New Thing 6

Visual Thesaurus

Visual Thesaurus is an interactive thesaurus that creates a word grid relating from searched words. It encourages searches and learning helping users to increase language skills.

How it works

Step 1: Type in a word in the LOOK IT UP box. For this example I will type the word "happy".



Step 2: Look at the word map and choose the word you would like to use. I choose the word blissful and it also had an audio clip along with the word just incase I needed help pronouncing it. Definitions are located on the right and and the navigation at the top is fairly straightforward and easy to understand

This is a great way to visually understand word meanings and gives a way to expand a students vocabulary.

New Thing 5

carrot sticks

Carrotsticks is an online multiplayer game that improves math skills for students from the 1st - 5th grade. It is a visually interactive game I think younger students might be able to comprehend better math skills by playing these games.

Step 1: Hit TRY NOW to begin playing math games.

Step 2: Create your avatar that best represents you and click DONE.

Step 3: Pick what kind of math you want to use between addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Step 4: Put digits in to collect points.

New Thing 4

http://www.e-learningforkids.org/

E-Learning for kids is a site that focuses on ages 5-12. There are many visual games associated with math, science, computer skills, english and many more visual learning experiences.

How to use e-learning for kids

Step 1: From the main page choose your grade or subject you would like to enter. For this example choose science.

Step 2: For this example I choose WEATHER. Add your name and listen to the introduction.



Step 3: Listen to the instruction and click icons when prompted. The video takes the user through what weather is and asks questions during to video to stimulate learning.

This is a great visual aid for younger students and I think it would keep their attention along with learning and interactivity.

New Thing 3

MakeBeliefsComix

Encourage writing, reading , and storytelling. With this tool, students can create online comics.

This site allows people to make comic strips which I think could be a good learning tool for children and a fun activity as well.

Here is a step by step method on how to create a comic strip within makebeliefscomix.com

Step 1: Select how many panels you want to use in your comic

Step 2: Select the first panel along with the character and desired balloon for talk or thought.

Step 3: You can edit any object within the panel by scale, move, bring to front, flip and delete. Choose background colors if desired.

Step 4: Once a strip is completed it can be printed or emailed.

Here is my example

New Thing 2

artpad

Artpad is a tool that would be a great way to introduce children to painting and art. It can show students the use of colors, different brush sizes, and opacity.

How to use Artpad

Step 1: Select the color and size of the brush.

Step 2: Paint lines or a desired picture.

Step 3: Mix opacity and experiment with different hues over the canvas with the mouse.

Step 4: When the painting is completed the user has the option of selecting frames, hanging in a gallery, save and send, or viewing other paintings.

This seems like a fun program to get children interested in painting. Here is my masterpiece

New Thing 1

Ediscio is a collaborative flashcard tool. Allows both students and teachers to create flashcards with video, charts, and many other options. Allows for scheduling, shows statistics and even has a mobile application.

Here is a step by step on how to create a series of flashcards.

Step 1: Sign up and login to http://www.ediscio.com/

Step 2: Create Cardbox to create a new flashcard

Name, Topic, Description, Optional Information, and Settings



You now have created a cardbox for flash cards.

Step 3: Create personalized flashcards with video, audio, math formulas or just plain text. A full HTML editor is available inboth the Question and Answer boxes.

Step 4: Once your flashcards are complete you can preview your flashcards by the url given. Here is an example.

flashcard

Step 5: Click "LEARN" to start the flashcards

Cards may be personalized and edited to suit any subject matter and cards may be listed by school, class, or sent through a url link.

New Semester

Here's some more blogging

New semester is underway, and now for more posts.