Sync.in not N'Sync

There are TONS of collaboration tools out there for use when you have to work with multiple people.  Google has a neat feature in Google Docs where you can share documents, but there is no real-time editing when you want to hash it all out together.  Sync.in lets you create an account and have multiple people working on a document all at once!  Log into their website by clicking here and click create a new public note.

Follow the instructions and begin working.  Here is a sample of what your document will look like when you type.

It's pretty neat.  This Web 2.0 utility also lets you live chat with your partners so that you don't have to write messages in the document and forget to take them out!

Please check this out and let me know what you think!  I have played with this for a little while today and I really like it.  I want to try it out with multiple people, so if you want to learn or fiddle drop me an e-mail!

Oh the tangled webs we weave

Here's another great tool from the wonderful creators of Google.  This will be very helpful for those of you who are doing research or want to teach your students about concept maps.  All you have to do is do a simple Google search.  In my example I chose the War of 1812.  Then on the left hand side click on "wonder wheel".

This will then take other concepts related to the War of 1812 and put it together in a wheel.  It gives you a list of websites on the side that go along with the wheel.

 Now if you click on one of the branches it will give you more information that looks like this:

Pretty neat right?  Well enjoy these tips when doing your research.  Who knows maybe you will find more information that you didn't even know related to your topic!

It's Cool to be Squared

Whoever thought it would be cool to be squared?  The wonderful technology inventors at Google certainly did.  By typing into your web browser squared.google.com, you will be directed to the Google Squared Labs. 

Here you can search for your topic, but Google goes one step further.  It takes everything that you could have wanted in a search and puts it into individualized columns. 

For example:

I typed into the search box "War of 1812" and got a list that looks like this:

It's a little hard to see, but the columns say, Item name, Image, Description, Location.  If you hover your mouse over any of the descriptions the websites will appear at the bottom, so you can make sure your students aren't using Wikepedia for the main sources!

It also gives you a neat feature to add columns.  In this example to the right of the Locations column it has a section where you can add.  When you click there they give you options like date, date of birth, died, place of birth, etc.  You can also name your own and Google will search for it for you!

It's a neat little trick that I found that will help make your researching as easy as can be!  Just don't forget the site is squared.google.com (or you can just click to the left).

Enjoy!

Discovery Education

WOW  I am so sorry that I haven't posted in a very long time.  We all know how busy we can be, but I do apologize.

I have an amazing 60 free trial for all of you.  I went to a conference this weekend and I learned all about Discovery Education.  They were nice enough to give our schools and any educator a chance to preview their services for 60 days.  So here's what you can do in order to access it.

First go to www.discoveryeducation.com and click on Passcode/New User and type in:
DISC ->into the first box (all caps)
2010 ->into the second box

 Then Click Log-on

It will then take you to a page where you can fill out all your information.  Make sure you put in all the accurate information because they will send you your user name and password in case you forget it.

After you fill that out and click submit you will be taken your very own My DE.  Here you can choose from all kinds of neat video, lesson plans, activities, and much, much more!  **IMPORTANT NOTE:  YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP PRIOR TO THE END OF MAY** if you do not the pass code will no longer be valid. 

Enjoy!