Read the words.com

A useful tool to create audio files from text files. These can be downloaded on to an ipod and used as a revision aid. Register and then simply paste in the text. You get 3 free credits with a maximum length of 30secs recording for each before you have to purchase more credits.



http://readthewords.com/work/output/26389_text93406AM.txt.mp3

SplashURL

Ever needed to display a simply URL in a Powerpoint Slideshow? Or wanted to produce a QR Code poster/packaging. SplashURL produces a tiny URL which reduces the chance of web addresses being spelt incorrectly.

http://splashurl.net

Online Media Conversion

Ever needed to convert an *.flv file into an *.mp3 or *.wma? This website converts most types of movies, video and sound files alike from a range of sources including local files on your desktop... ...to URL addresses.

In addition you can also send a range of file formats to your mobile phone. Simply upload the file from your PC to their site, they provide you with a URL and Code, and using your device download!

Very very useful:

http://w5.media-convert.com/

KeepVid - Download streaming videos

In support of the aforementioned tool (QIK) you can download streaming videos using this website. You can also save videos from other popular sites including YOUTUBE and save your videos in either *.flv (low quality) or *.mp4 (high quality) file formats.

http://keepvid.com/

QIK - Mobile Webcam!

Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall for assessment? or simply wanted to share a learning experience with colleagues via a LIVE VIDEO STREAM? With this simple application you can...

A colleague at a recent LSIS - PDA training event mentioned this effective tool which has so much potential across all curriculums. Simply sign up to http://www.qik.com with a valid email address. Next select your device. For the moment i have been using my Nokia N95 however i will be working with Keith Tellum to get the application installed on the Mantles hopefully...

Once you have and account, and the software installed on your device your almost ready to go. All you need is a WLAN connect or 3G internet connection. Obviously the better your connection the smoother the LIVE stream is, but regardless, the uploaded footage is stored and can be watched back without needing to buffer.

I am hoping to trial this tool during our trip to France if we manage to get a European data contract!

Upwardly Mobile

Mobile learning is a fast-maturing technology offering opportunities and challenges in equal measure. Learning with mobile devices can bring many inclusion benefits, enabling learners to access content wherever and whenever they choose, and using a device they know they can operate. m-Learning therefore has vast potential to enhance learning opportunities for all, and to level the playing field for learners with specific needs.

http://www.techdis.ac.uk/upwardlymobile/index.html

Sim-dis (Inclusive Learning)

There are many ways to create mobile content and mobile based activities. Each different approach provides a different accessibility profile, adding value for some disabled learners but potentially removing it from others.

This site contains a collection of computer based artifacts that simulate aspects of disability. It is intended that the simulations will be used for training and awareness raising activities with staff and for teaching students in areas where an understanding of disability is required.

http://www.techdis.ac.uk/resources/sites/2/simdis/index.htm

Unfreez

Create animated GIF's using this simple programme and best of all its free! If you have several images of the same dimension, simply drop them into the Unfreez window, enter the speed in centseconds and create your own animations. Could be used in the curriculum to demonstrate skills ranging from a correct press-up technique or how to cut hair a certain way.

http://www.whitsoftdev.com/unfreez/

JOOMLA

Joomla is an award-winning content management system (CMS), which enables you to build Web sites and powerful online applications. Many aspects, including its ease-of-use and extensibility, have made Joomla the most popular Web site software available. Best of all, Joomla is an open source solution that is freely available to everyone. (Joomla, 2009)

http://www.joomla.org

MoleNet Summary LSN

With the increasing presence of mobile devices in our schools and colleges, LSN and ITN have produced a short video discussing how we can harness mobile technology for learning, based on the work of the MoLeNET project.

http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=M2ELG

OCAD

Create fantastic orienteering maps for local areas such as parks, or purchase professionally created and published maps.

OCAD is a software program for drawing maps of all types. Thanks to the simple handling and prepared set of symbols and signatures, you will be able to draw perfect maps based on scanned originals in just a short time. However, OCAD is far more than just a map drawing program: If you have access to basic vector geodata, then you can import it and automatically assign symbols or signatures to it, which you can organise according to your own individual concepts. If you want to enhance maps with additional objects, then you all you need to do is record them in the terrain with a handy GPS device and import them into the map. If necessary, you can edit map objects with numerous editing functions so that they satisfy the highest cartographical visualisation demands. Thanks to the ODBC interface, you can link map objects to tables or databases and record additional information in them. Finally, you export the map as a PDF file and send it to the printing process or publish it as an interactive map in the Internet. (OCAD.com, 11.02.09)

http://www.ocad.com

transportdirect.info

A great website with multiple uses across the curriculum. Can be used in the support of journey planning for interviews (Employment). Trips/visits transport arrangements on public transports. Have a play...

www.transportdirect.info

Change4Life (NHS Campaign)

In accordance with the new NHS campaign 'Change4Life' this website provides interactive activities to provide people with information to make informed choices. Definately worth a look even for simple 'Healthy Living/Eating' based tutorial sessions.

http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/

Alcohol Units (NHS Choices)

My colleague Adam Ryding has used this interactive resources during a 'Lifestyle Analysis' session. Simply click on the specific drinks displays the appropriate 'Unit' content. This could be also used in generic tutorial sessions as an 'Alcohol Awareness' tool. http://www.units.nhs.uk/index.php

Ning (Social Network)

The facebook boom is evidence alone of the power and success of social networking sites. Ning is a free social networking site which allows users to create their own networks/site. These sites could be for a unit/module, a class/year group or a department. They are especially good places to share resources or information regarding specific projects e.g. fundraising or M-learning with like minded people. Ning allows you to upload videos and pictures alongside many other features which have become common with social networking sites.

www.ning.com

Mind42 (Mind Mapping Online)

Ever needed to work together to produce a presentation? Or just wanted to share some ideas on a research project. Mind42 is a great website which allows you to record and manage all your ideas online. It allows you to link directly to websites for example definitions of terms or pictures. - http://mind42.com/

"Mind mapping is about collecting ideas arranged in a tree like diagram. From a programmers point of view, the creation of such diagrams requires graphical processing. As web browsers weren't able to do graphical processing for a long time, such applications only existed as classical desktop applications which had to be installed. But times have changed, computers got faster and browsers became more powerful. Mind42 is one of the first solutions for mind mapping which is a pure web application - with all its advantages. No installation required - accessable everywhere! " (www.mind42.com, 01.02.09)

Need a certain type of paper?

Running short of graph paper, or can not find any dotty paper in the cupboard? Why not download free pages to print out from the selection below? Never be without hexagonal paper again! (Mathsphere, 21.01.09)

http://www.mathsphere.co.uk/resources/MathSphereFreeGraphPaper.htm

Geograph

Geograph is a open sourced project, which allows individuals (who are registered) to upload images taken at certain places in the country, and plot there location accordingly.

Look familar? http://schools.geograph.org.uk/photo/44571

What is Geographing?
It's a game - how many grid squares will you contribute?
It's a geography project for the people
It's a national photography project
It's a good excuse to get out more!
It's a free and open online community project for all


http://schools.geograph.org.uk/

Mapzone (OS)

Odnance Survey have produced some of the best resources for assisting the delivery of mapwork and navigation units.

MAPZONE

http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/

In particular the homework help section which includes MapAbility and MapTivity are exceptionally useful for areas such as 'Compass direction' and 'Grid Referencing'.

There is are also downloadable teaching materials to support the site throughout.

HOMEWORK HELP

http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/PagesHomeworkHelp/index.htm

Bearings (Navigation)

Teaching the technique of reading 'bearings' has to rank amongst one of the most mind numbing tasks on a teachers curriculum. This interactive resources 'Canoe Bearings' is the best activity by far, to spice up this subject.

With its theme based around the Olympic's learners must navigate the canoe through the gates in the quickest time possible. Entering distance travelled (in meters) and the direction of travel (in degrees) makes the canoe move accordingly.

Have a play! See what you think...

http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/freesite_tour/resource/bearings/canoebearings.html

Edheads (Interactive Resources)

Edheads http://www.edheads.org/ is the home to some excellent interactive resources ranging from 'Virtual hip replacements' to 'Crash scene investigation'. Each individual activity has a teachers guide and resources to download. It is very user friendly.

Tesco Diet (Healthy Living/Eating)

http://www.tescodiets.com/

DIET RESOURCES

A fantastic website with a wide range of resources including diet plans and diet tools. One tool inparticular Calorie Counter allows you to select the meal (e.g. breakfast) --> then the isle (e.g. breakfast cereals) --> then the shelf (e.g. Cereal bars) --> then the item (e.g. Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes) it then displays all the nutritional information of that product!

Several units of study across the Sport and Public Services curriculum require learners to produce a 24hour recall 'Diet diary'. This website would then assist them with nutritional content information to analyse their diets. Other useful tools are BMI calculators and Fitness Calculators.

Veotag (Video Tagging)

Veotage http://www.veotag.com/ was an online service demonstrated by Keith Tellum during last summers staff development session.

Simply create and account and upload a video clip. An example of good practice within the Sport & UPS teams is evident during practical assessment. As part of an assessment the tutor videos a practical session delivered by a student. When the IV/EV comes to assess it can often be confusing as to who is who in the clip.

Using Veotage, tutors can identify individual students throughout the clip and also allow provide a commentary on the activity/scenario taking place.

CamStudio

Ever wanted to record on screen activity for assessment puporses? Or had to repeat instructions 30 times to each learner? This fantastic tool allows you to record all screen and audio activity and save it in a video file. There are countless ways this could be utilised in your teaching- remember to reply to this post with examples of good practice.

"CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs)." http://camstudio.org/ (CamStudio, 18.01.09)

GotZapp

A site i have recently come across although i have not had chance to try and test yet.

"GotZap is a new mobile social networking site that lets you send and receive Zapps to mobile phones. Zapps are mobile photo galleries, blogs, stories, music and media clips that you can send to most colour mobile phones with internet access." http://www.gotzapp.com (Gotzapp, 18.01.09)

Voki (Avatars)

Having come across this website http://www.voki.com/ i feel there is a lot of potential for creating excellent resources. One suggestion would be to get learners to create an avatar of themselves which can be embedded into their own blog. The recording function allows learners to input their own audio to be spoken. This could be information about a project or an assignment brief. A blog could then be used at a reflective journal www.blogspot.com .

"Voki enables users to express themselves on the web in their own voice using a talking character. You can customize your Voki to look like you or take on the identity of lots of other types of characters… animals, monsters, anime etc. Your Voki can speak with your own voice which is added via microphone, upload, or phone.Voki lives on your blog, social network profile and will soon be integrated in various instant messaging platforms. You will also be able to download it to most video supported phones." (Voki, 18.01.09)

Gabcast

Keith Tellum demonstrated this service as the September Staff Development session for ILT. To use this service you must register for an account on the website http://www.gabcast.com/ . Once registered you need to call the telephone number provided and follow the verbal instructions. This will include entering your 'channel number' which you are provided with during registration.

Sport Business learners have produced podcasts advertising their smoothie making business 'Love Smoothies'. This service is ideal for recording and publishing their work online.

"Gabcast.com is a podcasting and audioblogging platform that offers an easy way to create and distribute audio content. Most people will use a touch-tone telephone to make their recordings but we also provide worldwide access to the service through VoIP. Once you have made a recording and have published it, a newsfeed is immediately and automatically updated to alert subscribers to your channel."

(http://www.gabcast.com/, 15.01.09)

Videojug

Videojug is a fantastic FREE video library which is constantly been updated since its launched in 2006. You can select your chosen topic such as 'Sport' or 'Healthy Eating' to find a range of useful educational video clips. One example for those Golf enthusiasts is that of how to perform the perfect golf swing! Each clip can be downloaded and transfered to storage mediums such as IPOD Classics.

An example of good practice was demonstrated by one college who produced clips on how to perform different techniques and skills across the hair and beauty curriculum. These where then stored on IPOD's and learners could compare their techniques to the exemplar ones.

http://www.videojug.com/

Photo Story 3 (Microsoft)

Microsoft Photo Story 3 is similar to Windows Movie Maker in that you can produce a slideshow with sound. I feel it is slightly more user-friendly and doesn't seem to crash as easy as WMM. A great feature is that with a microphone you can easily record voice commentary over each picture. This could be used as an assessment method where identification and describe/explanation are required.

"Create slideshows using your digital photos. With a single click, you can touch-up, crop, or rotate pictures. Add stunning special effects, soundtracks, and your own voice narration to your photo stories. Then, personalize them with titles and captions. Small file sizes make it easy to send your photo stories in an e-mail. Watch them on your TV, a computer, or a Windows Mobile–based portable device." (http://www.microsoft.com/, 15.01.09)

*Your system requires Windows Media Player 10 Installed prior to installation of this product.

*A user guide can be found here - http://www.jakesonline.org/photostory3.pdf

X-Learn (SMS System)

xlearn SMS System is a powerful service that has been embraced by the JPC Sport department in particular. The service its self is a simply a text wall. Tutors can send individual and group messages by logging in to the website and selecting the appropriate recipients.

During the pilot stage the department was concerned about bombarding learners with too many txt's which could ultimate effect the acceptance of the service. Therefore its use has been primarily for administration purposes such as absenteeism and trip/visit reminders.

At a recent training event suggestions were made such as using the system to enhance curriculum delivery. This got me thinking could we use this somehow to check learning at the end of sessions (could be used in conjunction with ILP targets maybe?!). Any more ideas would be appreciated.

http://www.xlearn.co.uk/

Strip Creator / ToonDoo / GoAnimate

A fantastic website which i used for teaching a communication skills session. Learners can produce a cartoon strip with 'thought' or 'dialog' boxes along with narrative text. Students produced a scenario relevant to a Uniformed Service using the wide range of characters and background.

Once completed learners then added questions such as:

- What happens next?

- What options are available?

- What additional information can be gathered from the comic strip?
Comic
Just an idea!

http://www.stripcreator.com/make.php

(Kim W, FDUPS)

*Assistance:

Unless you wish to register an account and save the comic online (which can be time consuming) you are best taking a screen capture by pressing the 'print screen' key. You can then load up 'Microsoft Paint' and right click and paste the screen capture in to Paint. Using the crop tool you can cut the comic strip out and paste into a MS Word document.

Other similar sites:

http://goanimate.com

http://www.toondoo.com

Sports Tracker (Nokia)

Nokia Sports Tracker is a GPS-based activity tracker that runs on Nokia smartphones. Information such as speed, distance and time are automatically stored in your training diary, and using the site below you can store and share your workouts and routes! This would be great for staff and students alike especially those on Sport courses.

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/

(www.wirelessmuse.com, 14.01.09)

QR Codes - (Mobile Technology)

A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code). Using SMART phones such as the Nokia N95 you can read information using a barcode reader application. Suggestions such as labelling skeletal diagrams in 'Anat/Phys' lessons or privately advertising sexual heatlh screening sessions are just some of the benefits to this technology.

You may have seen an example of a QR code posted on the JPC staff intranet by Keith Tellum over christmas. However contrary to popular belief they are not magic eye optical illusions! Lilian Soon (http://www.xlearn.co.uk/blogger.html) who brought QR codes to my attention suggest "I think QR codes are going to be great on open day - if you provide the students with the phones/kit to read them, and then have a booth to help students get them on their own phones (which in the long run means you can use QR codes around the college more)".

Create your own QR Codes here! http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

Google Calendar - (iGoogle)

Every teachers has heard the excuse "I didn't know they had deadline for an assignment" or a parent saying their child never has any work to complete? or even forgetting correct kit for practical sessions?

Google Calendar is a virtual diary which students are more likely to update than a pocket diary and as long as they have PC access they can never forget it! http://www.google.com/calendar/render

Some additional features include sync with Outlook, Sharing calendars with others, editing event details and reminders etc. Have a play and see what you think!

Google Docs (i-Google)

I have used i-Google for sometime now, however, it was only recently i discovered some features which are great for use within a teaching and learning environment. The first is Googledocs http://docs.google.com/ which can only be described as a virtual shared-drive accessible from any PC with an internet connection. Simply sign up for an account and begin to use the range of features on offer.

I have suggested that students can create a file structure similar to that on their college account. Step two is to simply upload any work which may need to be accessed outside of college time. This would eliminate any problems of not been able to meet deadlines due to accessibility as it would even be possible to sign in at a local library!

Google docs also has its own editing feature so even learners who do not have Microsoft Office installed on their home PC's can still edit their work. There are slight restrictions with file sizes however if picture resolutions and reduced for example in powerpoint slideshows the is easily overcome.

You can even embed Google Doc's into Moodle!
http://moodle.coleggwent.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=30&topic=3

Welcome...

After attending a recent M-Champion's event (in Liverpool) I have decided to use a blog to record any teaching resources, ideas or projects which i feel would be useful to share.