at AnswerGarden.ch.

0 A Few Favorite Math Apps for itouches

We recently purchase itouches for our school. Why itouches? These 21 Century learning tools are both engaging and assist in creating an interactive learning environment. Most of all - it makes learning fun!  There are a treasure trove of excellent educational apps for all subjects.  Below are just a few of the FREE Math apps we are using on our itouches!


PopMath Math Lite FREE
A fun way for kids to practice basic math. Lite version is free however the free version is limited to addition only, The full version for .99 features additions, subtractions, multiplications and division.

Kids Math Advance: FREE
Easily teaches kids how to Count, Multiply, and Divide VISUALLY using fun animations with a prize reward system for completing each level.

 Adventures UnderSea Subtraction Game FREE
The object of the game is to unlock all levels and reach the final level. The levels are unlocked when the puzzles are solved, and as the levels progress, the puzzles are more challenging and less time is given to complete the level.

Addition UnderSea Adventures Games Lite FREE
The object of the game is to unlock all levels and reach the final level. The levels are unlocked when the puzzles are solved, and as the levels progress, the puzzles are more challenging and less time is given to complete the level.

Basic Math FREE
This is an application based on the drill-and-practice instructional strategy. Similar to memorization, such a strategy presents the tasks to be completed repetitively to build up the foundation skills for more meaningful learning in the future.
Math Drills Lite FREE
Graphically rich and fun environment allows a single student to learn basic math skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Explore solutions to problems using number lines, wooden blocks, facts and hints.


Clock Master FREE
Clock Master is a game to help children make the connection between hours and minutes and to help them become fluent in both reading and setting time on digital and analog clocks.

Cash Cow Lite FREE
Help Buck the Cow and his friends save the farm in this original game of coin counting. The objective is simple: earn money by counting up your loose change. Small coins make big coins, and big coins make dollar bills.


Pearl Diver FREE
Throw on your diving helmet, and head into the depths of the sea! Dive amidst shipwrecks and sunken ruins for the valuable pearls, maybe even the elusive black pearl. But watch out for that pesky electric eel!* Ideal for middle school and upper elementary students, grades 3-8.

Computer Carl FREE
Computer Carl is a robot. He is feeling very tired because his energy is low. Help guide him through a maze so he can get to a battery to recharge by solving basic addition and subtraction problems.