280 Slides

Want something faster and easier than PowerPoint without buying software? Then 280 Slides is the site for you.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif No log in needed either for kids. They can easily create their slideshow, download as Powerpoint and then upload to Moodle or other sharing site.

You will need a log on to save your presentation to the site rather than downloading it or if you want to use embed codes, but none of that is necessary It's easy and fun!
Click to go to the site

It is a beta program from Motorola, so no guarantees how long it will be around.

Sumo Paint

It might not be Photoshop or Illustrator, but this web art creator and photo editor is perfect for working with students and it even has many of the advanced features that you expect only in software, such as layering and color picker. You can do so many things with this program that you will spend hours with it if you are like me.

For students, you can give them a jpg or other image and have them add to it. For example, I gave my pre-service teachers a map of Montana and asked them to draw in and mark with text the Indian Reservations and the Indians who reside on each one. Most said that yes, they could quickly look this information up on Google but having to draw the information and then type text made the information stick in their minds. Any map coloring activity can be done with this website as well as resizing photos and creating artwork.

Check out these tutorials to see some of the options. Use Youtube to find even more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXiQ_JNXIHE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAEoeWnYYvI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoPgRaZaZqg

http://www.schooltube.com/search/?term=sumopaint

Vocaroo

Vocaroo is great for a variety of educational purposes. It is a handy program that will record your voice without any downloads. If you have an online course and want to narrate the directions for students with special needs or ELL students, if you want students to practice their speeches and upload to you or if you want students to practice in a foreign language, then you will love Vocaroo.

You can post a link to the audio (stays for a few weeks) or download as an mp3.

Here's a tutorial

How to podcast with Vocaroo

Two Helpful Links: Web 2.0 wiki and Grants

Web 2.0 Tools

Visit my wiki to find a host of Web 2.0 tools, categorized by subject area. Enjoy!

Need money for technology or for a project?

If you have an idea in mind but dont' have funds to make the dream a reality, visit Donors Choose. You may think you don't have a chance but that's what several teachers in our district thought. Although most didnt' get their full amount, they were still able to work with what was given.

Have some kids who are too shy to give their presentations? Want your students actually to want to practice their speeches? Then try out voki.com This animation site will record your voice and then you can pick your avatar and even disguise your voice. You can even use your cell phone for the audio, upload an audio file done in audacity or other audio editor or type it and it will take text and turn it into speech. It's fun. Then --without a log on--you can post a link or embed your voki in Moodle or a website or blog, like I have here.

Voki--animation and voice

Have some kids who are too shy to give their presentations? Want your students actually to want to practice their speeches? Then try out voki.com This animation site will record your voice and then you can pick your avatar and even disguise your voice. It's fun. Then --without a log on--you can post a link or embed your voki in Moodle or a website or blog, like I have here.

Quick, Easy and Free Photo Editing

Don't have Photoshop? Tired of using hard-to-understand photo editors? Well, check out Picnik, a free editing Web 2.0 tool, now owned by Google. Crop, resize, change color, enhance photos, add frames, fun stickies and more!

Here's a video to get you started.