Findings at the AEA 267 InfoTech Advisory Board Meeting

I learned about TrueFlix (very similar to BookFlix but for 3rd-5th graders) yesterday at an AEA 267 meeting.  I have played around with it a little bit, but it is affiliated with AEA267 and uses the same AEA267 Username and Password assigned to each building.  It is not on the www.iowaaeaonline.org web site as not all AEAs in the state subscribe to it yet.  Take a look around, see if it would work for you, a couple students or all your students and if you think it might be beneficial add as a link to your SchoolFusion page(s).

I also learned about neibors.lib.overdrive.com for your AudioBook and/or eBook needs through the public libraries.  When you get to the web site, click on the Quick Reference Guide on the left hand side for more information, but essentially if you have a public library card you have access to download free audiobooks to be played on your computer or mp3 devices and access to download free ebooks for your ebook devices such as Kindle, Nook, iPad and more.

Spelling City: A Closer Look for the elementary teachers

Article
http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=3579

Web Site
http://www.spellingcity.com/

3 web sites you should check out soon!!

Flubaroo

If you use Google Forms with your students as a formative assessment tool, and you want your assessments to be graded automatically, then you need to look into Flubaroo.  Simple and easy to use, and it does all of the work.  Seriously check it out.

From Tech & Learning:

10 Important Skills Students Need for the Future

Top 10 Sites for Educational Apps

Google Docs Templates

Alright,

So Google Docs is starting to become more of an everyday or at least 1 time a week usage for educators.  The reason being is the collaboration piece of being able to work on a document together and/or have someone help out you instead of providing a document to someone and then you having to do the work to enhance the document based on their suggestions.  Google Docs provides the opportunity for many educators to work together to better enhance their instruction and learning, as we have come to know that we do not know everything.

Another part of Google Docs that greatly supports the collaboration piece is find a Template within Google Docs that someone has so graciously shared for us to look at for potential use or at least to spark ideas to better guide our thoughts.

Once you are logged into Google Docs, to find a Template,
Click on "Create" and then "from Template"
Once you click on "from Template" you can sort between Public Templates, HDCSD Templates, Templates I've Use, My Templates.
Click "Public Templates"
Once in "Public Templates" the easiest way to find what you are looking for, such as Periodic Table, is by searching for it at the top of the page.
Once you search for a Template you can "Preview" it or if you click "Use This Template" it will actually be put it within your Google Docs list for your use.
If you Use This Template, depending on how it was created, you either have to use it as is or you can modify it and save it as your own.

I have found some great Templates to use related to the Periodic Table, Note Cards, and more.