Drop.io - File Storage and Whole Lot More!

It has been awhile since I have written. The main reason would be due to the "fun" summer has to offer. However, I am back today to talk about DROP.IO . Dropio is impressive as it is FREE, EASY and POWERFULL way to share files on the web. Each Dropio dropbox offers 100MB of space. You can have as many as you like! This is not an original idea as there are other sites like it such as dropbox and boxnet. The difference is dropio is simple. You don't need to sign up and the interface is very clean.

Why use Dropio?The main purpose of dropio is to upload files to share, store, or backup. YuThe really neat part is how you can do this. You could simply go to the website and enter in a name (like Unit 1 pics) on the dropio screen and poof you have 100MB of space to store music, word files, videos, or whatever else. You can create as many as you want. So for each name you enter you get a new site and a fresh 100MB. You can password protect your files so you are the only one to access your files.

WEB: Dropio is not just about you saving files but also others. You could allow students or colleagues save files to your dropio area for quick and effiecient data collection.

Widget: Post the dropio widget on your web site, wiki, blog or whatever and visitors can store files to your dropio space! All video and documents can be EMBEDDED on your web site so your material can be accessed without leaving your site.

Keep in Touch: Users can use RSS, SMS, and Email alerts to keep tabs on what material is posted on your dropio files space.

Advanced / Cool Uses:

For those who want to push the limit there are some neat options for you.

Phone: Users can call a number given to you with your site and it will record your message and store it in your dropio drop as an mp3 player. This is podcasting at it's easiest and quickest level. Call in messages, homework assignments, or material which will immediately be available on your drop.

Fax: Users can fax the number assigned to there drop and the fax will be posted on the drop.

Email: Email a message or an attachment which will be posted for all to access. Use a password to restrict who can access the information and who can't!

Twitter: You can have your dropio posts automatically be updated on your twitter account.

Piclens: Your dropio dropbox is coded to work with the PICLENS attachment to your browser of choice. This is an add on that will display your pictures in a fantastic montage accross your screen. A must for anyone who views a lot of images on the web!

So what is the catch? Your dropbox will expire a year from the day it is last used. So if someone accesses your dropbox at least once a year it will last forever.

Contact me with any questions...

Summer Institute -GET CONNECTED

Get Connected with Technology!
ICT Summer Institute Presents

http://moourl.com/willrich

This workshop is open to out of board participants. Email summer@wecdsb.on.ca

Will Richardson will discuss how teachers and administrators can use the web to enrich your classroom activities. Learn how to use the web to work more efficiently and create your own network for research and resource sharing. Will is a former teacher and uses his experience to provide practical examples of web 2.0 classroom solutions.

In Addition:

On August 22nd Doug Sadler will run two hands on workshops where teachers can focus on just a few web 2.0 tools that can be used in class.

August 22nd (AM - CEC) The Wonderful World of WIKIS

Doug will spend the morning walking teachers through the use of Wikis in the classroom. Wikis are collaborative web sites that can be used for information dissemination or actual interaction with students such as threaded discussions in a controlled environment. In order to build a wiki you will need 7 minutes and access to a browser, that's it! Teachers are using wikis for class web pages, discussion groups, peer editing, homework boards, calendars and access to resources. Come out and build yours!

Register at PD Place 1852

August 22nd (PM - CEC) Google Applications, Tools 2 Go for your Students

Whether you use them for yourself or apply them in your class Google Applications is a must have for you! Google applications (Google Apps) are free online tools that allow you to create, store, edit, and share Word, Powerpoint, and Excel files online. No more usb drives, no more wordperfect, no more out of disk space. Want to conduct an online quiz/test with no fuss? Sign up and find out how.

We offer a student version of Google Apps where your students will have access to the same tools but in a controlled online site. Students can share files, peer edit, and collaborate in one space. Learn how Google Apps can work for you.

Register at PD Place 1853

Google Docs Updates!

Google Docs had updated again! Big surprise I bet. Users can now upload and share .pdf files but may not edit them at this point. Editing will be a big plus but a great step forward.

• Upload, preview & share PDFs
  One of our top feature requests is now implemented: upload, preview and share PDFs in Google Docs! Click the Upload button in the Docs list to get started. While you can't yet edit PDFs, you can at least select text to copy & paste elsewhere. You can also share PDFs just like you can share your regular Google Docs. Learn more.
  

ClassMouse VS Student Link 2

WHAT RESOURCE BANK WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Currently our board licenses Student Link 2. Student Link 2 is a simple menu system that gets elementary students to thousands of appropriate, curriculum - based web sites as quickly as possible. There is a link for Staff in the Staff Portal which contains special resources, links, grading materials, and lessons that are all categorized. For ease of use there is also a student version link to Student Link 2 just for Students which is located in the Student Portal. WECDSB has used this resource for years.

Recently a new product to compete with Student Link 2 has come to my attention. There are some similarities and there are some differences but that is where you come in. I would like you to use our board's test login to access ClassMouse and check it out. Post your comments on this blog (anonymous or not is up to you!). Hearing good or bad feedback is just as valuable. I can't see the board paying for both systems so please tell me which one you like the best and I will take the findings to our Administration to consider. Feel free to download as much of the material as you see fit. Be sure to view it as a teacher and as one of your students. The same link will take you to the STAFF and STUDENT login. Content is important but so ease of use. Check it out!

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CLICK HERE

LOGIN INFORMATION:

How do I check out what ClassMouse is all about??

1. Goto ClassMouse.com
2. Enter Username: Windsor
3. Password: Staff

Don't forget to post your comments here!

Creative Commons and Copyright

Do you post any content on the web?

Use a Creative Commons license to protect your blog, wiki, video, photo, or podcast. The process is very easy and free.

Join the web 2.0 revolution and publish some of your own content. Teachers have loads of content so why not share some of it!

Choose your method on how to get your information on the web using a BLOG, WIKI, or PODCAST for example.

Once you have posted it on the web you can visit the creative commons website to get your free license stipulating how your materials may be used by others. The license for this blog can be found on the right panel.

The registration form is shown below:

Share, Remix, Reuse — Legally

Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from "All Rights Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."

We're a nonprofit organization. Everything we do — including the software we create — is free.

I believe people will be more apt to respect copyright once they have published their own work and went through the process to protect it.

JOIN THE WEB AND PUBLISH!

Free Is Good! Free Music is BEST!

Is there a new trend in music releases? Free is good! Free and Legal is Better! Click on the "ViVa" graphic to the left to download your copy of ColdPlay's new single "Violet Hill". Trent Reznor, lead singer of Nine Inch Nails upped the ante and just released their new album in multiple formats for free. Click on NIN below to get yours.

The website actually encourages you to share it and even add to it if you wish. The album called "The Slip" is licensed under a creative commons attribution non-commercial share alike license.

"we encourage you to remix it
share it with your friends,
post it on your blog,
play it on your podcast,
give it to strangers,
etc."

We all know how important copyright is. Click HERE to learn how to license your work!

It was considered a big deal when Coldplay decided to give away a song on April 29th from their new album but now we are seeing unprecedented generosity or a publicity stunt by artists giving away an entire album. For the longest time we overpaid to listen to the latest and greatest of bands we like but now they are just giving it away. Even if you don't like the music it must make you wonder... These are not artists starving for attention or looking for their start.

What is the catch? Is this a new trend? How long will it last? Time will tell.

How "SMART" is your Classroom

Teacher Tube and Smart Technologies have teamed up to offer a contest for Teachers to show off how a SmartBoard is used in their class. If you are lucky enough to use a SmartBoard in your class you may want to enter! All you have to do is produce a 30 second commercial that demonstrates how your class takes advantage of the Smartboard. Creativity and technological wizardry is a plus!

Here is an excerpt from their site:

SMART Technologies is teaming up with TeacherTube to offer the Extraordinary Moments Video Contest. We're looking for 30-second commercials that best answer this question: How do SMART products help you create extraordinary moments in your classroom?

Creativity counts. So does technological wizardry. But most of all we'd like to see how you and your students use technology to create a fun, interactive learning environment.

If you are a winner you can earn a prize package worth $3500 and a trip to NECC 2008 in San Antonio, Texas. You will premiere your commercial at the conference.

For more information click HERE:

If you are interested and would like some help don't hesitate to contact Doug Sadler for some help!