Low-Threshhold Resources for Educators

You all probably know by now, I have two criteria for spreading the word - the software is free and easy. Low-threshold technologies - programs or technologies that are easy to learn, reliable, and low-cost (again, free is my favorite price) are highly effective in the educational arena. This is especially true for for teachers who are novices or relative novices in using technology for learning and/or districts that are struggling with funding for technology.

Kristene from PBwiki provided an oustanding list of resources for summer campers working to get their PB wiki certification. Most, if not all, of the resources she provides links to are free.

Kristene's resource list

Kristene provides links for video editing, audio editing, brainstorming software, photo hosting and editing, polling and quiz software and hosting, chat, images, music, citation tools and miscellaneous links. This resource list is definitely worth checking out.

Slideshow Software Adds Pizazz to Presentations

I ran across this interesting and free (always my favorite price) tool that sets up slide shows with a bit of pizazz added. They also create skins for YouTube videos - if you want the frame to add a bit of visual interest.

Go to http://slide.com/ and sign up for free.

See the theater skin on the Web 2.0 video below:

This would be something that students would certainly enjoy adding to their blogs, wikis, FaceBook, etc. While nothing too educationally revolutionary, this would provide one additional tool for adding visual interest and creativity to student presentations while engaging them in the content longer.

Hippocampus - Free Online Course Modules

Online learning is truly the wave of the future. This website is a project of NROC. NROC Network comprises educators, administrators, technologists, and designers who are collaborating to create quality online content using multimedia tools. Content is created by educational institutions and contributed to Hippocampus for distribution.

Although not perfect, this site offers a wide variety of topics and the possibility of assisting students as they are working through different topics. Click on the hippo for more information.