GoogleReader: Check out this reader or aggregator from Google…. it’s free, it’s fun and it’s a good way to compile lots of content from a number of different sources into one place, hopefully saving you time and effort! You do need a google account to use it, but a google account is really something you should already have and be using anyway

iDump: I’ve learned about a district recently that is not allowing iTunes to be used at all in their school buildings by students or staff. This is a problem because iPods can be such a powerful instructional and educational tool, but without iTunes, their functionality is limited. There are several programs out there that worked with some of the original iPods allowing content to be moved to/from the iPod without need iTunes, but many of those programs are now expensive or just do not work any longer with iPod firmware updates.

SO, I’ve found a program called iDump that comes in both a free and a paid version. I’ve been using it for a little over a week now and really liking it. It seems safe and legal (it won’t convert your protected/encrypted files or remove DRM).

The free version only allows you to go from iPod to PC, but the paid version does both and lots more and costs about $10. See what you think of it: http://www.escsoft.com/ …Or if you know of other programs that will work with the latest iPod firmware updates in this way, please post them and/or let me know about them.

Big.com: http://www.big.com: A magnified search engine powered by Yahoo. Worth checking into for some of your students with visual impairments.

Copyright-Friendly Online Images for Educational Use:

• Pics4Learning: http://www.pics4learning.com/
• Discovery School Clip Art: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/category/fngm0001.html
• Teacher Files: http://www.teacherfiles.com/

Copyright-Friendly Online Audio for Educational Use:
Online free sound files seem to be a bit harder to find. There are several sites that exist, but are so filled with inappropriate advertisements, pop-ups, and junk that I refuse to link to them. Here are a couple that aren’t so bad, but AS ALWAYS, please preview anything that you plan to use in your classrooms and always read the copyright info on teh websites as they may change. If anyone has any other/better sources for education and copyright friendly sound files, please post them or email me.

• Free Samples and Loops: http://www.free-samples-n-loops.com/
• Podsafe Audio: http://podsafeaudio.com/: Free music, some of it quite good, to be used by podcasters as long as you give credit to the artist and aren’t making money from your podcast.

Don’t Forget to Register for FREE!
~PATINS TECH EXPO 2008 ~
To Register:
http://patinsproject.com/htm/tech_expo_08.htm

Upcoming Workshops at the NE PATINS Site:

• Feb. 22: Classroom Podcasting
• March 18: SMARTBoards in Your Classroom
• April 24: Intro to Wiki’s, Blogs & Skype for Learning
• May 14: Universal Design for Learning & Assistive Technology Overview
• May 23: Self-Operated Prompting Systems with the Video iPod

~EduChallenge #2~

Keeping working on last week’s EduChallenge. Make sure you have 10 digital images on your computer. Next week, the challenge will involve working with those images a little bit.