Aug 31 2013

DeskConnect – Transfer your files between Mac and IOS

DeskConnect – it’s a new service to transfer your files, like photos, doc, Websites, to your Mac or iDevices.

The workflow is really simple: 1) installs the app from Mac store on your Mac 2) install the app from App Store.

The advantages of DeskConnect is Free and convenient. No need to upgrade to IOS 7 but has the same functions on AirDrop.

After a short try, I like its speed which is really fast.

Application for Education

Teachers can use this app to transfer the files to students easily. I used this app to share the “Flash” content to my students’ devices and open it from “Puffin” directly!

DeskConnect delivers Mac-to-iOS quick sharing (tuaw.com)

Jul 25 2013

Local Cloud – Your personal Cloud storage on Mac/PC

Local Cloud a new cloud storage concepts powered by Delite studio. The concepts : storage files right on your computer, view and edit on them via mobile devices.

As the screenshot above, you need to install the client program on your Mac or PC. Both of these are free. Then you need to download your IOS APPS to your iPhone/ iPad which is cost $9.99. I download it on free when they have promotion. You may use “Appshopper” to monitor the sale (web / apps).

After a quick trial, I pretty awesome on their speed. Really fast and smooth. When you view the files through “local Cloud” via your idevices. Local Cloud need to download it first (of course both computer and idevices using the same WiFi network). Then you can view or using other third-party apps to view it. Some of you may concern “Can it use multi-devices at the same time?”, the answer is yes! It suit for classroom use!

Here is the intro video about Local Cloud:

Application for Education

Local Cloud suitable for classroom (be careful the classroom’s computer ip, static ip is advised). Teachers can save the files/ video on the shared folder of Local Cloud on the PC. Students can use/ download it by themselves. Safe, fast and convenient ! Offical FAQ is here.

Jul 24 2013

Sketchlot – create & share sketches

Sketchlot – A new web 2.0 services that you can create , share your sketch to others. But this tool is specially designed for educational use. It can also support share student’s sketch to peer (all or selected) or teachers!

The flow is : teacher needs to sign up account, add students account (just need name and password).

Then, teacher can create his/her sketchlot first, then pass share and choose the selected student to share. After it, students will received the teacher’s sketch or student can create their own piece and share to peer.

All flow can be done within the browser. Really good for school in teaching!

1) Create teacher’s account, remember need to create a “class code” with letter and number.

2) Then you will see a control panel. Now, you should create student list.

3) Student account password can be same on saving. But I did not recommend the same password as you can’t access it except the first student.

4) Create your own sketch , then press share sketch button.

5) Student can use browser to login into sketchlot website (using class code you assigned and students password). If students share their own sketch to you. You will see them on the control panel( refresh the browser in case no can’t see anything).

Application for Education

Teachers can use them inside the classroom. I just found that you can use it on “Nearpod” share function. It works well.

Jul 12 2013

Nearpod Business – Launched!

Nearpod Business launched at July, 2013. A new and enhanced version of Nearpod for Education.

It still free. All features can be used on Nearpod Business version. Yes! Would you see the bright point? Yes, all features! If you an old user of Nearpod (mostly of us less than 1-year using), you might know that both “sideshow” & “Browse the Internet” can’t use for Free user. It just provided several times to use under free account.

But now, Nearpod Business version, you can use it ! Thanks Nearpod Team.

Besides, this Nearpod Team gives us “On Demand” and “Live” functions. “Live” likes the pervious “Launch” function. You can control audience. But this time free account only support 3 per session (like 3 students).

For “On demand” , you can share via email / pin to audience up to 100 per month. That’s really flexible for presenter. Also, the audience can view the NPP(Nearpod presentation) by themselves. i.e. no control functions like “Homework for education Nearpod version”.

This version supports “web app”. That means you can “join session” via PC/MAC. As this features only included on school account when it’s at Nearpod for Education Version. I have no idea when they switch back. Hope that this feature can keep it forever. I use it from September last year to now. Nearpod Team work very hard of it and always gives us surprise. Love Nearpod and their hard work!

Nearpod Announces the Launch of “Nearpod Business” (prweb.com)

Jul 4 2013

LiveSlide & Homeroom

Today, I read a website “Atlas” introduce an cross-platform apps called “LiveSlide“. It seems pretty good. Although It hasn’t launch yet. Stay turn….

Demo Video:

LiveSlide Demo

Jun 20 2013

GoSoapBox – onilne student response system

GoSoapBox is a web services that gives you a system to communicate with your students.

After sign up and confirm your email. You can “create your room” to students. Then you can create some poll or questions. The most interesting thing about GoSoapBox is you and your students can ask questions immediately right on the browser. It makes you might answer the questions during your teaching!

It supports chinese characters in the questions but not in create room.

After give a try today, I think sounds good about the concepts, but a bit difficult to use – always swap when create the room/questions.

If you want this services, you may give a try it.

GoSoapBox – Survey Your Audience In a Variety of Ways (freetech4teachers.com)

Jun 11 2013

Quizlet – create quiz to your students easily

Quizlet is an online services which is work with mobile device and desktop.

In general, you just type the “matching words” , system will turn your words into the different type of games.

By the way of that, system can pronounce the word for you in over 60 different language (list here).

After you create your exercise, you can play with voice on your mobile devices or desktop.

Application for Education

Can’t imagine this service is FREE! If you want to add your own image on your questions, you need to upgrade. Otherwise, free account just suitable for most users.

May 30 2013

CK12 – ONE stop portal in Education

CK12 – It s a free website funded by CK-12 Foundation. It’s provide free Online Textbooks , FlashCards, Exercises etc.

You can found that in different learning topics: Arithmetic, Measurement, Algebra, Geometry, Probability, Statistics, Trigonometry, Analysis, Calculus, Life Science, Biology, Physical Science, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Engineering, Technology, English, Astronomy, History, Economics, SAT Exam Prep

You can use your “Google”, “Facebook” or “Twitter” account to sign in.

But, if you just want to take a look. NO sign in required.

Application for Educaiton

The best thing of this site is embeded “Google Translate” that provided into 75 languages!

We Love Resources: CK-12 (saylor.org)
CK12.org (fizziology4u.wordpress.com)

Apr 25 2013

Learn.ly – Give a voice comment function on Google Drive

Learn.ly gives you a voice comment function on Google Drive. In general, you only type a comment in doc at Google Drive.

But Lean.ly gives you different. It connects with Google Drive and add voice comment.

After testing, I found that the files created by Google Doc like Doc and presentation can be used with Learn.ly (Voice Comment). Also, html files can be used. Unfortunately, documents like docx, pdf cannot be used. That means seems Voice comment ONLY work with Google Doc. As Learn.ly just a new services. I think it will be having improvement later!

As the recording technology seems using Flash, so you can’t use it on your iPad when recording. But you can listen the voice comment on it. See FAQ for more information.

Application for Education

Using your voice to give comments to students. I think it makes comment more accurate , more suitable for specific students. Students can learn better with improvement.

How to Add Voice Comments to Google Documents (freetech4teachers.com)

Apr 17 2013

Pholium – Multimedia Photo Album Creator

Pholium – This is an IOS Apps for creating photo album(download here). You can add photos, video. The most interesting is you can also record your voice to introduce your creation (Photos).

After you made your Photo Album, you can share via Facebook, Twitter. But the best thing is: If your friend also has this app, you can send the album to your friend’s app. Otherwise, they can view it on the web.

Also, Pholium support iCloud and Dropbox as Cloud storage.

All these functions are Free to use.

Application for Education:

Of course, we don’t to print out the Photo book at school. But , we can use it in learning activities. Student use this apps to organize their work , record with their voice, add video to express complex ideas. All books can deliver to each other and view right on the apps or view online. Here is the description about this function.

Creators of books can easily give their photo e-books to others of their choosing using Pholium’s cloud server and a WiFi connection. Once a book is completed and “published” to the user’s Library, they may give their e-books by entering the recipients’ email addresses. The book is uploaded to the Apple iCloud or Dropbox servers and the recipients are automatically sent an email or push notification (to those recipients who already have Pholium on their iPad) that a book is being given to them. Recipients that do not have an iPad or Pholium, will receive a link to download an online web viewer of the book.

Mar 27 2013

MDL2 – Free Moodle services

MDl2 let you create your own site for e-learning which is powered by the latest Moodle.

The site claimed itself NOT a company, so this services required to donate some bugs as you want.

Registration is easy: 1) enter your site name 2) your email address

After you enter information above, you will received an email about the login details.

Also, base on this free services running smoothly, your site may be disabled under some conditions:

Unused sites will be automatically disabled after 30 days without a valid login (only a week if the site is empty).
Disabled sites will be permanently and irreversibly deleted from our backups one month later.
If you are an active donor your site will not be disabled.

Application for Education

I really appreciate about their work. No any cost, no limit on bandwidth, no limit on disk space. It’s awesome and kind!

The aims of this services is spreading the use of Moodle. Check this out if you also interested in!

helping us to give this service for free to other users who cannot afford it.

Mar 12 2013

Coggle – Beautiful Online MindMap Services

Coggle – It’s an online mindmap service. After you sign in with your google account. You can start to create immediately!

Simple and clear UI let you easy to create a mindmap as you want.

Basically, you need to know two methods:

1) Press “+” to create the new and Press “Ctrl” to move/ blend.

2) Hold “Ctrl” and press “X” (at the end of line) to delete

You can 7 colors to create your Mind Map.

After you finished, you can share to “Facebook” or download it as “PNG” or “PDF”

My Work 😛

If you want to share with your students or friends, you can copy the link like this. Or enter their email as co-workers.

Application for Education

For teachers, the share link helps you show the MindMap for students in teaching. For students, you can edit your MindMap collaboratively. One more that I found this services is great – its support various language input, like Chinese!

P.S. After testing on my iPad, it works! You can also “touch and move” to blend the line. Also, you can add/delete when you “touch and hold” the line. Redo and Undo also available when you “touch and hold”! Amazing!

Coggle – A Simple Mind-Mapping Tool (freetech4teachers.com)

Jan 24 2013

TagMyDoc – Tag(QR-code) your files and share at once

TagMyDoc – It’s quite a special online services. The main idea of this website is “Tag your Doc”.

In traditional, if you want to share your handout to students. You may need upload to cloud storage, set to “share”, print the document and write down the “share link” student finally. Many, many steps……

But, TagMyDoc only TWO steps: upload and print the tagged document. Easy!