27 Sites to Create Comics and Animations Online

Aniboom-virtual animation studio

Animasher- create an animation

Animoto for Education- unlimited videos for you and your students

The New Animoto Creation Process (10/4/2011) from AnimotoPro on Vimeo.

Be Funky- change a photo into a cartoon; other cool effects

Bubblr- create a comic strip with Flickr photos

Cartoonist- from Creaza's suite of tools

Chogger- comic can be 3-12+ frames; draw your own picture or take a live picture to use

Comicbrush- use your own drawing or photo, their library of characters, backgrounds and balloons, then add your own text.

Comic Master- create an online graphic novel

Funny Times Cartoon Playground- choose body parts to create the characters for your cartoon

GoAnimate- create animated cartoon with their backgrounds, characters, voices and effects; free version is limited to 2 minutes. Here is the link for GoAnimate for Schools.

Hero Machine- create the hero of your dreams

Kerpoof!- for younger kids

Make Beliefs Comix-dialogue can be written in English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Portuguese and Spanish; edit size of balloons, characters.

My ComicStrip

Pixton- $$, works on Mac, Windows or Linux computers; just add characters to the layout of choice and add text.

ReadWriteThink Comic Creator- for younger kids

Sketch Star- create an animation

Stage'd- digital toy for creating comics

Strip Creator

Strip Generator-choose how many fromes you want and cfreate a black and white comic.

Super Action Comic Maker- create a 6-frame comic

Super Hero Squad- create a 1-3 frame comic with a choice of background, characters and special effects.

ToonDoo- "just a few clicks, drag and drops..."

Witty Comics-use background templates, add characters and text.

Write Comics-registration is not needed; choose a background, characters and add your own text.

Xtranormal for Education- special pricing for schools

36 Web Sites About Concept Maps (Also Known as Mind Maps)

With the new and great tools of Web 2.0, brainstorming is easier than ever. Not only can you visualize your thoughts, but you can collaborate with others in real time! Here are many applications to choose from. Next posting: Create Comics Online

Biggerplate- choose from a collection of mind maps for education

Bubbl.us-brainstorm and mind map online

Classroom Assessment Technique: Concept Maps- video from the Center Instructional Innovation and Assessment

Classroom Assessment Techniques: Concept Mapping- Michael Zielik shows how concept maps have helped him assess his students' understanding of the subject matter in his course.

Concept Mapping- from the Center for Teaching and Learning

Concept Maps: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words- from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Connected Mind- use with Google Chrome browser

Dabbleboard- interactive whiteboard

Diagrammr- very simple user interface

Edistorm- free and $$ plans; online brainstorming

Edraw Soft- "build, save, share and print arbitrary mind maps absolutely free"; download required

Exploratree- offers many "thinking guides" which you can use for creating your mind map

FolderBoy-"record ideas, collaborate on tasks and unscramble your workflow"

Free Resources for Thinking Maps

Gliffy-create flowcharts, diagrams, floor plans, technical drawings

HeadCase-import text from MS Office documents;Windows only

How to Build a Mind Map in Microsoft Word

How to Convert Text to a Mind Map

How to Mind Map with Tony Buzan-leading expert on the brain and learning

Knowcase- collaborative lists, save ideas, notes, to-dos

MAPMYself- free plan offers only 2 online maps per account

Mind42- browser-based online mind mapping

Mindmeister-mind mapping and brainstorming; available for iPhone and Android

Mindomo-collaborate-organize-share

Pinball

Quicklyst-create outlines; instant access to the Webster-Merriam dictionary, integrates with iPhone, Android and Kindle

Slatebox- create collaborative mind maps and organizational charts

SlickPlan- free flowcharts

Spiderscribe-online mind mapping and brainstorming; connects notes, files, events; PC World choice

Ten Takeaway Tips for Using Authentic Assessment in Your School- from Edutopia

Text to Mind Map Converter 

Thinklinkr-create and share outlines

View Your Mind

Whys and Hows of Assessment: Concept Maps- from Carnegie Mellon

Wisdomap

WiseMapping- create mind maps

10 Web 2.0 Tools For Collecting Information

Staying organized is something most of us find difficult to do. We are being hit with information left and right, and with all this wonderful technology at our fingertips, why not use it to make life easier? If you have a smartphone, you will love the fact that many programs offer a mobile app!  Please add your favorites and I will update this post when necessary. Next posting for Web 2.0 tools: Concept Maps (Mindmaps)


BagTheWeb- create bags "to collect, publish, and share any content from the Web."

CintaNotes- free personal notes manager; Windows only

Evernote-save urls, grab a screenshot and more; works with smartphones and iPad.

Inslices- collect articles, web sites, videos etc. and share with others

Listhings-sticky notes online

Only2Clicks- organize your sites with various tabs, (like folders) and thumbnails


Scoop.it- create a topic and Scoop.it will proceed to find you links on the Internet which are related to your topic

Spaaze- collect and organize web sites, videos etc. in one location, a giant corkboard.

Springpad- save information on your computer and it will sync with your mobile device (Android or iPhone)

Zotero- "free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. It lives right where you do your work—in the web browser itself."

Professional Development Doesn't Have to Be Boring

This is a wonderful presentation from the TL Virtual Cafe by teacher-librarians Tamara Fox and Tiffany Whitehead. I love the use of Comic Life for the design!

PD with a Twist

View more presentations from Tiffany Whitehead

36 Web 2.0 Tools For Collaboration

My current Web 2.0 tools listing is divided into close to 25 categories. As I am in the process of moving to this website, I'm checking links and presenting each category on a different day. The first posting will be on collaboration tools. I've kept this list to only 36 because a. I don't want to overwhelm you;  b. A lot of them are pretty much the same. Next post: Collecting Information

30 Boxes- online collaborative calendar

The Awesome Highlighter- highlight text on webpages for sharing

Bounce- screen capture a page and share parts with others

Bubbl.us- brainstorm with the colleagues; create mindmaps

Cacoo- create online diagrams in real time with many collaborators

CoSketch- online whiteboard; visualize and share your thoughts as images

Crocodoc- share and review documents online

Dabbleboard- online whiteboard for collaboration; free and $$ plans

Doodle- schedule events, meetings or study groups.

Fill Any PDF- upload your pdf and share the form and the data

Flockdraw- collaborative drawing online

GoogleDocs- work with others on documents; each person is given a color so you can see who is adding what to your document

IDroo- online educational multiuser whiteboard; download needed (free for non-commercial use)

JoinMe-share computer screens with your colleague; requires program download

Layers.com-convert your website or blog into a meeting spot for you and your collaborators

Meetifyr-online shared calendar

Meet With Approval- arrange a meeting and access from any Internet device

ProBoards- free forums and discussion boards

Project2Manage- "online project management application that helps you stay up-to-date, on task and connected with your team."

Protonotes- "notes that you add to your prototype that allow project team members to discuss system functionality, design, and requirements directly on the prototype."

Reddynote- plan and share tasks

Scribblar- real-time image and drawing collaboration

SocialWok-exchange ideas, Google Apps and files with colleagues

Spiderscribe- brainstorm by connecting files, text notes, documents, images, events

Stixy-online bulletin board

Ta-da Lists- "web's easiest to-do list

Teachers Connecting- "A place for K-12 teachers to find other teachers for cross-classroom collaboration."

Thinklinkr- "web's first ever real-time, fully collaborative outliner. Create and share outlines in your web browser for free."

Titanpad- allows people to work on the same document simultaneously

Tokbox- chat with up to 20 people at the same time for free

Twiddla- web-based meeting place

Voicethread- collaborate and share ideas with other classrooms around the world

Vokle-host your show or live event online

Voo2do- to-do list which "checks priority, due date and time estimates for each task".

Voxopop- create an online message board (can be private) with real voices.

Vyew-real time visual collaboration

12 Ways to Create Quizzes and Tests for Free

 With budgets being cut left and right, teachers are trying to find ways to administer quizzes and tests without exceeding their copy limit at school. (A ream of paper for the entire year??) I'll admit that it's hard to find a lot of truly "free" programs online which offer grading and statistics. My list also includes a survey app which can also be used for small quizzes. (20 question limit with free account)


If you have any suggestions, please share them.

Easy TestMaker - create multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, short answer and true and false questions all on the same test
eQuizzer-web-based quizzing program
FreeOnlineSurveys- create a test with up to 20 questions
GoogleDocs- here is a sample test
Create a Quiz Using Google Forms- from Richard Byrne of Free Technology for Teachers





How to Create a Quiz with Excel
MasterTest- create online tests as well as download and take the test without connecting to the Internet
QuizStar -Manage classes and quizzes, attach multimedia files to questions, make quizzes in multiple languages
ProProfs Quizmaker- Create tests & exams. Distribute securely with automatic grading & reporting.
Testmoz- Generate automatically graded online tests with 4 questions types
That Quiz- find math, science vocabulary and geography quizzes;you receive complete test results including all grades and wrong answers.
Wondershare Quizcreator Free- download required
Zoho Challenge- 100 test papers/month, tests are always public, 1 question bank

All About Podcasting: 82 Sites Which Will Show You Everything You Need to Know

ABOUT PODCASTING
Apple in Education Podcast Guide
Beginner's Guide to Podcast Creation
How Podcasting Works- from How Stuff Works

How to Create Your Own Podcast- step-by-step tutorial
How to Podcast- Audacity tutorials

Making a Podcast- using iTunes to create a podcast

Podcasting- explained by K12 Handhelds
Podcasting Basics- from Teaching Today

Podcasting in the Classroom- includes guide, iPods in education, a large list of resources for creating podcasts in the classroom and more

Podcasting Legal Guide- from Creative Commons
Podcasting: Tips for Teachers
Podcasting Tools- instructions on how to produce a podcast

Poducate Me- "HowTto" guide is downloadable as a pdf

Sample Video Podcasts- from HS science teacher 
Ten Ways to Use the iTunes/Podcast in the Classroom - from Michael Zimmer's Pursuit of Technology Integration blog
Top 40 Podcasts for Teachers

PODCASTING TOOLS
Audacity- free cross-platform sound editor

Blubrry- podcast community and directory; hosting
Evoca- create and share digital voice recordings 
Gabcast- record and post to your blog or website

MyPodcast.com- free podcast hosting and directory
PodBean-"407,908 PODCASTERS, 1,880,627 EPISODES, 178,593,437 DOWNLOADS AS OF TODAY."
Podomatic- create or listen to podcasts

Power Sound Editor Free

WavePad Audio Editing Software- for Macs

Wavosaur Free Audio Editor

ART AND MUSIC
Art History- produced by LearnOutLoud, this podcast is narrated by Antonia Bath. Each podcast is about 2-6 minutes long.
Museum Podcasts- Smithsonian American Art Museum
National Gallery of Art Podcasts
Pandora Podcast Series


BOOKS
Barnes and Noble Studio- video podcasts with writers
Book Lust- Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl interviews writers
Book Review- The New York Times
Books Available as Podcasts
Bookworm- showcases writers of fiction and poetry
Fireside Book Chat-"books for teens; reviews by teens"
Librivox- books in the public domain; very extensive list includes Shakespeare, Dickens, Aesop and Verne
The NewYork Review of Books
NPR Books
The Penguin Podcast-Penguin Books
Podiobooks-from fantasy to fiction, this site has loads of FREE books you can listen to in your spare time
Science Fiction Book Review Podcast
Slate's Audio Book Club


LANGUAGE ARTS
Booktalks- new and old books are covered here, as hosted by media specialist Nancy Keane
Grammar Girl's Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing- tips are 5-10 minutes; most topics are requested by listeners
Podcasting in Language Arts- ideas for the classroom
Podcasts in Language Arts
ShakespeareCast- the complete works of William Shakespeare, performed by the Los Medanos College, Antioch Classical Theatre Company and Antioch High School. 
What Should You Teach Your Students About Communicating Digitally?


MATH
Chisholm Math Minutes- podcasts from 8th grade teacher Mrs. Penner 
Classroom Professor Math Podcast-  sample podcast: Math in the Cemetery, Where is Zero on Earth?
Dan's Math Cast-for high school juniors and seniors, this podcast is produced by math professor Dan Bach; well done!
How to Integrate Podcasting into Science and Math Classes  
Math Podcasts- 6th grade student podcasts
Technology in the Math Classroom 
Using Podcast to Teach Math


PODCAST DIRECTORIES
Digital Podcast- around 40 categories

The Education Podcast Network- K-12 with 15 categories

Find Education Podcasts- list covers professional development podcasts, education podcasts

Podcast.com- podcasts from CNN, Grammar Girl, The Public Speaker, Yale University, Edutopia and much more
Podcast Alley

PodcastDirectory.com

PodcastDirectory.org
PodFeed- 19,000 podcasts


SCIENCE
Discovery Network Podcasts- you'll find Science Channel Video, Animal Planet Presents and Discovery Channel Video
Hidden Universe- episodes are 5 minutes long and transcripts are available; this podcast is presented by the Spitzer Space Telescope
How to Integrate Podcasting into Science and Math Classes 
Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom
NASA Podcasts- for 9-12th graders
Podcasting in the Middle School Science Classroom
The Wild Classroom- biology podcasts


SOCIAL STUDIES
Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt- 15 chapters
Colonial Williamsburg
Medieval Studies
Mr. Carmichael's Social Studies Podcasts- covers American history, world geography and world history
Podcast Central: Social Studies- for middle school teachers
Room 613 Talk- 6th grade social studies class
Social Studies Podcasts- includes Free Speech vs Privacy, Digitizing History
Using "Easy" Podcasting in the Social Studies Curriculum