StudyDog Is Great Resource For Early Readers
By Dal Archer | March 12, 2008
Teaching reading has always been a challenge, but it may never have been more challenging than it is today. Today’s early learners are growing up in a media driven society and engaging them in reading exercises is becoming more difficult with each passing year. Fortunately there is a standards based program (aligned with Reading First and The National Reading Panel standards) that combines multimedia with solid early reading concepts to engage young readers.
StudyDog is a very inexpensive resource that can be accessed on the web or installed via CD. However, it may also be offered for free (if certain conditions are met - see below). The program is geared for ages Pre-K through 1st and also provides 2nd grade intervention. The program covers such topics as alphabet, letter knowledge, letter formation, phonemes, rhyming words and syllables for early learners while covering phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension for older learners.
Topics: online education |
Free Site Offers Wealth of Resources To Improve Public Speaking/Presentation Skills
By Dal Archer | March 10, 2008
Do you wish that you were a better public speaker? Or do you wish that you could teach your students to be better public speakers? Maybe you are just looking for some slick new content to dress up that tired looking Powerpoint presentation. Whatever you need, the free website PresentersUniversity.com is for you.
Topics: Web Resources, online education |
Keep Kids Safe Online
By Dal Archer | March 10, 2008
In the past school districts have talked about “stranger danger”, educating kids about how to stay safe in an unsafe world. But let’s face it, many schools across the country are doing a poor job of educating kids about how to stay safe online. Our school districts have failed to keep pace with the changing face of our digital society. Kids need to be taught about online safety and this education should begin at the elementary level.
Fortunately, the Virginia Department of Education and Pokemon have teamed up to create the Pokemon Learning League’s Internet Safety Program. Although, developed by the Virginia Department of Education, this site is free to anyone with a web browser.
This site is an outstanding resource for parents and educators alike who wish to teach children about Internet safety. There are interactive lessons, quizzes, tips for parents and more on this intriguing site. Kudos to both the Virginia Department of Education and Pokemon for creating such a wonderful and informative resource.
Internet Safety and You Site - Pokemon Learning League
Technorati Tags: pokemon learning league,internet safety,cyber safety
Topics: Web Resources, cybersafety |
Great Freeware/Open Source Tools for Grades K-12
By Dal Archer | March 6, 2008
Those of you who regularly read Techdrawer probably recognize by now that I am a huge fan of freeware and open source software for education. I thought that I had a pretty fair idea of most of the free/open source software available for K-12 students. However, Julia VanderMolen from Educators eZine wrote an excellent article concerning some great free/open source software of which I was unaware. She offers information on several educational freebies for students ranging in age from grades K-12 and also offers information on some other software that should be of benefit to many educators.
Topics: Software, open source |
Podcasting The Right Way
By Dal Archer | March 6, 2008
You know that podcasting is easy, right? I mean after all, everybody is doing it. But is everyone doing it right, particularly in the education field? 
Creating a quality podcast that offers true educational value can be challenging. That is why I recommend reading the recent article Building a Better Podcast by Matt Villano from T.H.E. Journal. This is one of the most useful articles that I have read concerning creating a beneficial educational podcast.
If you want your podcast to shine, be sure to check out Mr. Villano’s article.
Building A Better Podcast - [T.H.E. Journal]
Topics: podcasting |
Turn Those Old Cassette’s Into Digital Audio Files
By Dal Archer | February 21, 2008
Do you still have educational audio files (or your 1980’s music collection) on cassette? If so, you need to look at digitizing those files. A wonderful amount of educational material is still being stored in the classroom on cassettes and even albums. Many times these cassettes are wasting away gathering dust in a closet somewhere. Bring those audio files back to life and put them to use by using the free Audacity software program to digitize these files for playback on a computer (or burn them to CD).
The fine folks at Lifehacker have put together a great tutorial on how to convert audio cassettes to digital files using nothing more than a cheap stereo patch cord and the free Audacity sound editing software package. This is an awesome tutorial and I highly recommend it for digitizing those outdated cassettes. Note: You can use the same steps to digitize albums as well, but you will need a pre-amp).
Trust me, this is something anyone can do and it will prove to be invaluable for many educators who are sitting on a gold-mine of unused educational resources.
How To Digitize Cassette Tapes - {Lifehacker: Alpha Geek}
Technorati Tags: digital audio, analog audio, audacity, music conversion, digital recording
Topics: Software, open source |
Find A Myriad of Class Fields Trips Instantly
By Dal Archer | February 19, 2008
Are you looking for an interesting educational experience for your students, but you are running out of ideas? If so, check out Classtrips.com.
Classtrips.com is a free resource that will allow you to search for field trip ideas in all 50 states by querying geographical location, cost, and category. The site will give brief overviews of the many locations that it returns. This is an incredibly useful site and it will help you to uncover a treasure trove of field trip ideas right in your own back yard. I have lived in Oklahoma all of my life and I found several interesting ideas right in my own state of which I was totally unaware.
This is a great site for anyone wishing to plan an interesting (and educational) excursion.
Topics: Uncategorized |
How To Create An Online App, Without Any Programming Skill (and for free)
By Dal Archer | February 13, 2008
I recently posted an article about how to create a simple online form with the outstanding Google Docs spreadsheet application. Google Docs gives you the ability to create a fairly comprehensive web based input form, but suppose you wish to create an entire online database application. Do you need to seek the services of a web programmer? Maybe not.
Zoho offers a fantastic online web apps suite that just might give you what you need without any programming skill whatsoever.
Topics: Web Resources, Windows Utilities |
Automate Windows Shutdown With Free Tool
By Dal Archer | February 13, 2008
Okay, you know that you should be doing a better job of protecting the environment (and your pocketbook) by limiting your PC’s power consumption. However, if you are like me you often fail to do so. No problem. Simply take advantage of Poweroff, a free program that will automate Windows shutdown or simply allow you to place your computer in an energy saving state on a scheduled basis.
Topics: Windows Utilities |
Get Your Class Online For Free With Safe Tools From ePals
By Dal Archer | February 12, 2008
If you are looking for a safe way to introduce your students to online collaborative learning, you need to try out the free learning collaboration service from ePals. ePals is designed solely for educational use and provides a safe environment to introduce your students to the power of the Web 2.0 classroom.
Topics: Web Resources |
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