7 Good Screen Capture Tools for Teachers Introducing new technology tools to your students or to your colleagues can become a frustrating exercise if you end up repeating the same step-by-step directions over and over again. Not only is it frustrating for you to repeat those directions, it can also be frustrating for the students who want to go ahead but can't because you're waiting until everyone is on the same page. One way to avoid that is to create annotated screen captures of the tools you're introducing. Another way to avoid repeating directions over and over again is to creating screencast videos in which you explain each step of the process. Here are seven tools that you can use to create annotated screen capture images and screencast videos. The tool that I use most often of creating annotated screen capture images is Jing. To use Jing you must download and install the free software for your Mac or PC. Show Me What's Wrong is a free service offered by Screencast-O-Matic.
Top 12 Sites To Watch Videos That Are Better Than YouTube There’s little doubt that YouTube is the go-to video site for many people. In fact, it’s one of the most popular websites in the world. But what if YouTube happens to be inaccessible? These days, video is such a huge part of the online experience that there are many options available. 1. Even if you visit YouTube on a regular basis, it’s worth adding Vimeo to your regular rotation of video sites. Among other things, Vimeo features a number of well-known movies and TV series, such as E!’ The site also has an easy-to-browse search feature that organizes videos by category and channel. 2. Metacafe is a video site that specializes in shortform video content. One of Metacafe’s strengths is its simplicity. 3. Originating from Israeli startup Qlipso, Veoh describes itself as an internet TV company. Veoh features a wide range of TV content, including full episodes and clips from shows including NCIS, Two and a Half Men, The Price Is Right, and The Young and the Restless. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Automated Video Editing Site Makes Movie Magic Out of Raw Footage Devices proffering video capture are nearing ubiquity. Hence, so too are lackluster, unedited video clips. Magisto to the rescue. The Israel-based startup is launching to the public Tuesday with an automated video editing platform. Magisto's promise: Give us your unedited footage, and we'll give you a short movie that you can proudly show off to friends and family. In fact, that's nearly all there is to the site. Magisto is not for the artistically-inclined, obsess-over-every-detail video editor. "The average person doesn’t edit videos," says Magisto co-founder and CEO Oren Boiman. The startup is keeping mum on its secret sauce, but does say that its proprietary technology is designed to automatically find the best footage in your videos. Magisto's magic formula, from what we've seen, works impressively well — so well, we'd like to see the startup release mobile applications for quicker uploads, and remove its branding at the end of finished movies. Image courtesy of iStockphoto, adventtr
A Commitment to High Tech Education Narrator: Gulfport, Mississippi's Harrison Central High School hasn't changed much since it was founded in 1957. It still has sports teams and cheerleaders. It still offers practical courses in subjects like cooking and horticulture. Student: [Inaudible] today is what could be said about national politics. Narrator: Now history lessons are as exciting as game shows. Student: What is your final answer? Narrator: Digital cameras help reveal the principles of physics. Donnie Lott: Are we collecting? Narrator: Probes and laptops are used in real world scientific explorations. They even use technology to improve their nationally ranked cheerleading squad. Dianne Denley: Okay, breathe three times. When we had tryouts we realized a lot of our cheerleaders were not as physically fit as they needed to be to be able to go through a competition routine that it only lasts two minutes but those two minutes are jam packed with stunts. Narrator: Or taking virtual field trips around the world. Student: Maps.
Teaching Without Technology? Lenny Gonzales By Aran Levasseur New technology is a lightning rod and polarizing force because it not only begins to influence what we see and how we see it, but, over time, who we are, writes Nicholas Carr in his book, “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains.” It makes sense then, that debate of digital technology’s role in society is naturally being played out in microcosmic form within schools. Education is designed to transmit a culture’s history, values and theories of knowledge while also preparing students for the world of tomorrow. Yet, in times like ours, when the gulf between the past and future stretches light years, cognitive dissonance ensues when students, teachers and parents try to figure out what technology should be used to bridge this timeline. Anti-Tech in America’s Tech Capital While critique of new technology within schools is healthy and to be expected, a recent New York Times article revealed an unexpected source: Silicon Valley.
10 Internet Technologies Educators Should Be Informed About – 2011 Update These Technologies Are Changing Education. Are You Familiar With Them? It’s been nearly two and half years since the publication of the first “10 internet technologies that educators should be informed about” article on this site and given the fast paced evolution of technology it’s time for an update. The start of new school year is the perfect time to refresh this list! Below you will find updated information for 5 of the technologies from the original posting, and 5 new technologies that have earned their rightful place in the list (displacing 5 other types of tech, that while still worthy, are not quite as relevant today, IMHO). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Another important education technology trend is the exploding use of mobile devices. Well, there you have it – ten technologies that teachers, administrators, and educational technologists should be keeping an eye on and considering for their schools and classrooms, if they aren’t already using them. About Kelly Walsh
Khan Academy Free Technology for Teachers Bancroft iPad Initiative