StumbleUpon

Have you ever been searching online for really cool websites but don't know where to look? StumbleUpon (http://stumbleupon.com) is a website that utilizes a discovery engine to help you find websites, blogs, videos and photos based on your interests. You can choose your areas of interest and StumbleUpon will deliver the "best of the web" based on your selections. You can rate the pages (thumbs up or thumbs down) and content is personalized based on your ratings. Every time you click the "Stumble" button, a new website loads.

One you create your account you'll want to choose your categories of interest. They recommend at least 5 but I suggest you check all your interest categories. (Hint: be sure to choose the "Bizarre/Oddities" category!!) Then click the "Start Stumbling" button. You may be prompted to install a StumbleUpon button on your toolbar. That makes it easier to "Stumble" at any time. Be sure to rate the websites as they come up.

Below is a screen shot of the toolbar that installs to your browser. You can send your favorite "Stumbles" to friends, post them to Facebook, etc. Be careful! It's addicting!

Tagxedo

If you liked Wordle you'll LOVE Tagxedo! (http://www.tagxedo.com) It's a Web 2.0 tool (in a really nicely organized, easy-to-use site) that, according to them, "turns words into a visually stunning tag cloud". Since pictures are worth 1,000 words (okay, ya gotta see the irony in that statement!) below is a screen shot of Tagxedo. (Click on it to see a larger view.)  I typed in the address for Boyden-Hull's website, chose the colors, and then chose the shape (appropriate since we're the Comets).

 It was fast and easy and required no registration to use. You can type in a list of words or upload a current list. The more words you have the more detailed your design. After you choose your words, you'll select the "Shape" option. You can tweak the other options as well if you want to fine tune it.

When you click the "Create" button you may get a message that you need to install Silverlight. It's free and you must have it or you won't be able to use Tugxedo. (Silverlight is similar to Adobe Flash in that it integrates graphics, animations, multimedia, etc. into a single runtime environment.) The link to Silverlight is right on the page so you don't need to go find it anywhere (how thoughtful, huh?)

How will you use it? Once again, the Tagxedo site anticipates this and provides a presentation on "101 ways to use Tagxedo". Here's just a brief overview of their suggestions:

Summarize a presentation - turn your PowerPoint into a "Tagxedo"
Compare documents - Gettysburg Address /MLK "I Have a Dream" speech
Review a book or movie
Keep track of current events
Make a poster of your favorite celebrity, historical character, fictional character
Make a self portrait - list words to describe yourself
Critique your resume - see it from a more visual perspective
Create an advertisement for a marketing class
Start a class topic and have groups provide input
Contrast candidates in a political debate
Summarize a report, story, book
Create artwork from original poetry or an old classic
Create a synonym word wall
Visually display a class poll
Make a "find the words" game

Artpad and Noteflight

I couldn't resist giving you two web 2.0 tools. I found Artpad and Noteflight.

Artpad (http://artpad.art.com) is a digital drawing/painting tablet that's very easy to use. There is no signup unless you want to save and send your masterpiece. You can browse the gallery to see what others have done. You have a nice color palette and variety of brush/pencil sizes. But, here's the really cool part to Artpad. By pressing the "Skip to beginning" link you can see exactly how the painting was created. There are some paintings with hidden messages embedded into the creation. You'll want to browse the gallery as there are some really creative "paintings." (Okay, yup, I tried it and my "creation" looked like something my granddaughter would have made...great for a 2 year old drawing with peas and carrots on her high chair but not so hot for an adult!)

The screenshot shows you one of the better gallery submissions. I circled the left side as you can see how to "play" the drawing. (Click on the drawing below to view a larger version.)

Noteflight (http://noteflight.com) is an online application for music notation. It lets you create and listen to music from within your browser. It does require signing up for a free account. You have a choice of various scores (piano, treble, bass, choir, guitar, rock group, etc.) along with the freedom to edit almost everything. I did think this was made for more musically advanced people, however. I can read notes and play a bit of piano (badly!) but I had a difficult time working with this simply because I don't know the conventions of how to create music. Interestingly, I predict that children will be able to figure it out in a matter of minutes. Those proficient in music will have an easy time of it as well.

Below is a screen shot of a demo. Yes, I created it and you will all laugh at how UNmusical it is..but, hey...I gave it a shot, right? Even if it's not something you're interested in, there may be others (especially kids!) who are, so please pass it along. Again, click on the image to view a larger version.

As always, please let me know if you try these and use them (especially in a classroom situation.) I love hearing the creative ways in which you use these tools! (And, hey.. ain't I got good grammar?!!!! *smile*)

WallWisher

If you want a different way of collaboratively sharing ideas, thoughts, and resources on a topic try WallWisher. It took me about 3 minutes to create a wall (here). You can post the URL on your blog, webpage or send it in an email. Visitors to your wall create "sticky notes" with up to 150 characters to address whatever topic you've written. It's a very graphical version of Twitter. You can embed photos to make it even more visual. (Illustration on this page shows a "polygons" wall.)




How could this be used?

• Post URLs
• Post assigned image searches
• Book reviews
• Favorites: authors, books websites, algebraic equations
• Create an "Honor Wall" for Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, President's Day
• Create a collaborative rubric for a project
• Use the wall as a suggestion box
• Chapter review
• Highlight accomplishments
• Brainstorming
• Class introductions - each sticky contains a photo and short bio
• Each student creates a wall based on a topic or theme
• Feedback, polling, voting
• Collaborative story writing
• Vocabulary - students brainstorm words based on a theme
• Quiz - record a quiz and stick an .mp3 in a sticky note
• Quiz - use one sticky note for each question
• Movable magnets - move stickies to rank, order, match, create timeline

Okay, Jim Phelps (yes, I'm old!) here's your assignment if you choose to accept: Go to my wall and fill out a sticky. Use your real name (I can see the hamster spinning on the wheel in your heads, people!!) so I know who visited. Thanks and have fun!!!

Prezi

I found "Prezi" (http://prezi.com) as a suggested Web 2.0 tool. Wow! Am I impressed! It's PowerPoint on steroids! I think we're PowerPoint-ed to death. How many meetings have you attended where you had the presenter READ THE SLIDES to you?!! (pet peeve of mine, obviously.) And those themes! Man, I want to strangle the person who uses dark type on a dark PowerPoint theme.

PowerPoint is linear whereas Prezi is multidimensional. It zooms and twists and turns. (Why, if you set it up right, I bet you could even make your audience puke! How fun is that?!!) I think you can embed Prezi-ntations into your blogs. Haven't tried it.. may just do that eventually as I get the hang of this blogging thing.

It's easy to insert/embed video (YouTube clips!), sound, and graphics. Try it. I think you'll enjoy working with it. I'd suggest transforming an existing PowerPoint presentation. Next time you have to give a presentation, give a Prezi-ntation! (No, they didn't hire me nor pay me and I realize that last statement was pretty lame but ya gotta end these things so you don't just keep rambling and rambling and........

Alpha, really?

Alpha. Yup. The beginning...as in my first blog. I'm a technology coordinator, for crying out loud and this is really my FIRST blog? Yes *hanging head in shame*. Why am I doing this? I'm doing this because I get brain picking questions and I have a passion for all things geek.

Geek? Isn't that a nerd, dork, undesirable-type person? Nope. Not any more. Being called a geek is now a compliment...and I are one, kinda. I have geekier friends who know everything about everything. (Buy lunch for those people. They're invaluable!) My passion shows up when I see "geek stuff". I'm a gadgets person, whether it's software, devices, whatever.

Okay, I digressed...back to why I'm doing this. I've found a lot of cool stuff online. Instead of constantly emailing continuously about whatever I find, I want a repository (as opposed to SUPpository, people...c'mon, I mean, really...) of websites and info that I think others might find valuable. So, hold on...here goes!!