In this episode, we'll feature 4 fantastic web-based applications that can have you and your students using some incredibly-functioning, feature-rich applications without the need to install anything. As the episode title suggests, these applications and tools run right in your web browser and are all FREE.

Applications featured in this episode:
Writely - the web word processor
Gliffy - a web-based concept-mapping/diagram-creating tool similar to Inspiration
Protopage - create feature-rich web pages instantly without any programming (or program)
Gabbly - a chat application window that can appear with ANY website instantly (records your chat transcript too)
Mailinator - instant and disposable email addresses for those who love these web services but don't want to give an email address to register for these services with a real email address


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Some say that technology does not improve student learning, and have plenty of data to back it up. Others say the reason for that is that teachers aren't teaching differently with technology than they do in their classrooms. I say that if we want to improve learning with technology, we need to understand the learning process. Once we do, we'll be better able to apply those beliefs about how learning should happen to any technology that comes our way.

In this episode, we'll look at 3 popular learning theories, and make connections to how technology can leverage the learning process.




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Show Notes

Constructivism - 01:27
Social Cognition - 04:39
Brain-based Learning - 11:04

Show Links
Podomatic
Audacity
Q-Matrix Presentation
Big 6
Webquests
Class Blogmeister
Doing CL
Collaborative Learning Structures
Social Constructivism

Jigsaw Classroom
Crash Course in Learning Theory
Great Problem-Based Learning Article (3MB PDF) by Miguel Guhlin
Math game website shown in the video - Count On
FreePlayMusic - Free music for school-based projects (don't upload to the Internet)
Class Blogmeister
Pod-o-matic - Free online podcasting tool
Funderstanding - Brain-based Learning

Most teachers I've talked to want to use Microsoft Excel with their students but don't know where to begin. This episode guides you through a simple but interesting project with Excel which involves doing a real-time survey, entering that data into Excel, and very quickly and easily turning that data into a pictograph.


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Teachers are doing many things with weblogs in their classrooms. In this episode, we feature some of those blogs as well as interview a Seattle teacher, Bre Pettis, about how he uses blogs with his art students.

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Show Links:
Mrs. Polak's 4/6 Class Blog
Paul Gates' 2nd Grade Class
Willow Web
Simple Machine Blog
Dive Blog
Young Reader's Choice Awards Blog
Bre Pettis' Room 132 Blog

Episode 4 - Online Literature

Episode 3 - Educational Robotics

Episode 2 - Using Digital Pictures in the Classroom

Episode 1 - Using the Internet to Enhance Writing

In this episode, we look at how teaching the math concepts of area, perimeter, and/or scale drawing can be enhanced using a tool most of us have, Microsoft Word.

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In this episode, we look at 3 techniques students (and teachers) can use to create animations in PowerPoint:
1) Custom animation built into PowerPoint (2:27)
2) Keyframe animation with 'Duplicate Slides' and/or with sprites (7:25)
3) 'Flash-once' animation (10:41)

I've used all 3 types of animation with kids for different purposes, but by and large the most effective activities I've done are ones that involve students explaining concepts or ideas with animations. Not present in this episode, students can also record their own voices or add music using tools built into PowerPoint.

Click here for the PowerPoint template used in this episode

Show Links:
The Spriter's Resource
Logitech Video Effects
Other Sprite Animation Websites:
The People's Sprites
Game Sprite Archives




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