Memonic allows you to capture, store, use and share online information. It “is a way to keep the essential information you come across every day and easily retrieve it again the moment you need it.”
They state:
A problem facing the regular Internet user today is how to keep track of information and bits of information found on the Internet. Current solutions such as (social) bookmarks do provide only partial and unsatisfactory solutions. Example: The bookmarked URL is no longer valid.
and,
In brief it’s a description of a system likened to a Rolodex of the Internet: Smallish cards holding bits and pieces of information for later use. Information becomes truly fluid.
Some interesting stuff I found surfing around and some via Twitter (I can’t remember what by whom, but thank you and sorry for not referencing):
Do you use Skype? Check out TinyChat. “Peer-to-Peer chat service that allows you to set up a one-on-one conversation with a friend in literally seconds. No plug-ins, no software, not even a username required. The only thing you literally have to do is pick a URL for your video on the p2p.tinychat.com domain.” (via Mashable)
TubeChop allows you to easily chop a funny or interesting section from any YouTube video and share it.
At fontcapture.com you can create a font from your very own handwriting. There’s no software to download and install, all you need is a printer and a scanner.
FrameByFrame“…lets you create stop-motion animation videos using any webcam/video camera connected to your Mac, including iSight. Just take some pictures and in a matter of seconds you’ve got your very own stop-motion Quicktime movie!” A freeware alternative to iStopMotion, but installation required.
Our new school year began this week. As in any international school setting, teacher/student turnover occurs every year. Sometimes it may be as high as thirty percent. To get everyone on the same page, why not consider experimenting with some new tools for your class/grade level projects? (Remember though, pedagogy first, tools second.)
I have posted many of these before and most essentials are filed under the “Cool Web Tools” tab above here on this blog. I have also made some further additions to my Creativity 2.0 wiki (pictured below). If you are busy, skim through and look for the RECOMMENDED! sites as pictured right.
I have done my best to make the navigation on the wiki simple. I would advise starting with the Presentation section. You may also find something useful under the “Other Good Stuff” area too. Click on the picture below to take you to the wiki. If you have any further recommendations, I’d love to hear from you! Lastly, consider looking at Alan Levine’s 50+ Web 2.0 Ways To Tell a Story. (Remember, most 2.0 tools require sign up.)
My job position has changed this year. I am teaching grades 6-9 Art as well as grades 1-3 Drama. My involvement in IT at my school may be minimal. However, it should not affect the posts on this blog. Let’s face it, all teachers are in IT now.
For the best professional development this year, start twittering and get a strangle hold of your RSS feed/Reader. I find Google Reader the easiest. If you already have a gmail account, you are pretty much set.
Art Threat: a web magazine about politics and the arts. They write about political art of all genres, discuss policy as it pertains to culture, and showcase artists whose work inspires social change.
Better Posters: a resource for improving poster presentations.
Digital Ethnography: a Kansas State University working group led by Dr. Michael Wesch dedicated to exploring and extending the possibilities of digital ethnography.
eLeaning Infusion: some good information here especially if your considering using digital portfolios.
SnagFilms is committed to finding the world‘s most compelling documentaries, whether from established heavyweights or first-time filmmakers, and making them available to the wide audience these titles deserve.
SnagFilms.com is a website where you can watch full-length documentary films for free, but we’re also a platform that lets you “snag” a film and put it anywhere on the web. With a library of over 550 films, and rapidly growing, you’re bound to find films that resonate with your interests. We make it easy for you to find a film that shines a light on a cause you care about. You can then open a virtual movie theater on any web site, so any one can watch your favorite SnagFilms for free.
Sounds great! However, everytime I try to watch something, I get this:
I have emailed them asking for clarification but they have not gotten back to me yet. Anyone else with info for this? It may be worth to keep your eyes on the site as their documentary list is very worthwhile.
Our school librarian found this great resource called Academic Earth and it “is an organization founded with the goal of giving everyone on earth access to a world class education.” It may prove useful over the summer for those teachers that update units and look for new resources. Unfortunately, there is nothing for the arts.
Following on from my post about Creativity 2.0 and web tools to use in your class, comes Best Embeds for Educational Wikis and Blogs from Making Teachers Nerdy. She offers similar tastes on options available for embeddable tools on your site. They are broken down into:
Collaborative Project Tools
Communication Tools
Photos
Student Products
Video
Go have a look. I was glad to find Calameo as an alternative to Issuu. Calameo allows you to create digital books that also allow video and audio. Sign up required.
Use Gizmoz Studio on your site to introduce/review/report a topic to students or convey news to parents. Sign up required but extremely easy to use with different templates available. You may upload a photo of yourself and record your voice if you wish (1 minute limit). Alternatively, you may opt for text-to-speech as I have done, however there is only a 200 character limit.
I used the above video (using Xtranormal) as my introduction for a casual workshop I did on Creativity, Technology and Authentic Assessments this morning for JapanASCD (workshop ning here).
In the workshop, I tried to highlight different mediums and ways to use technology to share knowledge, performance and products. What does it mean to be creative? How and what do we use technology for? Perhaps I should have called it Creativity 2.0?
My presentation is only the tip of the iceberg. Being creative is more than making things or being artistic. It’s also a way of thinking and problem-solving. I highlighted some web 2.0 applications and let participants explore them. Everyone is busy these days. No one has time just to sit and try things out.
I presented using Prezi (here) and compiled the 2.0 tools on this wiki pictured below. If you are a regular reader to this blog, you may know this stuff already. But remember, pedagogy should come first and the tools come second!
EyePlorerallows you to search topics and click and drag facts onto a notebook. It’s in beta and there are a few glitches but it may be useful as a note-taking resource to share with the whole class. A better way to copy and paste!? The splash page is in German so don’t worry. I’m not too sure about this one yet. Here’s my example for painting (click the photo to enlarge):
UPDATE: video now available
There’s also VisWiki. It’s “…a visual, intuitive, and interactive web interface to encyclopedic knowledge/information, especially of Wikipedia. It is designed to provide a fun place to learn stuff in an efficient manner.”
Thirdly, check out ArtBabble for “free flowing conversation, about art, for anyone and as a place where everyone is invited to join an open, ongoing discussion – no art degree required.” A very good art resource with a building video library. I was lucky to get an invite pass when it was in beta and it is rather good. It also allows you to embed video onto your site.
Lastly there’s Meet Me At The Corner. They have “…dozens of kid-friendly educational videos.” You can even submit your own.
I have posted many of these before and most essentials are filed under the “Cool Web Tools” tab above here on this blog. I have also made some further additions to my 
