250 Best iPad Apps for Middle School

Here is my list of the 250 iPad Apps we currently use in our Middle School:

Am I missing any?

NJEA High Tech Hall 2011

I was honored to be able to host the Web 2.0 Smackdown at the 2011 NJEA Convention. Working with over 40 NJ educators we compiled this living document:
NJEA Web 2.0 Smackdown 2011

Please feel free to add!

All of the awesome resources from the convention's High Tech Hall can be found on this wiki: http://njea-hth-2011.wikispaces.com/

Google SketchUp Tutorials and FREE Premium Accounts

The NJ Department of Education is offering FREE Premium Google SketchUp Licenses. I found this out thanks to Kevin Jarrett.
The premium Google SketchUp allows studenst to build 3D models such as this:

Check out the SketchUp 3D warehouse for more examples: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=b1281e7feb11e9507cc669e7ece7c3d1
Our school took advantage of the offer so I decided to pull some tutorials and videos together using Jog the Web for students and teachers.
Click below to check them out:
Google SketchUp

Loving Lino it

I have been using Linoit quite a bit lately. It is an excellent alternative to wallwisher which seems pretty finicky lately.

Teachers have been building canvases on linoit to review fraction concepts, post assignments and comprehension questions for novels, as a "due now" and as an "exit ticket" for many different topics.

You can be notified when a stick is posted on your canvas if you would like and have the ability to make the canvases as private or public as you like. I also like the daily digest I receive for each canvas, letting me know the action that has taken place and any tasks that are due. You can upload videos, images, and documents to your canvas. You can even post tasks with due dates and emoticons.

Here are some examples:

I like to use goo.gl or tinyurl to shorten the links to the canvases, making it easier for students to access if a teacher does not want to hyperlink it from a blog or web page.
People have also suggested the similar, corkboard.me, which I hope to try out soon.

Using Technology to Create a Global Classroom

One of the most effective ways to get students collaborating with each other is to use tools that are easily accessible. If the tools are browser agnostic, have no demand for installations or updates, and are intuitive, the collaboration is more likely to be effective.

I recently presented this slide show and Google Doc at the 2011 NJEA Teaching and Learning Symposium.


Here is a link to a Google Docs with all of the sites we discussed and tools to help facilitate global collaboration: https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1VckCWWALUyOjjKMAphzL1-YOpl9ULnLFegALAW7V6z0


Many thanks to Lisa Thumann for asking me to present and helping out with resources.

Interactive Math Sites

I was recently asked to present some interactive math sites to an audience of k-5 teachers. Here are my slides so far:


This a work in progress. If you would like to add some slides or sites, email me at hartman19@gmail.com or comment below.

A Tale of 2 Animotos

I recently worked with Ms. S, a music teacher at the Early Childhood Center in Palisades Park, New Jersey. Ms. S is the music teacher for grades Pre K - 1st grade. I arrived a bit early and sat in on a kindergarten music class. I had so much fun playing with lummi sticks!
Following that class, Ms. S created an Animoto using Vivaldi's Spring and images from Google Images.
Click here to view Ms. S's animoto: Spring
Before watching the Animoto, the students sang a song, "Spring is Coming." Then we discussed signs of Spring. I took half the class and showed the Spring Animoto Ms. S had created on the Smartboard. We watched a few times and tried to recall the images. What images were missing? What was your favorite picture? What picture was missing?
The students loved the Animoto and were excited when I told them they were going to create one.
I gave each student a piece of paper and told them to draw an image that reminded them of Spring as we listened to the song once more. As they drew, I took pictures of their progress with my camera. Then I uploaded the images to Animoto using the same Vivaldi song.
I can't wait to hear their reaction! They were so excited to have their pictures "in a movie." I wish I could have bottled their enthusiasm!


I still think Animoto is one of the best and easiest web 2.0 tools out there. It makes anyone look like an Oscar Award winning producer!

Infusing Current Events in All Content Areas

A few teachers I have been working with have asked me for easy ways to infuse current events in all content areas. I have been working on a few ideas and lists. Here is the link to my current events site: https://sites.google.com/site/currenteventstmnj11/home
If you would like to collaborate, please let me know. I was supposed to present this at TMNJ, but due to a lost phone incident I had to leave. If anyone finds a purple blackberry, I am the owner.

TMNJ Web 2.0 Smackdown

Here are the resources from the Teach Meet NJ Web 2.0 Smackdown. A great group of people and ideas:

Hungry? A Great Use for Google Forms

Free iPad Apps for Elementary Students

This is still a work in progress, but here is my list so far. Please feel free to add to it:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ai5deysPpXejdFNuemJURDdoa3VWbUNDYVliOGw5T2c&hl=en&authkey=CIersPQH

Talking Avatars in the Classroom

Get a Voki now!





While I like Voki and Virsona,
I also reccomend Vocaroo to record students and Blabberize

Other examples:
http://technology4kids.pbworks.com/w/page/24535850/Voki-Talking-Avatars

http://www.squidoo.com/voki

http://eighthgradewiki.wikispaces.com/Quarterly+Book+Reviews

http://www.teachers.tv/videos/online-communities-in-the-classroom

http://eighthgradewiki.wikispaces.com/Q1++Book+Review
http://cooltech4teachers.pbworks.com/w/page/16479047/Vokis-and-Avatars

Beyond Search

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to review Google search with some NJ educators from Wood Ridge and West Morris school districts. We had a blast using some of the more abstract Google search options and search labs such as Google Sets, Google Trends, and Google Squared. We also played around with making our own search stories, created summer reading libraries using Google Books, and created Customized Search Engines.
In my opinion, Google Squared and Google Sets are 2 highly underused tools in the classroom. I love sets for brainstorming and I love the fact that you can create your own Google Square and print it as a hand out. For more info about Google Squared and Sets click here.
Click here to access the special site I made for all things Google Search.

https://sites.google.com/site/hartmangsearch/home

Photo credit:http://www.psfk.com/2009/06/google-squared.html

Waiting for....TSETC 2011!

This past Saturday I returned to New Milford High School to present at TSETC.
I haven't stepped foot in the high school in 13 years. On Saturday, it looked the same as it always did, but there was definitely a change in the undercurrent of the school. There was a new energy and it was not because of new technology (SmartBoards, ipads, Kindles, and such); it was the educators and administrators who gave up time with their families after a long week of school to take part in a conference and for many, it was their first taste of what a conference like TSETC can do to alter one's teaching craft.

It was fun to see all of my Twitter friends face to face, but what was even more overwhelming is that I witnessed teachers who taught me so many years ago, still working to become better teachers- the true definition of a life-long learner. It was surreal to sit next to my journalism teacher from my Junior year, Mrs. DePoto, in an iPad session.

In my session, I shared with Mr. Tusa, a veteran and beloved educator at NMHS, some tools to integrate technology into his classroom using Free Web 2.0 tools.

After all, these were the teachers who taught me so many years ago, teachers who challenged me and teachers who I have great respect for, teachers who made me want to teach. Ironically, Mr. Tusa came up to me afterward and thanked me for all of the resources.

I don't deserve the thanks, he does. After all his years of teaching he still strives to learn and to improve his craft.

In the light of recent education media, TSETC is a testament that we don't need super heroes to improve education. We need teachers, students and parents to work together. I have two daughters, and I take full responsibility for their learning, hoping along the way that they have exceptional teachers, like the ones I met at TSETC this past weekend.

I know that next year TSETC will be even bigger and better. I also think it would be great to invite parents to attend and to perhaps have students and teachers co-present a few sessions.

This is part of the Tri-State Education Technology Conference (TSETC) Blogger Café Contest sponsored by edSocialMedia. TSETC is brought to you by Schoology.

Taking Another Look at Google Books

Google Books in the Classroom

Get The Tool:

http://books.google.com/

What is it?

Google Books allows you to search, bookmark, organize, and share millions of books and magazines from libraries and publishers worldwide. Google Book Search allows you to search the full text of books -- from the first word on the first page to the last word in the final chapter – so you can find books that interest you. Book Search works like web search. You can try a search at Google Book Search (books.google.com) or on Google.com. Once you find a given book, you can browse available pages, search further in that book, find online reviews, and learn where to buy the book or check it out of a nearby library, and in some cases, even read the entire title online. Finally, Google Books allows you to create your own "My Library" consisting of custom bookshelves with public and private options. You can also rate and review books, take notes, view common terms and phrases, and search for related books.

Why use it?

Students can use Google Books to: Create a library of books consisting of bookshelves of titles they have read and titles  they would like to read Read and write reviews of books Find a book at a local library or purchase a book online Search for a phrase within a book Preview a book by reading the overview or a limited preview of the book View popular passages and common terms and phrases Teachers can use Google Books to: Familiarize students with a book they are about to read by previewing different editions and cover art designs of a novel Find a list of related books Create an online classroom library Embed a book in a classroom blog for easy access by students and parents

Instructional Ideas

Elementary: Creating an author study using a Google Books bookshelf is a wonderful way to increase reading comprehension and make text connections. Here is an example of a teacher created author study bookshelf on Mem Fox:http://books.google.com/books?uid=12799663630115966648&as_coll=1004&source=gbs_lp_bookshelf_list Middle School: Create a genre unit study using a Google Books classroom library with bookshelves classified by genre. Provide students with a list of books and have them classify the books by genre. Students can write notes and reviews after they have read and classified them. High School:When writing research papers, students can use the Advanced Book Search feature to narrow down results by time period, language, and exact phrases. Students can also use the "Find in a Library" or "Search Inside this Book" features to further enhance their research.

Your Tool in Action

Project: You Are What You Eat Grade/Subject: 9-12/Cross -curricular URL: http://books.google.com/books?uid=12799663630115966648&as_coll=1002&source=gbs_lp_bookshelf_list Using Google Books previews from the books Fast Food Nation, Food Rules and Food Inc., as well as previously learned historical, scientific, and mathematical concepts, students will explore and compile data regarding the impact of food on individuals, societies, and the environment in both modern and ancient times. What is the impact of food availability, production, and consumption on an individual, a locality, and a society? • Why are there chemicals and packaging in my food? What are the effects of these on my body and the environment? • How can I improve my health and the environment with the food I consume? • How are foods marketed? Students will choose or be assigned a food and trace its evolution, availability, consumption, and environmental/cultural/social impact. Using this data, as well as their own experiences and secondary sources, students will draft a research paper. Students will use Google Books to search and add related texts to the "You Are What You Eat" bookshelf, add notes about the books, search common phrases, etc.

Expert Tips

Use Advanced Book Search -http://books.google.com/advanced_book_search to narrow search by language, full view, search just magazines Import books into your library by ISBN number Share your library through an RSS feed

Additional Resources:

More Examples Google For Educators-Book Search- http://www.google.com/educators/p_booksearch.html Inside Google Books-http://booksearch.blogspot.com/ Google Books adds New Features and Tools-http://techcrunch.com/2009/06/18/google-books-adds-new-features-and-tools/ 10 Ways to Use Google Books for Lifelong Learning and Research -http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-ways-google-books-lifelong-learning-research/ Complimentary Tools Blogger-http://www.blogger.com- embed a book in your blog Google Squared-http://www.google.com/squared/search?q=books- classify books by genre Google Maps- use google maps to view places mentioned in the book or to create your own a google lit trip- http://www.googlelittrips.com/GoogleLit/Home.html of a book

Taking a Leap

For the past 3 months I have been working with educators from various Jersey City Public Schools, on a Leap 21 Technology Initiative.

It has pretty much been a boot camp on web 2.0 and various applications including but not limited to blogging, glogging, podcasting, video production, voicethread, rss feeds, Google tools, etc. I even convinced some participants to get on Twitter. We have one class left on 5/1 and here are some of the resources from the past 6 courses:
http://sites.google.com/site/leap21classroom/
I am amazed at the ideas that have come out of these courses and cannot wait to see the final presentations at the showcase.

Google Docs at NJEA Headquarters

This weekend I spent my Saturday with some NJ educators in Trenton. I revamped some of my google docs presentation:http://sites.google.com/site/njeagdocs2010/
With Lisa Thumann's help I finally wrapped my brain around creating a self - grading quiz! The directions can be found at the site above.
Besides meeting some great teachers, it was a special day because my brother, Jim Dray, was drafted to the Arizona Cardinals!!!!

NJEA 2009 Convention High Tech Hall - Forget the free yardsticks and hand sanitizer!

This year's NJEA Convention High Tech Hall surpassed my expectations. We started out small last year with the Technology Integration Showcase, but this year we really did it right. Thanks to Darryl Ensminger and his team from the NJEA for all their hard work. All of the presentations and classes can be accessed here:http://njea-tis-09.wikispaces.com/. My presentation, Everyone's a Winner with Top 25 Free and Easy Web 2.0 Tools was so much fun. I got meet so many new faces, plus catch up with some old friends. Attendees were happily surprised by all of the technology offerings and many commented to me how worthwhile their stop in the high tech hall was to their professional development.

Engaging Parents

The students are already engaged, but what about the parents? Back to School Night was my first chance to really engage parents in Connections. I tried a new approach this year. I spent almost zero time talking about rules and regulations and more time helping parents get a handle on exactly what my class, Connections, is. I used Slide Rocket again and it definitely get more attention than a Power Point. Parents this year, seemed really impressed by the our class blog and twitter account.
One of my goals for the year is to have more parental involvement, whether it be commenting on our blog, following us on Twitter or skyping into the classroom.

We had a great Back to School Night last night. I saw a great deal of enthusiasm and interest from parents. I hope the excitement and interest carries on.

Smart EdTech Strategies for Tough Times

School has started so I am super busy. However, I am excited to attend an event on Friday, September 25th called "Smart Ed Tech Strategies for Tough Times" in Jersey City. For the event itinerary click here.
To register:
http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=744064

I'm most excited for the keynote: Using Emerging Technologies to Improve Student Achievement by Chris Dede and Timothy E. Wirth Professor in learning technologies at Harvard University.

If you can't attend, I'll be tweeting and blogging live. I am sure to get some great tips and websites!

Photo credit: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/03/0313_besttech_buck/image/ss_1.jpg