Visual dictionary

A very cool tool to use with kids that includes images as well as written definition of words: http://blachan.com/shahi/

Concept mapping and note taking online

Great resource for seeing concept map of a topic you are investigating and assisting with note taking online:

instaGrok

The creator calls it a 'Search engine for learners'.

thanks to Free technology for Teachers site for recommending instaGrok. Free Technology for Teachers should be a site you 'like' and follow. Richard Byrne provides updates daily: some more relevant than others - you be the judge.

Digital tools for school

Ian O'Byrne and Greg McVerry's Digital Sandbox is a fantastic resource for teachers interested in using ICT for teaching literacy.

Ian's papers are available on his Mendeley site.

Google docs and Google presentations are also useful tools.

For a more 'interesting' presentation try Prezi.

Other tools and information can be found at LRA Cool Tools site. This was developed as part of the LRA study group session in 2011, a collaboration of a number of people. It was great fun and an incredible learning experience.

Online writing tools

Online Writing tools:

A wiki set up as an online resource for teachers. It is New Zealand based and has links and ideas. Check it out.

http://owt.wikispaces.com/Home

Interested in letter writing for students? Australia Post has a nifty online letter writing interactive in the multimedia fun section of their site for young children. There is an 'older' version but the only difference is the choice of banner at the top.

Glogster let's you 'brainstorm' in multimodally, creating a mash up of your ideas. The education setting allows you to set up your class in a 'safe' environment. This feature COSTS $. You can have free teacher account.

Update

Have you seen Inanimate Alice ? It is being used by schools as a tool for developing literacy skills. You can follow it on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/InanimateAlice and see what teachers, students and classes are doing and what it the latest with Inanimate Alice.

Another site worth keeping in contact with is Belmore South Public Schools blog - great examples and ideas from classrooms K-6.

New Tools: vimeo - and example used as a response to Inanimate Alice: The Great Escape

Storybird

Slide

Smilebox

Gathering some - will add in a new post.

Technology use in UK

Steph commented on Professor Stephen Heppell's website http://www.heppell.net/ which was mentioned in the latest Connected Classroom Bulletin.
The examples of what students are doing in the UK with ICT are very interesting.

Ultimo Staff meeting

This is my second attempt at a blog for my use in staff meetings and inservices. This one is 'better' as it is more organised and I have learnt how to customise my page more AND how to make links in the posts.

I have posted ideas [BELOW] that I hope to cover OR may not have time to show, for potential projects in your classroom. I hope they are of benefit to you. I will add more as time permits - I am not an addicted blogger OR at least I haven't develop the blogger habitus yet.