Google Docs

Here's another breakthrough by the giant company Google. It is amazing how they've grown over the years. Now, who needs to worry about online collaboration in real time? You can do it through google docs. With the use of this system, you can safely store and organize your work plus control who can collaborate and who can see your document. Isn't that great? I believe that teachers can benefit from this if they discover how to use it in their planning and collaboration.

Here's a list of what you can do with google docs;

Create documents, spreadsheets and presentations online

Create basic documents from scratch. You can easily do all the basics, including making bulleted lists, sorting by columns, adding tables, images, comments, formulas, changing fonts and more. And it's free.

Upload your existing files.

Google Docs accepts most popular file formats, including DOC, XLS, ODT, ODS, RTF, CSV, PPT, etc. So go ahead and upload your existing files.

Familiar desktop feel makes editing a breeze.

Just click the toolbar buttons to bold, underline, indent, change font or number format, change cell background color and so on.


Here's an interesting blog about google docs. Satish presented some issues about the use of this new feature from google.

http://www.satishblog.com/2007/06/google-docs-some-issues.html

Should you wish to start using this, you may click this link for your tour and start collaborating with your colleagues......

http://www.google.com/google-d-s/tour1.html

Try the Google Docs demo video on how it works....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRqUE6IHTEA

3D Sattelite of the World: The Google Earth Technology

Let's talk about visiting specific places around the world using digital technology. Wondering how you can instantly locate the place and show the real image? Curious about travelling without paying for any airline fare? Puzzled how you can move from one place to another in just a click of a mouse? Here's a good news for you educators...... 'The Google Earth Technology' can do all these.

Here are some additional information. These can also be found in the Google Earth site: http://earth.google.com/

Google Earth combines the power of Google Search with satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips.

- Fly to your house. Just type in an address, press Search, and you’ll zoom right
in.
- Search for schools, parks, restaurants, and hotels. Get driving directions.
- Tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and buildings.
- Save and share your searches and favorites.

View a world full of 3D content
Google Earth gives you a wealth of imagery and geographic information. Explore destinations like Maui and Paris, or browse content from Wikipedia, National Geographic, and more.

Explore popular places
View some of the most popular Google Earth content, published by many organizations and millions of users around the world. Open the files and browse them just like a document, but in a visually intuitive and interactive interface.

I use this in my class and I found it really helpful. Even my kids downloaded and installed this in their desktops at home for personal reference. Why not give it a try? There is a free version of these so you don't have to worry about the cost.

Excel in the classroom

Excel In The Classroom

go to To Excel in the Classroom is Elementary
In Classroom Strategy there are activities for all age groups K-5Teacher Resources has many templates. Go to How to Create a KWL Chart and How to Create a Timeline.

More Excel Resources
Excel……integrates real life situations with technology.
increases communication.supports many levels.
engages students in higher level thinking skills.
supports the principles and standards for school mathematicsapplies to cross curricular activities.
is a great management tool.
compliments and enhances instruction.
is motivational.
is just plain fun!

Webquest Portal

Webquest Portal

go toThe WEBQUEST Portal

At this site you will find a list of WebQuests that have been evaluated and found to be good examples of the WebQuest model.Top, Middling and New have a range of titles and descriptions for each level.Research has shown that the most important factor related to student learning and technology use is how teachers relate the technology-based activity to other learning activities. Therefore, it's important to clearly link your WebQuest to previous and subsequent activities, so that the WebQuest is not an isolated experience disconnected from the rest of your curriculum. Relatedly, WebQuests aren't the endpoint, but the beginning of student use of the Web for learning. Ideally, in the not so distant future, students will have internalised many of the cognitive strategies built into WebQuests, so that students direct and guide their own studies and findings.

Other WebQuest Sites are:Ozline: WebQuests and More designed by Bernie Dodge & Tom March

At this site Go to Filamentality & Web & Flow for scaffolding the development of WebQuests

Kathy Shrock's Guide for Educators: Webquests

Rubric Makers

Rubristar

go to Rubistar: Create Rubrics...

The Inspiration Page will give you some ideas. Inspiration

Try some of your own!Go to this link on the Rubistar WebsiteOther Rubric Sites:Rubric Builder

Go to Search all Rubrics Keyword to view Templates e.g English, Maths,ResearchKathy Shrock's Guide for Educators: Assessment Rubrics

Search Engines

Search Engines
Using 3 search engines, Google, Vivisimo, Ask Jeeves for Kids and the Meta search engine, Dogpile compare results and ease of use.The keyword/s can be related to a current unit of inquirye.g water conservation, dinosaurs, dolphins, ancient civilisations

Google
Vivisimo
AskJeeves for Kids & others
Noodle Tools

Use these 4 search engines to compare results, time taken and information provided.When using VIVISIMO use the New Window and Preview

Now Go ToSearching the Web

Enchanted, Zoomschool, Little explorers

go to: Enchanted Learning & Zoom School
This site is especially appropriate for K-6 students.

go to Little Explorers Picture Dictionary
Zoom Astronomy Rainforests Science Pages

Marco Polo Sites

Marco Polo Sites

go to Marco Polo

Other Marco Polo Sites
Artsedge The Arts
EconEdLink Economics
Edsitement Humanities
Illuminations Mathematics
Read Write Think English
Science Netlinks Science
Xpeditions Geography
National Geographic for KidsMarco Grams: Monthly Newsletter

Samples: A Rookery Soundscapes

Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizers

go to:Graphic Organizers

Other Graphic Organiser Sites
50 Uses for Inspiration & Kidspiration
Inspiration Rubric for Graphic Organisers

Citation Machine

Citation Machine

go to
Citation Machine
Quick Cite

Global School House

Global School house
Global Projects

go to Global School House
The Programs Link has collaborative projects for all ages.
Programs
Other Global Projects

NASA Interactivities

NASA Interactivities

go ToNASA Astroventure
It requires a Flash Player which will install automatically.

Other NASA Interactive Sites....
Earth Crew
See Learning in a Whole New Light

Artist's Toolkit

Artist's Toolkit

go ToThe Artist's Toolkit

Make sure you Explore the Toolkit.
Other Sites for Art.....
Eyes on Art
Making Sense of Modern Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Timeline of Art History
ART*ICULATION
Arts Edge

Brainpop

Brainpop

go ToBrain Pop
Topics across the KLAs
Each topic combines a 2-4 minute animated movie, along with various features such as interactive quizzes, experiments, timelines, how-to segments, comic strips, and printable activity pages to help present the subject.

BBC Interactivities

BBC Interactivities

go ToBBC SKillsWise Games

also.......
Interactive Maths Activities
Maths Zone
Resources 4 Primary Maths

Cyber Safety

Cyber Safety
Go ToAustralian: Net AlertCyberCafe..
Click on Cybercafe GameCyberSmart
A Curriculum Program for K-Year8.