Technology

=TECHNOLOGY = = =

Marc Prensky's ppt, NECTFL 2008, Engage Me or Enrage Me








__Using Photostory__


With Much Thanks to //Cherice Montgomery//:
Blogging Use a variety of pre-made templates to create your own blogs that support the uploading of media-based content for free. Blogs can function as particularly effective tools for communicating rationales for change, sharing vision, initiating conversation about proposed change initiatives, and soliciting feedback (via the comments sections of each post). A collaborative blog with multiple authors can also be a powerful way to involve busy teachers in creating change by inviting them to express opinions, discuss important issues, and share ideas and information. ====[|http://www.blogger.com] [|Google Alerts] – Lets you have Google notify you via an e-mail message when anything is posted on the web on the topic of your choice. A super way to keep up with the latest changes in the profession. [] [|Google Reader] - After creating a free account, teachers can use this service to keep track of the webpages to which they have "subscribed" (for free and very easily) using RSS technology. A good way to keep up with changes in the profession. [] [|Google Scholar] – This search engine returns only scholarly articles and books, tells you how many people have cited them, and links you to related articles. Great for gathering credible information about factors that might affect change initiatives. [|http://scholar.google.com] [|Go2Web2.0 Directory] - A handy directory of Web 2.0 services leaders can use to facilitate change. ====  [|Jumpcut] - Allows you to edit digital video for free online. Use it to help others envision the benefits of change. [|http://www.jumpcut.com] ** - **

[|Media Convert] - Do you have trouble keeping up with changes in technology and find yourself unable to open the files others send you? This free, slick little online tool will let you identify a media file on your desktop or at a particular URL and convert it to the format of your choice simply by filling in a simple form. No registration required. []

[|Motivator] - Create your own motivational posters that extol the benefits of change for free with just a digital photo and a few clicks. Download the posters you create, e-mail them, print them, or upload them to Flickr. You can also order print copies. [] [|Picnik] - Absolutely fabulous, free, easy-to-use, extremely functional, online image editing software. Lets you rotate, crop, color, or edit photos and will soon offer special effects. Interfaces very well with Flicker. (Still in beta) Use it to take photos of existing practices and then edit them to help others envision the change you are advocating. [] [|Quickmaps] - Allows you to pinpoint locations on a Google map, title and annotate the map, draw on the map, save all your annotations, and then generates a code you can embed into your blog or website to display the map. Great for representing the geographical impact of change initiatives at the national level. []

[|Skype] – Free software that allows you to talk to anyone in the world (up to 4 people at once) through your computer for free with a cheap headset mic (like the telemarketers wear) as long as the other person also has the software. Great for group conversations about change initiatives. You can also call landlines or cell phones, but there is a charge for that. [|http://www.skype.com]

[|Survey Monkey] - A super survey tool for collecting information and opinions from stakeholders prior to initiating a change, and for collecting data in order to evaluate changes that have been implemented. The tool aggregates and tabulates the results for you. [|http://www.surveymonkey.com] ** - ** [|Swicki] - Free software that allows you to create a search engine on your site that will evolve the results over time to better serve users based on their click patterns. Super for tailoring your resources to the needs of those visiting your site. []

[|Swivel] - Lets you explore, compare, and share data.

[|The Amazing You Tube Tools Collection] - A collection of tools to help those interested in using/publishing materials to YouTube. Great for those who are looking for ways to make successful changes more visible to the community.

[|Tubes] - Allows users to drag and drop content (audio files, bookmarks, documents, e-mail contact lists, spreadsheets, videos) into a "tube" that can then be accessed by all those who have been invited to share it. Invitees can also upload content to the tube, making project collaboration easier. The latest versions of content in the tube sync up when the user is online. Click on the Download link to see a 30-second demo.

[|Websites as Graphs] - Lets you visualize the content of a website (in terms of images, tables, text, etc.) graphically. Useful for evaluating websites in terms of content and design issues.

Wikispaces - Allows you to set up collaborative work spaces where multiple people can collaborate. Allows uploading of documents, files, images, and multimedia in addition to basic text, and includes discussion boards for every page, editing histories, revert options, RSS subscriptions, and the ability to review recent changes. Very useful for initiating, implementing, and sustaining change efforts. http://www.wikispaces.com

[|Yugma] - Free Web 2.0 videoconferencing software. (Read more about Tim Lauer's experiences with it here: [|http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2007/02/yugma_free_web_.html)] An outstanding tool for collaborating to produce change. []


= = =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; color: #000080;"> = = = =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; color: #000080;"> =