Here it is: Tuesday again—which means it’s time for the next installment of "Tech It Up Tuesday", a series devoted to sharing an edtech tool, app, site or other resource that can be utilized in the classroom setting. This week’s tech-isode features Kahrds, a free online interactive tool based on creating study sets, or flashcards. Here’s how it works: After creating an account, users have the option of generating a new set—which includes selecting a category, providing a name for the set, choosing the language and setting the visibility options: Private (access is restricted to the creator), Public (the set is listed in the Community Section) or Limited (only users with the direct link to the set have access). Once this section is complete, data can be entered into a new set by utilizing one of two methods: Typing each word and definition into the set or by using the "Import Kahrds" feature—which essentially allows the user to copy and paste info from another source. Besides generating "Flash Kahrds", this tool also automatically produces a variety of related activities that can be used to study the sets including Hangman, Crossword Puzzle, Pop Quiz, Quick Type and more! Just as an FYI: Most games require a minimum of ten cards to play. Kahrds will work on any device that can access the Internet—desktop, laptop, tablet, etc. and is available 24/7; however, there is currently no mobile app offered for this tool. Classroom Connection: Flashcards are one of the simplest and most common ways to introduce a concept, practice a concept or study for a quiz/test. That said, Kahrds can be used at any grade level in any content area to review topics both in and outside of the classroom setting.

What’s new this week in my Diigo bookmarks? Check out the links shown below for some of the latest and greatest "Cool Tools" and/or web resources that can be integrated into your classroom! » Meograph Create four-dimensional interactive stories using maps, videos, audio, images and links. » ExamTime Preparing for a test or just learning new concepts? This site has a group of tools to help you, including mindmapping, flashcards, multimedia notes and quiz generators. What a great assessment resource for teachers and students! Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links can be found here.

It’s just what every computer lab needs—a cool poster (like the one shown below) containing some general guidelines to help students make the most of their time tech-ing it up! Of course, all of these rules may not apply to your specific circumstances, but it’s a pretty good list to kick start your very own checklist of do’s and don’ts for your school’s (or your classroom’s) digital space. A shout out to B.E. Publishing for creating and sharing this useful visual! Purchase your very own copy here.

What’s new this week in my Diigo bookmarks? Check out the links shown below for a few really cool tools and mobile apps that can be integrated into all sort of classroom activities! » Duolingo A fun, addictive and free way to learn one or more languages—Spanish, French, German, Italian and many others—anytime, anywhere on any desktop, laptop or mobile device. » iFunFace An iOS app that allows users to create funny videos of themselves and others by using a static image and a recorded message. Creating a funny video has never been so easy and so much fun! Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links can be found here.

Now that you’ve had a chance to settle back into another year, it might be time for you to take the (unofficial) tech challenge. Yep, just check out the infographic shown below to read about a few really swell ways you and your colleagues can shake things up in your classroom(s) for the remainder of the school year. No matter how big or small your students may be, here are some excellent edtech ideas that can promote 21st Century change in any learning environment. Thanks to edtech-er Austin Gagnier for creating and sharing this useful visual—one that was found by sketchnote guru Sylvia Duckworth and transformed into this awesome image: Click here to view a full screen version of this sketchnote. Classroom Connection: Regardless of which version of the graphic you choose to read, post, share—use it to inspire change in your classroom, school and/or district! Just remember: The more we expose our students to real-world tools while completing relevant activities, the better we prepare them for life beyond our walls. You’ve got this!

Hey, edtech gurus! It’s Tuesday again and time to focus on another resource that can be utilized to tech out your classroom. This week’s focus is on fun and free educational games for students in Grades 1-6. In case you’ve never met before, here’s introducing Arcademic Skill Builders—a web site that can be used to boost basic math, language arts, vocabulary and thinking skills via research-based and standards-aligned arcade style games. The basic games located within the Arcademic Skill Builders resource are free to play without the need to login or create an account. However, a Plus package—which includes data reports, custom game content and video lessons—is also available for purchase. Of the 60+ activities available for use, the majority of them are multiplayer games, although some are geared toward single players as well. Several of the games are even enabled for play using a Nintendo Wii remote. How ’bout that as an option! Here’s a screenshot of the interface to pique your interest: Classroom Connection: As the tagline suggests Academics + Arcade = Fun. Hence, the name of the site: Arcademics. That said, use this really cool blend of online games and key educational skills to engage, motivate and teach students math and language arts skills.

As Quincy Jones once remarked, "I’ve always thought that a big laugh is a really loud noise from the soul saying, "Ain’t that the truth." That said, Edu-fun Friday is a series devoted to adding some humor to the lives of teachers who visit this blog. After all, there’s nothing better than ending the week on a positive note! Plus, do we have the best topics to provide us with some comic relief or what? I’m also old enough to remember playing tic-tac-toe with all that! xoxox

What’s new this week in my Diigo bookmarks? Check out the links shown below for some of the latest and greatest "Cool Tools" and/or web resources that can be integrated into your classroom! » Image After A free online photo collection that includes images and textures that can be utilized for personal, educational or commercial purposes. » MasterMath A website that offers a variety of math resources for middle school students including video lessons, practice worksheets, self-grading quizzes, downloadable worksheets and many more! » Flipbook Deluxe A web application that allows users to draw simple frame by frame animations that can be saved, exported to PDF and/or shared with others. Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links can be found here.

Are you ready for another round of Tech It Up Tuesday, a series devoted to sharing an edtech tool, app, site or other resource that can be utilized in the classroom setting? This week’s shout out goes to the LIFE Photo Archive powered by Google, a collection of unpublished historical images from LIFE Magazine that span from the 1750’s to present-day. This database containing millions of images—a joint venture between LIFE Magazine and Google—is completely free and very simple to use. Just access the site and then select a category of photos to browse (decades, people, places, events, etc.) or use the search option to locate the desired image. Once a photo is found, it can be downloaded to your device and utilized in multimedia projects, documents, presentations, etc.—so long as it has an educational/non-commercial use. Here’s an example of one of the really cool never seen before images I found after conducting a search using the key words John F. Kennedy. If you would just prefer to use the Google Images search engine to locate photos from the LIFE Photo Archive, then you can bypass the actual site by simply adding "source:life" to any search. The result? Only images located within the LIFE Photo Archive will be returned. (i.e. John F. Kennedy source:life). Give this advance search option a test drive! Classroom Connection: The LIFE Photo Archive is a great place to snag images that can be used for a variety of purposes: To introduce a historical topic and/or to spark a conversation about an event in history. These photos (or any photo as well as other media types) could also be utilized in conjunction with document analysis worksheets. Besides strengthening visual literacy, this concept is a great tool for use as bell ringers, pair share activities and exit tickets—all of which help to ensure that students are actively engaged with lesson content. Examples of Document Analysis Worksheets: Written Document (PDF) (HTML version) Photograph (PDF) (HTML version) Cartoon (PDF) (HTML version) Poster (PDF) (HTML version) Map (PDF) (HTML version) Artifact (PDF) (HTML version) Motion Picture (PDF) (HTML version) Sound Recording (PDF) (HTML version) The document analysis worksheets listed above were designed and developed by the Education Staff of the National Archives and Records Administration. You may find these resources to be valuable classroom tools as the use of images combined with instructional strategies and/or technology can… Spark interest and enthusiasm Engage the learner Provoke thought Provide clarity Encourage interaction Stimulate discussion Make connections to learning Address the four lenses of learning (meaning-centered, language-based, human, social) Enhance critical thinking skills Inspire creativity Strengthen literacy, including information and visual Promote a variety of 21st Century skills And the best part: Lessons, activities and projects using images can be designed and utilized in all content areas across the K-12 curriculum!

What’s new this week in my Diigo bookmarks? Check out the links shown below for some of the latest and greatest "Cool Tools" and/or web resources that can be integrated into your classroom! » Openclipart.org High quality, free for commercial and non-commercial use on cards, books, crafts, fashion, merchandise, and services. Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links can be found here.