COD - 1/31/2012 - Grockit [Test prep]

Grockit is an online test prep service for students planning on taking the GMAT, SAT, ACT, GRE, or other tests required for college admissions.

Grockit offers a social, collaborative, and personal learning platform. Its adaptive learning algorithms and up-front analysis identify and adjust for individual learning strengths and weaknesses.

Grockit.TV includes hundreds of hours of content featuring real teachers demonstrating problem solving techniques that can be applied to your study plan.

Grockit has helped more than a million people worldwide successfully prepare for tests. Grockit study plans provide practice tests, personalized insight into your weak subject areas, reviews of your work, and even a tutor to help you.

Watch a video overview of Grockit

Grockit, headquartered in San Francisco, was founded in 2007, by Farb Nivi, a former Teacher of the Year for The Princeton Review and academic director at Kaplan.

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COD - 1/30/2012 - Math Fun Facts [Math]

Math Fun Facts is an archive designed to be a resource for enriching your math courses and encouraging your students' interest and talent in mathematics.

Each Math Fun Fact is a math puzzle or short article centering on a "cool" mathematics idea. Students can learn about the mathematics of interesting and engaging things like card shuffling in poker, fractals, music, and more. Math Fun Facts provides great enrichment material for gifted math students or problem-solving groups.

Math Fun Facts are searchable by keyword and you can refine your search by topics such as algebra or geometry. It's also possible to filter search results by level of difficulty.

You can put a link to the "Random Fun Fact" URL on your web page as a fun way for your students to learn some math at their leisure.

There is a Math Fun Factsapp for iOS available in the iTunes App Store for $0.99. The app includes 75 fun facts with the full collection available as an in-app purchase.

Support for the development of Math Fun Facts has been supplied by the Mellon Foundation and Harvey Mudd College.

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The Rearview Mirror 1/28/2012

For those of you who may have missed a Catch of the Day or who didn't have the opportunity to look at some of them during this past week, here's a second chance.

Monday

OnLive Desktop from Microsoft gives you simple access to MS Office on your iPad from anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Tuesday

Social Studies for Kids is a resource for students and teachers of social studies covering history, geography, economics, cultures, current events, holidays, religions, languages, archaeology, and more.

Wednesday

Fake Tweet Builder is a simple free tool designed to create simulated Twitter conversations.

Thursday

FoxyUtils provides a suite of simple and free tools that make it possible to perform several common PDF tasks no matter where you are and regardless of what software you may or may not have.

COD - 1/26/2012 - FoxyUtils [Tools]

FoxyUtils provides a suite of simple and free tools that make it possible to perform several common PDF tasks no matter where you are and regardless of what software you may or may not have.

MergePDF enables you to combine multiple PDF documents into a single document. All you need to do is select the PDF documents on your computer that you want to merge together and click a single button.

SplitPDF enables you to break up PDF documents in just 3 simple steps. Select the PDF document on your computer that you want to split up, specify the desired page range, and click a button.

UnlockPDF unlocks many PDF files without needing a password. In some cases, however, a password is required. UnlockPDF is limited to files with PDF encryption as defined in the PDF standard. Files encrypted with DRM are not handled by UnlockPDF.

ProtectPDF adds password protection for restricting permissions, entirely protecting a PDF from any modifications, or even requiring a password to view the document.

See a video demonstration of MergePDF

All the FoxyUtils services are webapps, so there is no download or installation needed. You only need a web browser. FoxyUtils is intended for people who occasionally need to perform these kinds of functions and prefer not to install costly or complex desktop software on their computers.

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COD - 1/25/2012 - Fake Tweet Builder [Tools]

Fake Tweet Builder is a simple free tool designed to create simulated Twitter conversations.

I have seen several tools and templates for simulating Facebook content. Fake Tweet Builder enables you to do the same thing for Twitter.

Simply enter the fake conversation into the text box, select from a number of customization options, the click the button. You can even use custom avatars.

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Easy Clip Sharing with Dropbox

(This is a reposting of an earlier post from 1/29/11. I think it's a really useful tip and worthy of another look.)

Have you ever been in a café browsing with your laptop and found an image, a URL, or some text you wanted to copy to use later at work or at home on a different computer?

Here's a quick, easy, free way to use your Dropbox account to do just that.

1. Make a new folder in your Dropbox folder to hold the items you clip. I named itDropClips for this example.

2. Right(Cmd)-click on the DropClips icon and select Make Alias.

3. You now have a new folder named DropClips alias in your Dropbox folder.

4. Drag the folder DropClips alias from your Dropbox folder onto the desktop of each of your computers.

Now select any text, image, URL, etc that you want to copy and access from other computers and drag it onto the DropClips alias icon on the desktop. That clip will now be added to the DropClips folder in your Dropbox and be accessible from any other devices with Dropbox access.

(This how-to is Mac-specific, but I'm sure you can do something similar in Windows.)

COD - 1/24/2012 - Social Studies for Kids [Social studies]

Social Studies for Kids is a resource for students and teachers of social studies covering history, geography, economics, cultures, current events, holidays, religions, languages, archaeology, and more.

The Social Studies for Kids site includes

• A forum on social studies topics.
• Fun facts such as Paul Revere never finished his ride.
• Glossaries for both US and world history.
• A free weekly newsletter.

The home page features Current Events topics, This Week in History, and a Geography item.

The author of Social Studies for Kids is David White, the former About.com Guide for Social Studies for Kids.

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CX: Cloud File Storage, Syncing, and More

CX is a new cloud-based file storage and syncing service, in the nature of Dropbox, that features secure storage, real-time syncing, public and private sharing, interactive group collaboration, and intelligent discovery.

Organize your content, access it anywhere, share it with others, or publish it online using CX. Group functionality and a unique file commenting system enable team discussion of files.

Start with a whopping 10GB of free storage and add up to 6GB more by referring others. CX keeps your data safe with 256-bit encryption, redundant backups, and firewall protection.

Choose from public or private file-sharing options. Every file has a comment stream. CX users can comment on shared files. Everyone in a group can enter into the conversation, edit files, or add new ones.

See a video introduction to CX

CXDiscover lets you see what others are publishing. Find people with similar interests and join in conversations across the globe.

There are CX application for Windows, Mac, and iOS, with Android and Blackberry expected soon.

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COD - 1/23/2012 - OnLive Desktop [Cloud]

OnLive Desktop from Microsoft gives you simple access to MS Office on your iPad from anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Get access to a secure, reliable, high-performance Windows 7 cloud desktop with the Office applications you use the most: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Full featured document viewing and editing with OnLive Desktop:

• Create or edit Microsoft Word docs on the go using touch, an on-screen keyboard, or handwriting recognition to view, edit, and annotate.
• Build PowerPoint presentations and show them directly on your iPad or connect to an external monitor.
• Manage fully functional Excel spreadsheets. Create graphs anywhere, then drag and drop to update your Office documents.
• Open multiple documents and copy-paste between them.

You need to first create an OnLive account on the OnLive Desktop website. (If you already have an OnLive Game Service account you can login with that.) Then download the free app from the iTunes App Store.

When you open the app and sign in, you’ll see a Windows 7 desktop on your iPad. There are icons to launch the MS Office applications and a handful of other programs. You can’t add anymore applications to or permanently modify the desktop.

Once you launch an application, it looks to be pretty much identical to that application running on a PC. The popup keyboard is NOT the native iPad keyboard, but a proprietary on-screen keyboard that I found adequate, though the keys are smaller. Considering that everything is running on distant servers, the OnLive Desktop seemed sufficiently responsive on my home wi-fi connection with minimal lag.

View a video introduction to OnLive Desktop

Versions for Android, PCs, and Macs are expected soon.

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The Rearview Mirror 1/21/2012

For those of you who may have missed a Catch of the Day or who didn't have the opportunity to look at some of them during this past week, here's a second chance.

Monday

Sketch Exchangeis a free online community where math educators who use The Geometer’s Sketchpad can share ideas and connect with peers.

Tuesday

Slader is a community for and by students, a crowd-sourced approach to education online meant to empower students to shape their own learning experience.

Wednesday

OpenStudy is a student-centered social learning network for asking questions, giving help, and connecting with other students studying the same things.

Thursday

Wonderopolis aims to nurture wonder and learning through the power of discovery, creativity, and imagination.

COD - 1/19/2012 - Wonderopolis [Elementary]

 

Wonderopolis aims to nurture wonder and learning through the power of discovery, creativity, and imagination.

The centerpiece of Wonderopolis is the Wonder of the Day. Learning can happen everywhere, at any time. Wonders of the Day can help you find everyday-life learning moments, “ones that fit in with dinner preparations, carpool responsibilities, a stolen moment between breakfast and the bus, or within school curriculum and education programs.”

Some recent Wonders of the Day:

• Are Bald Eagles Really Bald?
• What Makes a Pyramid?
• How Does Bleach Work?
• What’s So Special About Your Fingerprints?
• Can You Be Hypnotized?

Take a video tour of Wonderopolis

Wonderopolis is a production of the National Center for Family Literacy.

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COD - 1/18/2012 - OpenStudy [Study]

 

OpenStudy is a student-centered social learning network for asking questions, giving help, and connecting with other students studying the same things.

The mission of OpenStudy is “to make the world one large study group, regardless of school, location, or background.”

Students can connect with learners studying the same things they are. They can ask questions, and get answers from students just like them. Over 100,000 students from 170 countries and 1600 schools are studying with OpenStudy.

OpenStudy asks all members to abide by few core principles, the OpenStudy Code of Conduct. An OpenStudier will:

• Be Nice - Stay positive, be friendly, and not mean.
• Be Helpful - Encourage learners that need help, and be patient while helping.
• Be Appreciative - Thank people for taking the time and effort to be helpful.

 

View a video introduction to OpenStudy

OpenStudy is a for profit business located in Atlanta funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Georgia Research Alliance.

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COD - 1/17/2012 - Slader [Study]

Slader is a community for and by students, a crowd-sourced approach to education online meant to empower students to shape their own learning experience.

The Slader community writes and votes on all submitted content. Students are able to contribute and collaborate on the subjects in which they excel. Slader is an online study group that students can control themselves, offering an inexpensive alternative to tutors and after-school programs, and giving more students access to the academic resources that promote success.

What Slader users can do:

• View and share original answers and work for high school textbooks.
• Join academic classes.
• Post homework assignments.
• Discuss subject-specific questions with their peers and classmates.

Teachers can design self-paced learning strategies using Slader. Solutions from other textbooks in the same subject area can be used as a source for quizzes, tests, or practice sheets. Class study groups can be organized and virtual “office hours” can be held on a specific class page.

Slader is very adamant about not being a "cheating site." See their honor code here.

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COD - 1/16/2012 - Sketch Exchange [Math]

 

Sketch Exchange is a free online community where math educators who use The Geometer’s Sketchpad can share ideas and connect with peers.

The Geometer’s Sketchpad is a tool for elementary, middle school, high school, and beyond, that allows teachers and students to explore mathematical concepts in a tangible, visual way .

Teachers who participate in the Sketch Exchange community can:

• Upload sketches and activities.
• Post links to your own website or videos.
• Participate in a community forum.
• Browse the content on the site by grade level, topic, or tags.
• Download sketches and activities for classroom use

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