Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Gooru: Comprehensive Math and Science Searches

Gooru -search results are shown in thumbnails and grade levels are indicated.  
You can:

  • Search for resources, collections or quizzes
  • Study individual resources or entire collections
  • Practice with an adaptive assessment system
  • Interact with your peers and teachers
  • Save -- and customize -- your favourite learning materials



"Gooru is a search engine for learning that allows you to explore and study over 2,600 standards-aligned and personalized study guides. Study guides cover 5th-12th grade math and science topics, and resources include digital textbooks, animations, instructor videos and more. All resources are vetted and organized by teachers or Gooru’s content experts, so you don’t have to sort through the mess of subpar educational resources available online yourself. 

Gooru also makes it easy for you to connect with your worldwide peers to make learning a social experience. Post questions to an active community of students, teachers and experts, or find friends and peers to study with. 

Best of all, Gooru adapts to you. Based on the topics you study and your performance on self-assessments, Gooru suggests resources and study guides that will help you master the concepts. You can track your study habits and monitor your performance on any of the topics you study."


This comprehensive search engine can only be used with Safari, Firefox, and Google Chrome.  Some of our schools have Firefox.  If not, you can use the portable version of Google Chrome on your computer.  Contact  your tech coach if you need help getting this.  Portable Chrome   You can install the program on your desktop or onto a USB drive of your school computer.  At home, install the program as you normally would.


Friday, March 9, 2012

Cool Text for your Presentations

Here are a number of websites that allow you to make animated gifs that can be used in SMART Notebook.

Wigflip.com/signbot 
Scrolling LED sign
Wigflip Signbot
Tiny Tags
wigflip.com/tinytags/
Tiny Tags


Textanim.com

Friday, March 2, 2012

How to open a blocked shortened URL


Creating and sharing tinyURLs or shortened / snipped URLs are now quite commonly used in Twitter and other micro-blogging sites. Tiny URLs are easier to remember and manage. However, sometimes tinyURL or other URL snipping services are blocked. As a result you cannot know and visit original URL behind the tinyURL.  This quick service lets you convert a tiny URL into the orgininal URL so that you can visit that website. 

How to Shorten a URL

Bitly

bitly is a utility that allows users to shorten a long URL, share it, and then track the resulting usage.  A shortened website URL is useful in text messages or Twitter posts in order to save room/characters.


This is also a free app for iphone/ ipod touch etc.


Other URL shorteners:


tinyURL


shrinkURL is also another free app available on itunes.

Unsplash - free photo gallery

Unsplash A wonderful collection of free photos. The photos below model good digital citizenship by giving attribution to the photographer....