Tidbits

=March 2013=
 * **Date** || **Submitted by:** || **Category** || **Title** || **Description** ||
 * 3-5-13 || Brian Gunnett || AT || Screen Reader ||  “Browsealoud”: free downloadable Screen Reader www.browsealoud.com ||
 * 3-5-13 || Brian Gunnett || AT || Math manipulatives || Understanding mathematics using** “manipulatives” **-- visual objects that help illustrate mathematical relationships and applications.

 Free trial download at [] || MathSquared is designed with Sudoku in mind and MathScaled is based on a balance scale. They are not connected to specific content in the math curriculum, so can be used with a variety of students at varying levels. Link to an overview of the apps here (use the tabs at the top to find videos of each): [] MathSquared link: [] MathScaled link: [] || - Text To Speech with Dual Synchronized Highlighting. - Talking Dictionary - Picture Dictionary - Vocabulary Tool - Study Skills tools to capture Google highlights [|https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/readwrite-for-google-docs/inoeonmfapjbbkmdafoankkfajkcphgd?hl=en-US#detail/readwrite-for-google-docs/inoeonmfapjbbkmdafoankkfajkcphgd?hl=en-US] ||  || ELA || The Printing Press || Printing Press is designed to assist students in creating newspapers, brochures, and flyers. Choose from several templates, format the text, add images, then save or share. Readwritethink.org offers lessons that utilize this tool, or use it creatively with your own.  []  This tool was shared on the ISTE LinkedIn page || []
 * 3-5-13 || Rosanne Burden || AT || Tech Website || [|www.educatorstechnology.com] This website is officially known as Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. Categories of interest include Teacher Web Tools, Google Tools for Teachers, Educational iPad Apps (numerous subcategories here!), 21st Century Teaching Resources and Educational Social Networking. Lots of great “best of lists” and teacher guides on a variety of topics for every teacher looking to better integrate technology into his/her teaching. Probably targeted more to middle and high school educators but there is something on here for everyone! ||
 * 3-5-13 || Rosanne Burden || AT || Symbol/visual strategies || This website was created by Widgit Software and is great for students who need symbol support to help them with reading. It is appropriate for older students and many of the articles include timely news and other stories of interest. In order to print out the pages, you must register but it is free. www.symbolworld.org ||
 * 3-5-13 || Rosanne Burden || iOS App || TTS || VoiceDream app (9.99) Voice Dream Reader is feature rich text to speech reader for the iPad. The features are organized in an uncluttered, intuitive, highly usable way, so that what you need is always at your finger tips. All features are fully accessible with VoiceOver. ||
 * 3-5-13 || Kindy Segovia || iOS App || Math Apps || While there are many math apps available, few target reasoning. iSolveit apps from cast.org has 2 apps carefully leveled to support students’ development of reasoning, with supports built in.
 * 3-5-13 || Diana Zimmerman || iOS App || Speech/Language Therapy app || What's The Word app  for speech-language therapy for 3rd-8th grade. It can be used for vocabulary development, homonyms, spelling, and phonological awareness. It has also been helpful for students who are working on their sounds at the conversational levels. ||
 * 3-7-13 || Colleen Norton || AT || Homework Helper || In today’s world of technology the old fashion approach to helping with homework has changed with the internet. Free internet sites to assist with homework for any class. [], [] ||  ||
 * 3-7-13 || Colleen Norton || AT || Google Chrome Screen Reader || Read&Write for Google Docs adds many of the popular support features of Read&Write GOLD to Google Docs documents including:
 * 3-10-13 || Kindy Segovia || AT
 * 3-10-13 || Kindy Segovia || iOS apps || Free Apps for Education || 48 free educational apps sorted by grade level (published by Gary Toews)

Tidbit was tweeted by Edudemic || Writing || Google Story Builder || Google Story Builder a new tool from Google, allows you to create mini story videos, using the familiar template of Google Docs. It's simplistic, but fun for students to create unique written content:
 * 3-17-13 || Kindy Segovia || AT

Read info about it, and view an example here:

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/02/google-story-builder-easily-create.html

View my sample video story ("Technology - is it Cheating? with my characters Jolly Juvenile and Crusty Curmudgeon) here: @http://goo.gl/mfx0P

Link to the tool and try it yourself here: @http://docsstorybuilder.appspot.com/builder

Tidbit was posted in The "Shift" in Education blog || Writing || Voice Dictation in Google Chrome || Did you know that there are two voice dictation or speech-to-text options in Google Chrome? Both are simple to use, and require no software downloads.
 * 3-17-13 || Kindy Segovia || AT

Both utilize your internal computer microphone or an external microphone. Once your dictation is complete, copy and paste the text into any other application: a word processing document, Google Docs, email, Facebook, etc. Try them out at:

Online Dictation (http://ctrlq.org/dictation/) Talk Typer: (http://talktyper.com/) || Web Tool || Access: YouTube || an accessible version of YouTube allows people with learning difficulties and disabilities to use this mainstream technology independently. The simplified interface is more friendly to screen readers and switch users too. @http://accessyoutube.org.uk/ ||
 * 3-26-13 || Kindy Segovia || AT