Tired of typing in websites for students? Not anymore!

   Ever want your class to browse several web sites and can't do any instruction for cries of "Its not working!" echoing throughout your room? One of my colleagues recently made use of a fantastic online resource called Live Binders.com. We had a grand total of 34 questions that the students were to use 14 different web sites to answer. And I don't know about yours, but my kids can't seem to accurately type AOL much less a long .com with a thousand back slashes. In comes Live Binders. You give them one link, and when they click it it will open a page with all of the web sites that you specified on separate tabs. So they can just click through them! Its so much better and you can actually use your time to do some teaching instead of getting carpal tunnel from typing everything in for them. Here, better for me to show you! The blue tabs at the top of the page are all of the sites I decided to use. I love this resource and use it regularly in my own classroom.

Example: http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?present=true&tab_layout=top&id=656046

Any other apps, devices or websites you need help incorporating into a certain objective? Or an objective you want to link to technology? Follow and let me know via twitter (@Techno4Teacher) or the contact form on the right!

Stop pulling out your hair and buy an AIR!

   As a new purchaser of a 4th generation 13" Mac Book Air I thought I would share my thoughts on its use, verses a windows pc, in a classroom. I have been looking at one of these for a long time and finally pulled the trigger, and I am happy I did! Physically its a beautiful machine, the aluminum body makes it light, and its so thin! The key board is comfortable for me to type on and my speed is the same as it is on my expensive (to me) usb keyboard. 
   If you are an OSX fan already then there is no reason for you not to buy one of these. If you're only familiar with windows there will be a learning curve, but nothing a quick google search can't remedy. In reality there isn't much technological advantage to having Mac over Windows if all you do is make Microsoft office documents. If you have an iPhone or iPad then then being able to automatically sync your devices over the cloud is a great feature.
   Also if you teach technology and your school has Macs for student use it can be a great resource for making lessons that will be 100% compatible. These days Mac to Windows (and vice versa) compatibility for documents and files is, pretty much, never a problem. Especially since Microsoft office and apple alternatives are easy to come by on a Mac book. I recently saw a meme that said:

"I'm a PC"

"Im a MAC"

"And if all you do is get on Facebook, then we're the same thing!"

   This is absolutly true. If all you use it for is basic web browsing and office document editing, and the Mac user experience isn't important to you, then save some money and buy a PC. Myself? I wouldn't go back for a million dollars…… well yeah I would. Then I would use some of that money to buy another Mac. 

   In the end all it comes down to which experience you prefer. Go into an apple store or, if you live in the middle of nowhere like me, find a friend with a mac and play with it. Don't spend $1200 that you'll end up not even liking. My opinion is that Apple products are better built and stay relevant longer, due to very little fragmentation of versions and the fact that the hardware and software are made by the same company. But my moneys already spent. Good luck!

Any other apps, devices or websites you need help incorporating into a certain objective? Or an objective you want to link to technology? Follow and let me know via twitter @Techno4Teacher

Can you do charity work while you teach? You can now!

Many of todays youth are used to getting whatever they want, even the luxury of going to school in an air conditioned building is a privilege they take for granted. FreeRice.com is a great way to introduce your kids to the joy of giving, while letting them learn too! This website offers a variety of subject areas, from vocabulary to human anatomy and foreign languages. They display multiple choice questions and for every one you get correct they donate 10 grains of rice to the World Food Program. The more you get right the more difficult they become. I use this as a review method in my classes. I will even have contests to see who can donate the most in one day, my classes have really got behind this, they enjoy the idea of helping hungry children around the world. 10 grains doesn't seem like much, but it only takes about 1000 grains to feed one person for a whole day! Thats only 100 questions! This is a great cost free way to make donations, since the rice is funded by the advertisments on each page. I think it's a great way to get your kids involved in the worldwide issue of hunger and a sneaky way for them to learn! Definitely click over and check it out! You will probably find yourself sitting and answering questions when you do! I did. 

Any other apps, devices or websites you need help incorporating into a certain objective? Or an objective you want to link to technology? Follow and let me know via twitter @Techno4Teacher