Useful Tools Students Can Use to Create 3D Models (Work on Chromebooks too)

January 21, 2015
Below are two useful tools you  can use with your students to create 3D models on the cloud. You do not need to download any software, the tools are web-based and, best of all, work on Chromebooks so those of you teaching with Chromebooks will find them handy.

1- Design Something
This is an application for 3D modeling which works on both Chrome and Firefox. Design Something allows students to easily build 3D model using pre-defined shapes. They can also use tools such as extrude and sweep to create shapes from 2D sketching. Other features supported by the app include: ability to design parts first then assemble them; design offline, and export of finished design to STL for 3D printing.

Watch this video to learn more about this app

2- 3DTin
3DTin is a 3D modeller that allows you to  design models by placing cubes of different colors on top of each other. Finished products can be saved in the clouds or be exported in standard 3D file formats such as STL and OBJ.

Watch this video to learn more about 3DTin

Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

Terrific Timeline Creation Tool for Students (Works on Chromebooks Too)

January, 2015
Timeline, as its name indicate, is a very good tool from Read Write Think that you can use  to create web based timelines. The tool is very simple and students can use it to graphically represent a sequence of data (events, facts..,etc) along a chronological line. These timelines can be arranged by by date, time or event.

To start creating a timeline, head over to this page. Type in your name and project title then hit �start�. Now click anywhere on the timeline to add an item at that location. To edit an item, double click it. You can then customize the content and placement of your items as you like. Drag to adjust positions, click on the bin icon to delete  and when you are done click on �finish� to save your work to your computer or share it with others.

Timeline works on both computer and Chromebooks.

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

Excellent Science Apps to Use on Chromebooks

January 6, 2015
Chromebook Classroom Livebinder is a very good page packed full of chrome book resources including apps, guides, tutorials, presentations and several other materials. Wading through it I came across these two science apps that you can use in class with your students. Please share with us if you have other suggestions to add to this list.

1-  ChemReference

 ChemReference is a detailed and powerful periodic table of the elements and chemistry reference tool designed with a fast workflow in mind. Some of its features include:

• Auto-scaling periodic table 
•  Fully searchable with real-time highlighting of matched elements 
• Very quickly navigable with keyboard shortcuts for common actions
•  Trend highlighting for all properties of elements with color-weighted trends
•  Quick links to Wikipedia, WebElements, and Wolfram|Alpha for further element information

2- The BioDigital Human 

The BioDigital Human is a free 3D platform that simplifies the understanding of anatomy, disease, and treatments.Choose from 1000�s of interactive visualizations to build your own custom library of models. Interactive tools combined with detailed medical descriptions provide an unprecedented new visual format to learn about your body.

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

Excellent Chromebook Tips and Tricks for Teachers and Educators

December 24, 2014
In today's post I am sharing with you an excellent resource I came across while I was browsing through my bookmarks. This is a presentation created by Jonathan Wylie featuring a wide variety of tips, apps, and other resources you will definitely need in order to make the best of Chromebooks in your teaching. Some of the things you will get to learn from this slideshow include: handy tips on the hidden gems of Chromebook, insights on how to manage your Chromebooks,  educational Chromebook apps, offline Google apps and many more. Jonathan also provides a very good comparison of the prices and affordances of some good Chromebooks out there in case you haven't made your decision on what kind of Chromebook you want to buy.

Check out the Chromebooks 101 slideshow from this link.

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

3 Good Apps to Easily Edit Videos on Chromebooks

December, 2014
Below are some useful apps for creating and editing videos on Chromebooks. These tools are very simple and easy to use and students will definitely enjoy working on them. They can use them to make beautiful clips, tutorials and multimedia guides. They can also utilize them to create year in review videos featuring the most important events in their learning journey during this year.

1- YouTube Video Editor

This is by the far the most powerful of them all and is very simple to handle.YouTube Editor allows you to edit your videos right from the editor page on YouTube. You can add effects, transitions, timelines, and crop parts you do not want to show, select music from YouTube's library to  add to your videos and many more.

2- WeVideo

WeVideo is another good web app to use for editing videos on Chromebooks. With WeVideo you can import media files you have stored on Drive, Dropbox and edit them the way you want. You can trim clips, split long clips into smaller ones, insert text for titles and captions in different languages, record voice-overs, add professional themes to your videos, add music, transitions and many more.

3- Stupeflix

Stupeflix allows you to create beautiful animated videos using a mixture of photos, music and videos. You can make videos that are up to 20 minutes long. To start using Stupeflix, select a theme from the 16 themes provided there, add multimedia elements like photos, music, maps , text..etc and when you are done , download and share your final product with others.

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

12 Important Things Teachers Should Know about Chromebooks

December 15, 2014
Chromebooks are making gigantic inroads in the education sector. Several school districts here in Canada and the States are adopting them as teaching tools within classrooms. Their growing popularity among the education community is attributable not only to their reasonably cheap price but also to a host of excellent features that you can not find in other devices. Chromebooks are easier to handle, faster and more secure. They are also " instantly personalizable by each student or teacher, and easy to manage, making them an ideal solution for bringing the power of the web to your classrooms".

Here are some of the things K-12 schools can do with Chromebooks:

• Scale access to the web with computers that are simple to use and easy to distribute
• Share devices among students, with no manual set-up for different users
• Enjoy constant connectivity through integrated Wi-Fi and optional 3G, for always-on access without relying on school networks
• Administer machines throughout the school, no matter how many Chrome devices you have, or where they�re being used

I am actually working on a Google Doc where I would feature several of the tips and tricks you need to know in order to tap into the full educational potential of Chromebooks.  As I was sifting through my resources I came across this page from Google where they provided answers to 12 important questions concerning the use of Chromebook.  I think every teacher using Chromebook should be able to learn about these questions and their answers. They provide invaluable insight into the inner workings of this versatile device.

Below is an overview of these questions. You can check the answers from this page.

• What is the difference between Chromebooks and other computers (like Windows PCs or Macs)?
• Do programs like Microsoft Office / Skype / iTunes work on a Chromebook?
• Does a Chromebook work offline?
• Where can I find more apps? What is the Chrome Web Store?
• Why are Chromebooks less expensive than traditional PCs?
• What happens to my Google Drive files when my free storage expires?
• Can I print on my Chromebook?
• What kinds of accessories (like a mouse, USB drive, iPod) can I use with my Chromebook?
• How do I listen to music and watch my videos?
• Does the Chromebook have a CD/DVD drive?
• Do I need to store all my files online / in the cloud?
• How do I store and edit my photos?

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

4 Powerful Apps for Creating Mind Maps on Chromebooks

December 9, 2014
Here is a list I curated over the last weekend. The list features some of the best web tools teachers can use to create mind maps on Chromebooks. I have only included the ones I think are too simple and easy to use so any teacher can use them without any advanced technology knowledge. As I was trying these apps on my Chromebook, I discovered some glitches in the popular apps : blubber.us and Text to Mindmap so I did not include them, but you can try them out in your device if you want.

1- Lucid Chart

Lucidchart is an HTML5-based visual collaboration tool that makes drawing diagrams fast and easy. Work together with an unlimited number of others to create and edit diagrams in real time, with changes merged and synced instantaneously -- great for team collaboration.

2- MindMeister

MindMeister is another good app for creating mind maps.MindMeister is deeply integrated into Google Drive, allowing users to open and edit many mind map formats. Some of the things you can do with MindMeister include:

•  Create, share and collaboratively edit mind maps
• Import from Text, MindManager and Freemind
• Export to Word, PowerPoint, PDF, image, MindManager and Freemind
• Add icons, images, notes, links and attachments
• Integrated live chat
• Publish and embed maps
• Task management and notifications

3- Mindomo

Mindomo allows you to visually outline complex concepts, tasks, ideas, and other related information in a structured form. Some of its features include:

• Real-time collaboration
•  Embedded video and audio files 
•  Presentation Mode 
•  Multiple layouts (mind map, concept map, org chart, tree org chart) 
• Great variety of Import/Export formats 
• Map customization by adding icons, colors, styles and map themes 
•  Full map history, undo and redo functions 
• Password protected mind maps 
•  Comments and voting enabled on topics 
• Multilevel numbering 
•  Desktop version that enables users to work offline

4- MindMup

Free online mind mapping web site, with realtime collaboration and cloud storage: Make a mind map online, free, and keep it in the cloud with Google Drive, Dropbox, GitHub and our free anonymous storage. MindMup is available everywhere: you can access your maps with a browser or a mobile device, and cloud storage ensures you have access to your data where ever you are, and the application works nicely with both desktop, tablet and mobile browsers.

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

Three Powerful Note-taking Apps for Chromebooks

November 2, 2014
I received a couple of emails asking about app recommendations to use for note-taking on Chromebook. So I decided to pull up this list and share it with all of you here. The three apps I highly recommend are listed below. I have come across a few other titles but I did not find them really worth sharing here. Have a look and as always share with us what you think of them.

1- Google Keep

Google Keep is an excellent tool to use for creating digital sticky notes. You can use both text and images to capture and share your notes.  You can also use it   to create to-do lists and bookmark content from the web.It has an intuitive and user friendly interface that makes it way simpler to navigate and control than is the case with several other note-taking apps out there.

2- Evernote

This is definitely one of the must have apps for taking notes and recording ideas. Evernote allows you to save all your notes and bookmarks into one single place that you can access across different devices. You can also use it to create task lists and to-dos, attach images and audio to your notes and many more.

3- Quick Note

This is another wonderful note taking app that is specifically designed for lightweight note-taking. There are different ways you can use this tool. You can for instance use it as a simple notepad, scratchpad, or clipboard. Quick Note offers some good features such as the ability to easily search your notes and access them with one click. You can also sync all your notes to the cloud and access them anywhere.

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

Three Powerful Chromebook Tools to Collect Feedback from Students

November 19, 2014
Today we received a request from a teacher asking about web tools to use on Chromebook for creating polls and surveys. We went through our archive and pulled out these titles. These are, we believe, among the best chromebook-compatible tools out there for designing polls, surveys, and collecting feedback from students. Check them out and share with us if you have more suggestions to add to this list:

1- Kahoot

Kahoot is a web tool that allows you to easily create and play quizzes, discussions or surveys ( Kahoots). Using a simple 'drag & drop' creator tool on any device, you can build quizzes with embedded imagery and video, based on educational content. Or, find public content to play. Kahoot also allows you to engage your audience and grab their attention by projecting the quiz onto the screen at the front. Without needing an account, everyone in the room quickly joins through their personal device, seeing their name appear at the front. Real time feedback is also supported.

2- Socrative

                                   

Saocrative is one of my favourite tools for getting feedback from users. Teachers can use the different question types provided by Socrative to poll their students and garner their feedback in a variety of formats using both smartphones or computers.


3- Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere is another powerful web tool to collect feedback from your audience. This tool provides you with a variety of templates and feedback forms to choose from.Audience answers in real time using mobile phones, Twitter, or web browsers. The neat feature I like the most about PollEverywhere is that it lets you see your response live on the web or in a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation.

Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

Powerful Chromebook Apps for Teachers

November, 2014
Google's Chromebooks are growing in popularity, especially since teachers and students can use their Google accounts like a single sign-on. Here are some notable Chromebook apps to check out. They all have a website as well, so anyone can use these resources.

123ContactForm

Create quizzes, polls, and forms using this app's visual drag-and-drop editor.

Cacoo 

 Work on the same diagrams and mind maps with colleagues in real-time with this app.

Citelighter 

 Annotate, record, and track various sentences and passages from multiple websites into one place.

Online Voice Recorder 

 Record any sound from your laptop's microphone with this very simple app.


Want more? Check out these collections .

Teacher Chrome Extensions 

This is curated by library media specialist Krista Welz.

Chrome Apps for Digital Storytelling 

This one is curated by instructional technology specialist Rafranz Davis.

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

6 Good Chromebook Apps for Recording and Editing Audio

October 30, 2014
Awhile back I received couple of emails from some teachers asking about some app recommendations to record and edit audio on Chromebooks. Below are some of the good tools I would suggest for this purpose. Please have a look and share with us what you think of them.

1- SoundCloud

This is one of my favourite web tools for audio recording. Soundcloud is very easy to use and with once click you can start recording your own track. You can also upload sound tracks you have saved on your computer. Soundcloud also allows you to add comments to your audio tracks and share them with your students and friends.

2- Voice Recorder

Online Voice Recorder is a free simple application which records sound from microphone. After recording you can trim the sound and save it to your computer.

3-Vocaroo

Vocaroo is another web based tool that allows users to easily make audio recordings and share them with others. Vocaroo does not even require a sign-up and to start recording your audio, just head over to Vocaroo main page, click on record and there you go. Audio recording made by Vocaroo can be downloaded or shared using an embed code.
4- Twisted Wave

TwistedWave is a full featured audio editor that allows you to:  Edit audio files from your computer or your Google Drive, apply effects,  save in one of many supported file formats, and export the file back to your disk, Google Drive or SoundCloud.
5- Mic Note

Mic Note is a great tool that allows you to both record audio and take notes in the same time. Perfect for Lectures, Meetings, Conferences, Interviews, Brainstormings, Quick Notes, To-Do Lists, Plannings and more.

6- Spreaker

Spreaker gives you the chance to take part in a rich community of audio creators broadcasting thousands of shows, tracks, and playlists. Listen to rising talents, or upload your own creations to share easily with blogs, sites, and social networks. Step up to the mic by using the professional and easy to use DJ console, allowing you to mix voice, music, and effects that you�ll find in the cloud.

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

A Good Tool to Create Tutorials and Sketches on Chromebook

October 17, 2014
I just learned through a tweet from  Jen Deyenberg that the popular Clarisketch is now available in the Chrome store. Chromebook users will now be able to create beautiful illustrations and tutorials to share with others. Clarisketch is pretty simple to use. You can gran a picture, draw on it, make sketches and record your voice to illustrate whatever you are drawing.The final sketch can be shared with others and be accessed in any browser.

" With Clarisketch, you can save time and improve the quality of your message using a combination of photographs and annotated commentary. There are a million and one uses for Clarisketch; the bonus is that friends and co-workers don�t need to install the programme to experience the advantages too. Sketch something, record a comment and share it with friends. Send your link to the sketch via email, Facebook, Google+, Twitter or other social networks."

 Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .

Remind (101) Is Now Available for Chromebook Users

October, 2014
The popular messaging tool Remind ( formerly Remind 101) is now available for Chromebook users. For those of you who are not yet familiar with this app,  Remind  "offers teachers a free, safe and simple way to instantly text students and parents. Teachers can send or schedule reminders, assignments, homework, assessments, or motivational messages directly to students' and parents' phones. Interactions are safe because phone numbers are always kept private, and messages are sent with no open replies.

Teachers, students and parents can see messages from all their classes in one place.For students and parents, Remind provides an easier way to stay informed outside of the classroom. Students and parents can download the app and opt-in to receive messages faster with push notifications, so they never miss a beat! Use Remind to send free text messages to save time, engage students and involve parents with your class. Try it today! And if you love it, share it with your colleagues or write a review! "

Check out this guide to learn more about how to use Remind in your class.

Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook , Google plus, Pinterest .