Edmodo

If you are interested in setting up a Web 2.0 environment for your class, but are worried about online security and safety, it might be worth exploring Edmodo. Their website says,

“Edmodo is a private micro-blogging platform built for use by teachers and students for use in the classroom. The problem with traditional web 2.0 tools in a k-12 classroom environment is concerns over privacy of the students. Edmodo has been built with the privacy of students in mind. Edmodo provides a way for teachers and students to share notes, links, and files. Teachers also have the ability to send, alerts, events, and assignments to students.”

see Edmodo here – http://www.edmodo.com/blog/about/

Screencasting

Screencast-O-Matic is the free and easy way to create a video recording of your screen (aka screencast) and upload it for free hosting all from your browser with no install!

take a look at – http://screencast-o-matic.com/

Why not get pupils to make screencasts as tutorials for other pupils – once uploaded to the internet they can be used anytime anywhere by anyone!

Go Animate

I recently came across this really good site for animation – well worth taking a look at this as it makes the creation of animations a simple task for pupils.

“GoAnimate.com is an entertainment website that enables the simple creation of unique computer animated stories, satires and sentiments that can be shared with the entire online community. The site offers simple to more advanced innovative features that provide users with a multitude of possibilities for customizing their animations. We will constantly be enhancing and adding features, popular licenses and animations from well known comedians, animators and writers.
Historically, the creation of animation required specific skills, limiting those who can express their creativity. We designed the Go!Animate application to allow users to create animations without drawing talent or a technical understanding of advanced software such as Flash. The site provides users with a library of interesting characters, backgrounds, props, sound effects and music for use in creating their own unique animations. Creators can customize their animations with a number of tools and features that allow them to create truly unique works of expression. “

taken from their website – http://goanimate.com/go/

Future Web Trends

This is by Biraja Swain from Bangalore India

PowerPoint Plugin

For those of you with the latest version of PowerPoint this is well worth a look. This is a plugin that turns your presentation into a Microsoft “touchwall” – their website says,

“Microsoft Turns Super Awesome TouchWall Into Super Snoozy PowerPoint Plugin” – you can find it here along with a great explanational video;

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/14/microsoft-turns-super-awesome-touchwall-into-super-snoozy-pptplex/