Catch of the Day - busuu.com - 10/6/2010

Busuu.com is an online community for learning languages.

Busuu.com has tried to create a new concept of language learning by incorporating the following features ...

• Learn directly from native speakers in the busuu.com community with an integrated video-chat application. Practice your language skills in a live conversation.
• Over 150 audio/visual-based learning units cover diverse topic areas and grammar units covering the most important points.

Busuu.com is completely free to use There is an option to pay a monthly fee (€16) to become a Premium Member. With that Premium Membership you gain access to additional functionalities and more material.

busuu.com offers free iOS apps to learning languages on the go. There are apps for English, Spanish, French, German, and three other languages. Each app includes ...

• Over 3,000 words and key phrases
• Beginner to advanced intermediate levels
• 150 different topics using day-to-day situations
• Audio/visual learning material by native speakers
• Sections including vocabulary, dialogues, and interactive tests
• 20 complete learning units included in the free version
• Learning progress can be synchronized with your profile on busuu.com

Take a video tour of busuu.com

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Barnes & Noble Educator Appreciation Days

Educator Appreciation Days are coming up at Barnes & Noble. Get a special 25% discount.

Go to my earlier post on B&N@School

Catch of the Day - Ahead - 10/5/2010

With Ahead you can layout, share, and publish content of many kinds on the web.

Ahead is web based, no downloads, and runs in most browsers with Flash.

Ahead features …

• InDesign style layout editor
• Zooming interface
• PDF, Photoshop, and MS Office support
• Include HD content
• Many supported file formats

Two monthly subscription plans are currently on offer. The Free plan includes 300 Mb of storage, 600 Mb of monthly traffic, and unlimited public spaces. The $35 (US) Pro plan ups storage to 3 Gb, traffic to 15 Gb/month, allows private spaces, and more.

Ahead lets you publish your project as a public or private workspace to share files, a rich-media website, or a zooming presentation.

Watch a video demo of Ahead

See examples of Ahead projects

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Catch of the Day - mixedink - 10/4/2010

Mixedink for educators is a free, simple collaboration tool for student writers.

How mixedink works ...

• Students are assigned to write together. In mixedink, they create their own versions, edit their teammates' work, and mash different versions together into new ones. As students edit and remix others' work, mixedInk gives credit to the original author.
• Students comment on their classmates' work and rate the different texts to pick out the best written versions. Students rate each text anonymously, identifying the best presentation of ideas and use of language.
• Discuss the top version as a class, together exploring the strengths and weaknesses of the favorite texts.

Mixedink allows students to write independently and simultaneously gives them the tools to draw and build upon their teammates' work. Students submit individual and collaborative texts throughout the process, unrestricted by earlier content. Authorship is automatically tracked and color-coded.

Mixedink is easy to set up, intuitive, customizable, and always available. The free version allows unlimited classes and student accounts. The paid Educator and Guru versions offer more features such as password protection, ad-free projects, and content export.

Watch a demo video of mixedink

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Catch of the Day - B&N@School - 10/1/2010

Barnes&Noble@School offers educational tools for parents, teachers, and librarians.

Search B&N@School for thousands of workbooks, learning toys, DVDs, and more. Locate materials by grade level and subject area.

B&N@School sections ...

• K-12 Learning Materials
• Educator Program
• Study Aids and Test Prep
• Library Services
• Special Needs
• Bookfairs

Discover educational videos and audio interviews that connect you to favorite authors on the @ School Channel of B&N Studio. Hear favorite kids’ stories read by authors and celebrities at Online Story Time.

Library Services include purchase order accounts, discounts for librarians, and bulk order discounts.

Members of the B&N@School Educator Program save 20% off the publisher's list price on purchases for classroom use (up to 25% off during Educator Appreciation Days). Members also get valuable email offers and information on special events. Membership is free.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0