Kathy Schrock's Kaffeeklatsch

IPHONE FUN!

2025-02-06T20:01:00.003-05:00

I use my iPhone for everything and feel I am pretty adept at most things. I have 766 apps on my iPhone 15 Max with iOS 17 and the apps are all organized into folders so I can easily find things.

However, I continue to learn plenty of new things about the capabilities of the iPhone from users on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Threads. I want to share two of my favorites with you. In some cases, if you don't have a newer phone, you may not be able to use some of these tips, but it is nice to read how they work anyway, so you are ready when you upgrade!

TAKING A LONG-EXPOSURE IMAGE

Long-exposure images are beautiful and it is easy to take one with your iPhone camera.

Make sure LIVE PHOTOS is turned on. The LIVE PHOTOS option is found in the top right of the screen in the camera (when the phone is in portrait mode) and in the top left of the screen when the camera is in landscape mode. It looks like an icon of two circles with a dotted circle around them. When there is no line through the icon, Live Photos is turned on.
When taking a long-exposure image, it is important to find a place to prop your phone. I often use a horizontal fencepost or a wall in the vicinity to lean on. If you don't have anywhere to rest the phone, tuck your elbows in towards your body and hold your breath.
Whether your phone is propped, on a tripod, or being held, there is one very important thing you need to do to get a great long-exposture shot. Hold your phone still for 5 seconds BEFORE you take the photo and 5 seconds AFTER you take the picture.
Once you have finished the shot. open your image in in Photos, and tap the LIVE icon that comes up. You will be presented with a menu of choices.
Pick LONG-EXPOSURE and the magic will happen!

IOS 17 AND FACETIME FUN

With the advent of iOS 17, FaceTime has some cool new on-screen features!
During a call, go to Control Center, tap Video Effects, and turn on Reactions.

If you give two peace signs at the same time. confetti rains down.
If you give just one peace sign, balloons pop up all around you.
If you make your hands into the "heart" symbol, red hearts come out.
If you put two thumbs down, you get a thunderstorm.
If you two thumbs up, you get fireworks
If you make the "rock-on" sign with each hand, you get some cool lasers.

ASSESSMENT AND RUBRICS

2025-01-07T20:08:00.001-05:00

Assessment of student mastery of content takes many forms. This list includes support materials for assessments that work with the Common Core State Standards and rubrics for many different assessment products. It also contains some information on the creation of rubrics and assessment in general.

If you find a link that is not working, please let me know and I will fix it. Thanks!

Common Core State Standards rubrics

K-5 rubrics for writing standards: K 1 2 3 4 5 (more)
Text-based writing rubrics K-12
Checklist for critical areas in K-2 math
Common Core checklists K-6
EQuIP rubric for lessons & units: Math
EQuIP rubric for lessons & units: ELA
EQuIP rubric for lessons & units: ELA (K-2)
Grammar & mechanics self-assessment rubric
Multimedia rubric for projects to inform
PARCC analytic and narrative writing (3) (4) (5)
PARCC analytic and narrative writing (6) (7) (8)
PARCC analytic and narrative writing (9) (10) (11)
PARCC PLDs: ELA all grades
PARCC PLDs: Math all grades
Rubrics for evaluating OER resources 4 | 5
Writing: Informative rubric (Grades 3 | 4 | 5)
Writing: Narrative rubric (Grades 3 | 4 | 5)
Writing: Opinion rubric (Grades 3 | 4 | 5)
Writing: High school style rubric 1 & 2

CCSS Lesson/Unit review rubrics

CCSS and classroom technology

Other Common Core items of interest

Multimedia and apps rubrics

Evidence-based rubrics (EB)

Presentation software rubrics

Online tools rubrics

Rubric builders and generators

Student technology skills

Educator technology skills and rubrics

Activators and summarizers (see new page)

Rubrics for higher education

18 ways to use rubrics in education

...practical ways and thoughts for both teachers and students

Creating rubrics
...a five-part tutorial on rubric creation and implementation
Developing and using instructional rubrics

...a pedagogical and practical article

Five ways to blow the top off rubrics

...innovative ways to create rubrics

From Now On: 2/98
...making technology assessment work for schools
Guidelines for rubric development
...help for the creation of rubrics
Helping your students with homework
...practical suggestions to help students deal with homework
How to create a rubric that does what you want it to do

...Grant Wiggins offers great ideas in the blog post

Key differences between summative and formative assessments

Make room for rubrics
...a common-sense introduction to rubrics
Quality rubrics wiki

...an extensive site dealing with rubric creation

Tools for writing rubrics
...an overview, tutorial, and list of resources for creating rubrics
What is a rubric from QuickRubric

Alternative & performance based assessments

Electronic portfolios

Graphic organizers

Report card/progress report comments

Textbook adoption and online materials rubrics

TEACHERSERVER.COM

2025-01-07T17:39:00.005-05:00

I am apparently late to the dance when it comes to TeacherServer.com! Created by USF St. Petersburg Education Professor Zafer Unal, TeacherServer provides free AI tools to assist planning, assessment, preparation, research and more.

It is a wonderful site which includes hundreds of AI tools for both K-12 and Higher Ed. It is totally free and provides well-guided instructions for many types of creation utilizing AI -- everything from creating safe science experiments for the classroom to developing professional development plans, and everything in-between!

You simply pick a tool that meets your needs, fill out a form with the info you want to create, run the AI, easily re-do the info you provided until you get the perfect fit for your needs, and save it to share it out. TeacherServer needs to be in every educator's toolbox!

POCKETALK VOICE TRANSLATOR

2025-01-07T17:32:00.003-05:00

At the ISTE Live conference in June of 2024, I ran across a very intriguing and useful product. Pocketalk is an easy-to-use voice translator and was created to support the fields of healthcare, government, public safety, logistics, and education.

The Pocketalk is truly a personal voice translator. There are over 84 languages on the devices and they would be a worthwhile addition to any school!
Imagine having seamless conversations with parents at a conference or IEP meeting, providing multilingual support for students who speak any language, and boosting the self-esteem of a student with the instant translation and conversation back and forth with his or her peers! With the number of languages being spoken in schools today, the Pocketalk Voice Translatorbridges the communication gap with its easy-to-use interface and its powerful technology.

I am reviewing the smaller Pocketalk S. I received the Pocketalk S, instructions for setting it up, the charger and cable, a protective case for the back of the device, and a lanyard to keep the Pocketalk S around my neck if I need to. I love the lanyard feature because a teacher could easily converse with a student right at the students desk!

The Pocketalk Voice Translator is already used in over five hundred school districts world-wide and I can definitely see why it is so popular! The Pocketalk comes in two sizes which both have similar features. The smaller Pocketalk S is about the size and weight of the last Apple iPod and the Pocketalk Plus is the size and weight of a smallish iPhone.

SOME POCKETALK PLUS SPECS

SOME POCKETALK S SPECS

Size: 4.8" × 2.6" × 0.45" / 4.4 oz.
330 minutes of continuous translation time
HD camera for image translation
One built- in speaker
Dual microphones
Charging time: 130 minutes
Bluetooth, WiFi, SIM card slot
Complimentary 2 year cell plan
3G (W-CDMA) / 4G (FDD-LTE) / 4G (TD-LTE)
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery

Size: 3.6" x 2.1" x .45" / 2.6 oz.
4.5 hours of continuous translation time
HD camera for image translation
Two built- in speakers
Dual microphones
Charging time: 105 minutes
Bluetooth, WiFi, SIM card slot
Complimentary 2 year cell plan
3G (W-CDMA) / 4G (FDD-LTE) / 4G (TD-LTE)
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery

I put my Pocketalk S through some rudimentary testing. First I translated a birthday greeting to my friend Junior from Brazil.

I then used the camera to translate a portion of a textbook in English to German. I took a photo of the English text with the camera, then OCR'd the text, and I could listen to the instructions both in English and German!

There are a number of other features on the Pocketalk Voice Translator. In addition to the camera translation option, there is a group translation feature that allows users to chat with multiple Pocketalk users by creating a chat group. There is even a useful money exchange converter and length, weight, and temperature converters, too!

The Pocketalk Voice Translator is a great tech support tool for schools!
There is even a software management tool available to provide the district with analytic reporting of usage and translations, manage all the devices, and monitor the needs of the users, as seen below.

Find out more about Pocketalk for education and read some case studies here. And be sure to look at the full specifications for the devices here for the the Pocketalk Plus Voice Translator and here for the Pocketalk S Voice Translator. It is amazing what these devices can do to support teaching and learning in a meaningful way!

SAMR AND BLOOM'S AND TECH

2025-01-07T17:22:00.013-05:00

SAMR AND BLOOM'S

SAMR is a model designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. Popularized by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, the model supports and enables teachers to design, develop, and infuse digital learning experiences that utilize technology. The goal is to transform learning experiences so they result in higher levels of achievement for students.

I feel teachers need to both create tasks that target the higher-order cognitive skills (Bloom's) as well as design tasks that have a significant impact on student outcomes (SAMR). My thoughts about the the model are further down this page.

I feel teachers need to both create tasks that target the higher-order cognitive skills (Bloom's) as well as design tasks that have a significant impact on student outcomes (SAMR). A visual to illustrate that follows.

Educators will argue they have seen redefinition tasks that only target the remembering level or have a creative assessment that is only at the augmentation level. Of course that is true, but I believe we should be planning for technology tasks, activities, and assessments that include both the higher levels of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy and the transformation area of the SAMR model.

My vision of how the Bloom's and SAMR models work together and intersect is below.

You can download a PDF copy of the image for classroom use.

samr_blooms.jpg

Download File

Here are some useful SAMR links by others.

Oxnevad -Using SAMR to teach above the line
Anderson - SAMR flowchart
Oxnevad - The SAMR ladder through the lens of 21st century skills
Zita - SAMR Haiku Deck presentation
Work - Models for understanding technology integration: SAMR
Guhlin - Classroom activity learning rubric
Brubaker - SAMR: Model, Metaphor, Mistakes
Holt - SAMR Model and Starbuck's Coffee
Tucker - Beyond SAMR: The Teacher's journey to technology integration
Moroder - EdTech frameworks: Why I don't use TPACK and SAMR with my teachers
Nearpod - Practical SAMR models
RHP123 - Applying apps to learning tasks with SAMR
Cash- SAMR examples Prezi
Swanson - Rethinking SAMR
Cedarbur (WI): SAMR planning model and their lesson planning template
Edutopia: SAMR a powerful model for understanding good tech integration
Best: The SAMR model explained with 15 practical examples

COGS OF THE COGNITIVE PROCESS

I began to think about the triangular shape of Bloom's Taxonomy and realized I thought of it a bit differently.

Since the cognitive processes are meant to be used when necessary, and any learner goes in and out of each level as they acquire new content and turn it into knowledge, I created a different type of image that showcased my thoughts about Bloom's more meaningfully.

Here is my visual which showcases the interlocking nature of the cognitive process.

Here is a link to a download of the cogs image.

cogs_download.jpg

Download File

BLOOM'S AND TECH

Jen Roberts (@jenroberts1) has developed a great model that concentrates more on moving from traditional teacher-created tasks to student-centered, tech-infused learning. She calls it TECH. Her blog post about her development of it may be found here. I love this model and feel it is easier to implement and for educators to understand and learn from.

My version of how Bloom's and TECH work together is below.

You can download a copy of this image here.

CRITICAL EVAULATION OF INFORMATION

2025-01-07T17:19:00.016-05:00

Critical evaluation of information has been important since the early days of the Internet. Trying to figure out if the information one was searching for was credible was difficult. With the new web focus on AI, it is even more important that students need to know how to judge the information they are presented with.

Below, I have included downloadable versions of my guides to help students internalize how best to do this.

CRITICAL EVALUATION GUIDES

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A WEB PAGE - ELEMENTARY

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A WEB PAGE - MIDDLE SCHOOL

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A WEB PAGE - HIGH SCHOOL

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A CREATION IPAD APP

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A CONTENT- BASED IPAD APP

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF AN ANDROID CREATION APP

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF AN ANDROID CONTENT- BASED APP

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A BLOG

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A BLOG (SPANISH)

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A VIDEO

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A DIGITAL STORY

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A PODCAST

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF AN ONLINE TOOL

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A VIRTUAL TOUR

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A WEBSITE FOR TEACHERS

5Ws

BOOKMARK

SITES TO USE FOR

DEMONSTRATING CRITICAL EVALUATION

CRITICAl EVAL AND MEDIA LITERACY FOR ADULTS

FAKE NEWS FACT-CHECKING SITES

FAKE NEWS TIPS AND LESSON PLANS

CRITICAL EVALUATION INFO AND LESSON PLANS

21CIF Lesson Plan and Action Research Repository
...links to lesson plans dealing with information fluency
All about explorers ...fictional biographies of explorers
But I found it on the Internet!
...an article about the need to teach critical evaluation skills
Checklist for Evaluating Web Resources
...a one-page, nicely presented checklist of criteria
Common Sense Media: K-12 Scope and Sequence
Critically Analyzing Information Sources
...a well-done overview of the critical analysis of sites
Evaluating Internet Sources and Sites
...a common-sense guide to critical evaluation of online info
Evaluating Internet-Based Info: A Goals-Based Approach...an interesting essay and evaluation form by David Warlick from 1998
Evaluating Web Content: Social Networking Sites
...an quick overview of the things to look for to determine credibility (for all types of online sites)
Evaluating Web Resources
...a great site which looks at the different types of pages
Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages
...a well-done handout with questions for students to consider
IMSE Science Web Site Evaluation
...questions for the specialized evaluation of science sites
Information Skills Rating Scale
...a sample rubric that may be used to assess students' research skills
Purdue OWL: Preventing Plagiarism Lessons
Steps to Web Evaluation posters: A B C D E F G
Teaching Zack to Think
...a seminal article by Alan November
Ten C's for Evaluating Internet Resources
...a narrative evaluation sheet with useful information
ReadWriteThink "plagiarism" keyword search
Thinking Critically about Web 2.0 and Beyond
...items to consider for Web 2.0 tools
Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources
...a well-done critical evaluation essay
UC Berkeley: Critical Evaluation Worksheet
...another quality evaluation form to use with students
UC Berkeley: Evaluating Web Pages- Why it is Important
...an evaluation activity including a lesson, slideshow, and more
Multnomah County Public Library Homework Center
10 creative ways to teach media literacy

WEB AND AI ONLINE TOOLS FOR CREATING

2025-01-07T17:13:00.014-05:00

The number of online creation tools and AI tools have taken off!

Here are some links to various online tools to help both teaching and learning.

The tools all work with laptops and Chromebooks unless stated otherwise. The ones that have Chrome apps available have a link to the Chrome Web Store link.

If you find a link that is not working, please let me know the title and I will fix it!

NO REGISTRATION ONLINE TOOLS FOR CREATION

Linda Houle: Web 2.0 Tools
Nathan Hall's list

AI ONLINE TOOLS FOR CREATING

AI Duet music maker: a piano responding to your input
AI tools for teachers: an educator's list of many AI tools
AIVA: AI background music generator
AudioPen: from text to type
Canva Magic Write Tool: help with creativity
ChatGPT: interacts in a conversational way
Cleanup Pictures: remove objects from an image
Craiyon: easy art generator
Curipod: slide show and lesson plan maker
DALL-E 2: create images from a language description
DeepBeat rap generator: make your own rap music
Eduaide.ai: AI assisted lesson development tool
Elicit: a research helper to find abstracts and papers
Even Stranger Things: make a Stranger Things poster
Fireflies.ai: automate your meeting notes
Fliki: turns a blog post into a video
Fontjoy: helps you generate fonts that work together
Gemini: Google's AI generation tool
GPT-4: next level text, image, and audio interaction
Let's Foodie: enter your ingredients and create a meal
Looka: design a logo with AI
Magic Eraser: remove unwanted objects from an image
Magic Sketchpad: tries to finish your drawings with AI
Murf AI: Text to speech
MyHeritage Deep Nostalgia: animate your family photos
Neural Love: free AI art generator
PlayPhrase.me: enter a quote and find the movies
Podcastle: podcasting tool with AI editing capabilities
QuestionWell: creates all types of questions
Quizizz: create personalized quizzes for students
Shadow Art with Google: make some shadows with AI
Soundraw: create royalty-free music
Stable Diffusion 2: open source generative AI project
Thank You Note: easily create a thank you note online
This person does not exist: random face generator
TinyWow: AI Write: free AI writing tools

Google Labs AI/machine learning online apps
1. Emoji scavenger hunt (need camera or phone)
2. AutoDraw
3. Can you sing like Freddie Mercury?
4. Semantris
5. Beat Blender
6. Nonsense Library
7. NSynth Sound Maker
8. Talk to Books
Google Arts and Culture AI/machine learning experiments
1. XYZ Toy
2. Odd One Out
3. Descent of the Serpent
4. GEO Artwork
5. Puzzle Party (APAHM edition)
6. Puzzle Party (Czechia edition)
7. Puzzle Party (Milan Cathedral edition)
8. Puzzle Party (Diwali edition)
9. Blob Opera
10. Baguette Sprint
11. Un-Dough!
12. Blob Beats
13. In Rhythm with Nature
14. 3D Pottery
15. Guess the Line
16. AI Duet
17. Where is Hopper?
18. Fabricius
19. What came first?
20. BTS x Street Galleries
21. Fourth of July fireworks

ONLINE GRAPHIC DESIGN TOOLS

ONLINE VIDEO EDITORS / CREATORS / DOWNLOADERS

ONLINE AUDIO RECORDERS / EDITORS

ONLINE IMAGE EDITORS / CREATORS

ONLINE COLLAGE MAKERS

ONLINE SKETCHNOTING & DRAWING TOOLS

ONLINE WORD PROCESSORS

ONLINE ANIMATION CREATORS

ONLINE COMIC CREATORS

ONLINE AVATAR CREATORS

ONLINE COOL TOOLS

ONLINE WEB PAGE CREATORS

ONLINE DESIGN TOOLS

ONLINE PODCAST CREATORS

ONLINE CONVERTERS

ONLINE WORD CLOUD GENERATORS

ONLINE CLIPPING / CREATION TOOLS

ONLINE BLOGGING / MICROBLOGGING TOOLS

ONLINE RSS READERS

Feedly (Chrome)
Feedspot (Chrome)

CLASSROOM CHROME EXTENSIONS / ADD-ONS

ONLINE CODING & PROGRAMMING TOOLS

ONLINE SURVEY / FEEDBACK TOOLS

ONLINE MIND MAPPING TOOLS

Cacoo (Chrome)
Creately (Chrome)
Examtime
Lucidchart (Chrome) (free for K-12 teachers and students)
Mindmaps
MindMeister (Chrome)
Mindomo (Chrome)
Popplet (needs Flash)
RealtimeBoard for Education
Slatebox
UnConcept

ONLINE TIMELINE MAKERS

ONLINE STORYBOARDING TOOLS

ONLINE SCREENCASTING / SCREEN CAPTURE TOOLS

Clarisketch (ChromeOS only)
Clipular (Chrome)
Full Web page screenshot
LoomPro (Chrome extension)
RecordCast
Screen-castify (Chrome and ChromeOS) (ideas)
ScreeenPal (Chrome)

ONLINE CITATION MAKERS

ONLINE PRESENTATION TOOLS

ONLINE IMAGE / QUOTE CREATORS

ONLINE MATH CONVERSION TOOLS

ONLINE INFOGRAPHIC / GRAPH CREATION TOOLS

ONLINE COLLABORATION TOOLS

ONLINE E-BOOK CREATORS

OFF-LINE CHROME APPS

ONLINE DIGITAL RESEARCH TOOLS

DiRT directory of online research tools

ONLINE URL SHORTENERS

ONLINE REVERSE IMAGE SEARCH TOOLS

Wacom raises the bar!

2023-08-16T14:46:00.005-05:00

I have been a Wacom (Wah-kom) user and supporter for a long time.(My first review of one of their products was in 2009!) As a company, they listen to their customer's comments and come up with ways to enhance their product lines to meet and surpass the needs/wants of their customers.

Wacom is particularly good at creating products to support both teachers and learners. They design products which allow teachers to create content and teach more easily, and ones that help students take advantage of new technologies and showcase their acquisition of content knowledge by creating!

One of the cool things about the Wacom products is that the company uses industry-standard technologies whether the product is intended for a second grader or a CEO of a large company. Their products all offer different features, but allow the user to "graduate" through the levels of complexity offered through to the enterprise products. In the PreK-12 setting, the students learn skills that will allow them to move to the next level product when they are ready, and they will feel comfortable with the new interface.

Wacom One is the product line targeted to the education market. I reviewed the products back in 2021, but jumped at the chance to try out the next generation of the Wacom One line of tablets and displays.

Wacom studied the customer requests sent in about the previous products, and came up with various innovative options for anyone who wants to use a Wacom One product. Their focus was on customization and compatibility. Wacom also added touch to the 13" display and bluetooth and USB-C to the Wacom One M tablet.

Wacom has come up with a clever way to introduce their new personalization and à la carte options for purchase. They are calling the program the "Wacom Adventure Program" which includes three components.

Personalization

Choice of pens and colors (or no pen if you already have one)
Choice of connections to ensure the tablet or display will work with your model of computer
A cool portable stand, if you want one, and other accessories, too

Applications

The applications that come bundled with the devices are selected to allow a broad range-of-use cases
The applications include adequate trial periods to allow for extensive testing by the end-user, as well as learning videos for most.

Onboarding and Engagement

There are several videos of different use cases included
In addition, there is a suite of 70+ learning tutorials to support users at any level of expertise.

Below is a overview of the Wacom One product family.

Wacom One M and Wacom One S

The Wacom One M and Wacom One S tablets are popular Wacom products for the PreK-12 classroom. A drawing tablet allows students to use a pen to demonstrate their creativity by using a natural process -- drawing! Even the youngest students can practice their alphabet letters using a tablet.

The pen, in conjunction with software that allows pen input, can be set-up to be a pencil, pen, eraser, or paintbrush! And the tablet is pressure sensitive, too. With the ability to change the functions of the pen, students can easily express their creativity! Of course, they can also use the tablet to maneuver their way through the menu items in any software on their device!

The newest feature on the Wacom One M and S tablets is the ability for a teacher or student to use the tablet wirelessly via Bluetooth. This allows for a whole host of new uses -- teachers can roam the room and showcase items for students and can even hand-off the Wacom One M to students to add to the "classroom conversation".

The Wacom One M and Wacom One S also use a single USB-C cable to attach to a computer (if not using the Wacom One S wirelessly), with additional adapters available for computers without a USB-C port.

One customer-requested option has also been incorporated into the Wacom One M and S Tablets. The pen being used can be tethered to the tablet! In this way, whether being used wirelessly or plugged into a computer, the pen is always going to be there when needed! (Read between the lines...it will not walk off!)

Wacom One M Wacom One S

Wacom One 13" Touch Display and Wacom One 12" Pen Displays

The power of a display for embedding creativity into a classroom cannot be overstated. Having students use industry standard design tools on a responsive and pressure-sensitive display will provide them with the skills we see outlined in the ISTE Standards for Students as well as develop skills targeting college and career readiness.

ISTE Standards for Students

In my opinion, at the high school level, a lab of graphic design displays should be considered for purchase. Students can bring their own computers to hook-up for a personalized experience. Whether students are developing prototypes to 3D print, creating a poster to support a social cause they are passionate about, or creating a drawing to include with their college application, I feel all students should have the experience of creating with a pen and display.

At the middle school level, I would love to see a pod of Wacom One 12" or Wacom One 13" Touch Pen Displays for students to access in the library. Since many schools already supply computers for their students, this shared pod could easily be used by any student.

The Wacom One 13" Touch and the Wacom One 12" Pen Displays, both with color, provide students with a sizable screen for creating. The cool new feature of touch, which is incorporated into the Wacom One 13" Display, provides another avenue of natural input for the user in addition to the pen. Either display plugs into a USB-C port on a computer and acts as a second screen. (There are also additional connection options available from Wacom if the computer does not have a USB-C port.)

Please check the Wacom site for current information on pricing.

Wacom also overs an education discount. Find more details here.

Review of the Wacom One 13" Touch Color Display

I was lucky enough to be contacted by Wacom to provide a blog post review of their new offerings. This is not a sponsored post, but I was sent the Wacom One 13" Touch Color Pen Display to "experiment" on!

The first cool thing I noticed was the packaging. The Wacom One 13" Touch Pen Display came in a box that used FSC-certified paper and the minimal but protective packaging of the product was great! Wacom is working hard to make their products more environmentally-friendly, and it shows! You can find out more about their eco-design efforts here.

Here is a photo of what was in the box.

Two USB-C to USB-C cables. The first cable is used to hook the tablet up to the included charger for power and the second able goes from the tablet to the USB-C port on my computer. There were hook-up scenarios included, too.
The tablet, pen, and a quick start guide.
Replacement nibs for the pen and the small tool to use for replacing them. Make sure to look carefully in the box for the 2 tiny packages of nibs. (They are not in this photo.)

After installing the Wacom software, called the Wacom Center, on my computer, it was very easy to follow the step-by-step directions to hook-up everything. You can see from the photo below that the work area takes up minimal space!

Wacom recommends, for the most efficient use of the Wacom One 13" Touch Color Pen Display to set your display settings to extend the screen. This makes it easy to drag windows back and forth between the computer and tablet. I also changed the resolution of the tablet to allow me more work area on the tablet. (Another cool thing -- the Wacom can be used as a second monitor when it is set up like this!)

The Wacom Center allows you to change settings easily on the tablet. You simply press a button on the top of the tablet, and the menu appears. I upped the brightness, since I like a bright screen. The touch screen has more of a matte finish which makes viewing excellent.

The image below shows the top of the tablet. From bottom to top:

The power switch button
The on/off light
The settings menu button
The slider button to use the tablet in or out of touch mode.

Having a external display tablet like the Wacom One 13" Touch Color Pen Display is great! The ability to draw and mark-up naturally with a stylus on top of any software you use is easy to do. And, the addition of the touch capability on this pen display allows an additional natural way for input.

For my "experiment" with the Wacom One 13" Touch Color Pen Display, I decided to fill out part of a month on the digital journal I just purchased. My journal is tied to Notability.

Wacom has collected material for educators in a part of their site which they label "Teachers for Teachers" which includes ways to use pen and display tablets with popular software tools and ideas for use in supporting student learning. The Wacom One series of pen tablets and pen displays come with a bundle of software. Once your device is registered, you can try out the items below for a generous amount of time.

Bamboo Paper Pro, Magma Studio, Bluescape, Affinity Photo, Affinity Publisher, Affinity Designer, and Skillshare (3-month license)
Clip Studio Paint Pro (6-month license Mac/PC, 3-month license for Chromebook)
Kami App (12-month license)
Foxit PDF Editor for Education (12-month license)
Explain Everything, Pear Deck, and Limnu (3-month license)

Wacom has many more support materials for pen tablets and pen displays on their site. Here are just a few.

Tutorials to help you get started with your specific tablet
A series of pages and tutorials including various ways to use a Wacom device
Creativity Camp with webinars and activities provided throughout the year and archived on their site. This also includes information for students looking at graphic design as a career and ideas for parents to keep their kids creating.

When you get a moment, take a look at Wacom's new Wacom One family of tools. I am sure you can come up with creative ways to use their products whether you are toting around the Wacom One S pen tablet as you control your front end computer in the classroom, creating teaching materials with the Wacom One 13" Touch Color Pen Display, or recording ideas from your colleagues as you are on a Zoom call!

Tutorial for finding a "missing" Web site

2023-08-11T11:22:00.004-05:00

Below is a quick tutorial about locating a Web page which is no longer on the Web.

The X-MAKER 3D Printer: Fostering creativity in the classroom

2023-04-24T12:27:00.009-05:00

I had so much fun exploring the features of the AOSEED X-MAKER 3D printer and all the fun assets and support material for students! This easy-to-use 3D printer takes all the guesswork out of the process. It works perfectly every time.

The X-MAKER 3D printer makes loading the filament easy, and automatically does the slicing of the object. It builds a raft and supports for the printed objects. The teacher and students don't have to worry about anything except printing cool items from the assets or designing something new to print!

However, this fun little printer is not all this package includes!

If you are curious about 3D printing and how it can support teaching and learning, AOSEED provides overviews and case studies for various grade levels using 3D printing. Those can be found here.

The X-MAKER printer has apps for iOS 14+, Android 10+, and Windows 7+. The X-MAKER app creates a WLAN connection to the printer. If there is no WLAN network available, the hotspot on the printer can provide Internet access to the App.

The printer is easy to set-up, but the X-MAKER 34-page User Manual is included in the app, too, in case you have any specific questions. (I did not use the User Manual, just the little three-fold set-up guide!)

The image below shows the labeled parts of the printer from the user manual.

MODEL LIBRARY

There is a huge 3D model library (called Things) with various categories of assets like toys and games, creativity and fun, household, and education. You can see just a few of the "things" students can print.

I printed a business card holder and a soap bubble wand.

The process was easy! First I threaded the filament.

Next, I simply picked the item from the Things library and brought it into the X-MAKER design software to view it from different angles and then just pressed print.

THEME LIBRARY

The second component of the AOSEED X-MAKER ecosystem is the Theme Library. This library includes items that are targeted for gamification and 3D design. Students can customize the gadgets, and using kits of materials, make their gadgets come to life!

I received a packet of material with the printer. You can see what it included below.

Here are the fifteen current assets in the Theme area of the X-MAKER App.

I decided to create a WINDER. I chose to print the snake which would be attached to the walker toy that came with the kit I received. I added a bow to the snake's head for decoration.

Here is a still shot of the finished product.

And a video of my walking snake!

In addition, in the EXPLORE area of the X-MAKER app there are User Guides to support each of the Theme projects, as seen below.

DESIGN TOOLS

The third component of the X-MAKER 3D printer app is the Design Tools. One tool is a 3D modeling tool for kids and the other tool is a 3D sculpture modeling tool. These tools were not available for my iPad.

However, the X-MAKER Print software was available for my Windows PC. This software allows the student to upload their own creations to print to the X-MAKER printer.

CONCLUSION

The X-MAKER 3D Printer and all of these creativity assets would make a great addition to any classroom! The ability for the younger students to easily print out an object to support a classroom activity would give them a sense of great accomplishment.

Middle school students would love the Themes area and the ability to customize their own "gadgets".

Middle and high school students would also benefit to having software (Windows only) to be able to import move, scale, and rotate their own objects. In addition, the X-MAKER Print software includes the ability to slice their objects for printing and includes its own User Manual, too!

For more information about the printer or ordering, contact AOSEED at overseas_sales@aoweidg.com or visit their page at https://en.ime3d.com/xmaker.

AI generated post: Online Tools for Classroom Teachers

2023-04-15T16:58:00.008-05:00

I used TinyWow's Article Writer to produce an article entitled "Online Tools for Classroom Teachers."

This is what it was supposed to create.

Intro
Headings(with H2 tags)
Subheadings (with H3 tags)
Conclusion
FAQ

The AI Writer did a decent job of pulling facts together (although I changed the word "integrate" to "infuse").

However, it is pretty bland and I would easily be able to tell it was not written by one of my graduate students. It certainly read like a robot had written in, IMHO.

I especially disagreed with the section below because online tools should not be supplemental, but infused into the curriculum in a meaningful way to support teaching and learning.

How to Infuse Online Tools into Classroom Instruction

Teachers can infuse online tools into classroom instruction by using them to supplement traditional teaching methods. For example, teachers might use online resources to provide additional practice problems, create interactive quizzes, or offer virtual field trips.

However, the next paragraph following that one stated:

Guidelines for Effective Use of Online Tools in the Classroom

When using online tools in the classroom, teachers should be sure to select tools that are age-appropriate, aligned with learning objectives, and accessible to all students. Additionally, it's important to provide clear instructions and support for students who may be unfamiliar with the technology.

The paragraph above almost seems to contradict the paragraph before.

You can read the full text of the "essay" below.

I have also posted this same query to other AI text engines below, like Bard By Google, and ChatGPT, to see what happens!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Article Writer: Online Tools for Classroom Teachers

Online tools have revolutionized the way we live, work, and learn. In today's digital age, classroom teachers can take advantage of a wide range of online tools to enhance the teaching and learning experience. From communication and collaboration tools to assessment and curriculum development resources, online tools can help teachers streamline their workload, boost student engagement, and achieve better learning outcomes. In this article, we'll explore some of the most effective online tools for classroom teachers, along with best practices for using them in the classroom. Whether you're a seasoned educator or a new teacher looking to infuse technology into your classroom, this guide will provide valuable insights into the world of online tools for education.

Introduction to Online Tools for Classroom Teachers

In today's digital age, technology has become an essential part of education. As a result, teachers must adapt to the use of online tools to enhance their teaching skills and make learning more efficient and enjoyable. Online tools offer teachers various benefits, including easy communication, collaborative learning, efficient assessments, and digital classroom management.

Why Online Tools Are Important for Teachers

Online tools provide a range of benefits for teachers, including convenience, ease of use, efficiency, and access to a wide range of resources. They allow teachers to better engage and connect with students, facilitate collaboration and communication among students and teachers, and provide new and innovative ways to assess student learning.

Challenges of Using Online Tools in the Classroom

While online tools offer various benefits, they may also present some challenges for teachers. Some barriers to the use of online tools in the classroom include accessibility concerns, technical issues, privacy and security concerns, and the need for teacher training and support. It is essential to address these challenges to ensure that online tools are adopted effectively and efficiently.

Communication and Collaboration Tools for Teachers

Benefits of Online Communication and Collaboration Tools

Online communication and collaboration tools are essential for teachers as they facilitate efficient communication and collaboration between students and teachers. They are an effective way to ensure that students stay connected with their teachers and peers, even when they are not in the same location. These tools can also be used to create a more collaborative environment in the classroom.

Examples of Online Communication and Collaboration Tools

Examples of online communication and collaboration tools include Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. These tools allow teachers to communicate with their students through video conferencing, instant messaging, and other types of online messaging. They also enable students to collaborate and work on projects together in real-time.

Online Assessment Tools for Teachers

Benefits of Online Assessment Tools

Online assessment tools are an excellent way for teachers to assess their students' progress efficiently. They offer various benefits, including flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility. Online assessments also provide instant feedback and personalized learning for students, which can help drive better learning outcomes.

Examples of Online Assessment Tools

Examples of online assessment tools include Kahoot, Quizlet, Google Forms, and Edmodo. These tools can be used to create quizzes, polls, and surveys to assess student understanding. They also offer various features like gamification and adaptive learning to make assessments more engaging and fun.

Digital Classroom Management Tools for Teachers

Benefits of Digital Classroom Management Tools

Digital classroom management tools are essential for teachers as they enable them to manage their classes efficiently. These tools offer various benefits, including time management, student monitoring, and behavior management. They also provide teachers with a more organized and streamlined way to manage their classroom activities.

Examples of Digital Classroom Management Tools

Examples of digital classroom management tools include ClassDojo, Nearpod, Google Classroom, and Seesaw. These tools allow teachers to manage their students' assignments, monitor their progress, and communicate with them more effectively. They also provide various features like gamification and interactive lessons to keep students engaged and motivated.

Online Resources and Curriculum Development Tools for Teachers

In today's digital age, classroom teachers have a wide range of online resources and curriculum development tools at their disposal. These tools are designed to make lesson planning, content delivery, and student assessment more efficient and effective. Online resources and curriculum development tools offer many benefits for teachers, including saving time, providing access to a wide range of educational materials, and promoting student engagement.

Benefits of Online Resources and Curriculum Development Tools

One of the key benefits of using online resources and curriculum development tools is the ability to customize lesson plans to meet the needs of individual students. These tools provide access to a wealth of educational materials, such as lesson plans, videos, and interactive activities, that teachers can use to create engaging and relevant curriculum. Additionally, online resources and curriculum development tools can save teachers time by automating routine tasks, such as grading and recording student progress.

Examples of Online Resources and Curriculum Development Tools

There are many online resources and curriculum development tools available for classroom teachers. Some popular examples include Google Classroom for managing online classrooms, Khan Academy for providing interactive instructional videos, and TeachersPayTeachers for sharing and downloading educational resources.

Professional Development and Teacher Support Tools

In addition to online resources and curriculum development tools, there are also a variety of professional development and teacher support tools available to help educators stay up-to-date with the latest teaching strategies and best practices. These tools are designed to provide ongoing support and training for teachers, helping them to improve their skills and become more effective in the classroom.

Benefits of Professional Development and Teacher Support Tools

One of the main benefits of professional development and teacher support tools is the ability to stay current with the latest teaching techniques and technologies. These tools provide access to expert advice, peer collaboration, and ongoing training opportunities.

Examples of Professional Development and Teacher Support Tools

Examples of professional development and teacher support tools include Edmodo, which offers professional development courses and forums for teachers, and TeacherVision, which provides lesson plans, teaching strategies, and classroom management tools.

Best Practices for Using Online Tools in the Classroom

While online resources and curriculum development tools can be tremendously helpful for classroom teachers, it's important to use them effectively. To get the most out of these tools, teachers should integrate them into classroom instruction in a thoughtful and deliberate way.

How to Infuse Online Tools into Classroom Instruction

Guidelines for Effective Use of Online Tools in the Classroom

Choosing the Right Online Tools for Your Classroom Needs

With so many online resources and curriculum development tools available, it can be difficult for teachers to know which ones to choose. To make the best decisions, teachers should consider a range of factors when evaluating online tools.

Criteria for Choosing Online Tools

Important criteria to consider when choosing online tools include the tool's relevance to the curriculum, ease of use, flexibility, and cost.

How to Evaluate Online Tools for Classroom Use

To evaluate online tools for classroom use, teachers should try out the tool themselves, gather feedback from other teachers, and assess how well the tool aligns with the needs of their students. It's also important to consider how the tool fits into the overall curriculum and teaching philosophy.In conclusion, online tools offer a wealth of opportunities for classroom teachers to enhance teaching and learning. With the right tools and strategies, teachers can engage students, facilitate communication, and streamline their workload. By keeping up with emerging technologies and incorporating them into the classroom, teachers can help students succeed in today's digital world. Whether you're an experienced educator or just starting out, incorporating online tools into your teaching toolkit can help you unlock new possibilities for your students and yourself.

FAQs

What types of online tools are available for classroom teachers?

There is a wide range of online tools available for teachers, including communication and collaboration tools, assessment tools, digital classroom management tools, online resources and curriculum development tools, and professional development and teacher support tools. These tools can help teachers boost student engagement, facilitate communication, and streamline their workload.

How can teachers choose the right online tools for their classroom needs?

When choosing online tools for the classroom, teachers should consider the specific needs of their students and the learning outcomes they want to achieve. They should also evaluate online tools based on their reliability, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. It's important to choose tools that integrate well with existing teaching practices and that teachers feel comfortable using.

What are some best practices for using online tools in the classroom?

To use online tools effectively in the classroom, teachers should consider the needs and learning styles of their students. They should also create clear guidelines for how online tools will be used and communicate these guidelines to students and parents. Additionally, teachers should infuse online tools into existing teaching practices and assess their effectiveness in achieving learning outcomes.

How can online tools help enhance the teaching and learning experience?

Online tools can help teachers engage students, facilitate communication, and streamline their workload. By using online tools, teachers can provide interactive and collaborative learning experiences that can help students better understand and retain information. Additionally, online tools can help teachers save time on administrative tasks, such as grading and creating lesson plans.

________________________________________________________________________________

Bard by Google: Online Tools for Classroom Teachers

There are many online tools available to help classroom teachers in their teaching and learning. These tools can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

Communication and collaboration: Online tools can help teachers communicate with students, parents, and colleagues more effectively. They can also be used to collaborate on projects and share resources.
Assessment: Online tools can be used to assess student learning in a variety of ways, such as quizzes, surveys, and polls. They can also be used to track student progress over time.
Instruction: Online tools can be used to deliver instruction to students in a variety of ways, such as video lectures, interactive activities, and simulations.
Classroom management: Online tools can help teachers manage their classrooms more effectively by providing features such as attendance tracking, behavior management, and gradebook integration.

Here are some of the most popular online tools for classroom teachers:

Google Classroom: Google Classroom is a free online learning management system (LMS) that makes it easy for teachers to create and distribute assignments, track student progress, and communicate with students and parents.
Edmodo: Edmodo is another free LMS that offers many of the same features as Google Classroom. It also has some additional features, such as a social media-like platform for students to connect with each other.
ClassDojo: ClassDojo is a behavior management tool that helps teachers track student behavior and provide positive reinforcement.
Flipgrid: Flipgrid is a video discussion platform that allows students to record and share short videos with their classmates and teacher.
Quizizz: Quizizz is a game-based quiz platform that makes learning fun and engaging.
Kahoot!: Kahoot! is another game-based quiz platform that is similar to Quizizz.
Padlet: Padlet is a collaborative online whiteboard that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as brainstorming, sharing ideas, and creating presentations.
Google Docs: Google Docs is a free online word processor that allows teachers and students to collaborate on documents in real time.
Google Sheets: Google Sheets is a free online spreadsheet application that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as data analysis, tracking student progress, and creating gradebooks.
Google Slides: Google Slides is a free online presentation application that can be used to create presentations, slideshows, and infographics.

These are just a few of the many online tools available to help classroom teachers. With so many options to choose from, there is sure to be a tool that meets the needs of every teacher and classroom.

___________________________________________________________

ChatGPT:

Online Tools for Classroom Teachers

As an AI language model, I'm happy to provide you with a list of online tools that can be used by classroom teachers to enhance their teaching and engage students. These tools can help with lesson planning, classroom management, student assessment, collaboration, and more. Here are some popular ones:

Google Classroom: An online platform that allows teachers to create, organize, and distribute assignments, announcements, and resources to students. It also facilitates communication and collaboration among students and teachers.
Edmodo: A social learning platform that enables teachers to create a virtual classroom, share assignments, quizzes, and resources, and communicate with students and parents.
Kahoot!: A game-based learning platform that allows teachers to create interactive quizzes, surveys, and discussions to engage students and assess their learning.
Padlet: A virtual bulletin board that allows teachers and students to collaborate by sharing notes, images, and documents. It's a great tool for brainstorming, discussions, and collaborative projects.
Quizlet: A digital flashcard tool that enables teachers to create and share interactive flashcards for vocabulary review, study guides, and assessments. It also offers other learning activities like quizzes and games.
Nearpod: A multimedia presentation tool that allows teachers to create interactive lessons with multimedia content, assessments, and virtual field trips. It also facilitates real-time student engagement and feedback.
Seesaw: A digital portfolio tool that allows teachers to collect, organize, and share student work. It's a great tool for student reflection, feedback, and assessment.
Flipgrid: A video discussion platform that allows teachers to create video prompts for students to respond with short videos. It's a great tool for promoting student voice and collaboration.
Canva for Education: A graphic design tool that allows teachers and students to create visually appealing presentations, posters, infographics, and other visual materials to enhance learning and creativity.
ClassDojo: A classroom management tool that allows teachers to track student behavior, communicate with parents, and share class updates and resources.

These are just a few examples of online tools that can be used by classroom teachers. There are many other tools available that cater to different subject areas, grade levels, and teaching styles. When choosing a tool, it's important to consider factors such as ease of use, data privacy, and alignment with curriculum standards. Always ensure that you are using online tools in compliance with your school or district's policies and guidelines.

Logitech Zone Learn Wired Headsets

2023-04-05T10:53:00.003-05:00

I have used Logitech products for years. As a creator, I use the Logitech Crayon for iPad for sketchnoting and journaling, the Yeti Microphone for videoconferencing and for recording my podcasts, and the Logitech 4K Pro Webcam with its beautiful 4K image and built-in mic. But Logitech does not just make items for creators.

The Logitech for Education team is always looking out for the needs of teachers and students. One of their cool new products is the Logitech Zone Learn Wired Headsets for Learners.

In my opinion, every student should have a headset. How many student-created videos have we listened to with loud classroom noise in the background? Why should we continue to send students to the hallway to record or stick their heads in a "soundproofed" cardboard box?

In addition, with the scaffolding and differentiated learning going on in every classroom, students often are using a computer for learning or assessment. With each student on a different site, it would be great if they could concentrate on the task at hand and not be distracted by outside noise.

The Logitech Zone Learn Wired Headsets solve all of those concerns! With their comfortable and totally adjustable fit for students from preschool to high school, audio drivers that are tuned for voice clarity instead of music, and a sturdy boom microphone, this headset checks all the boxes! The headsets are wipe-tested and exceed the military standards of drop protection of 4 feet.

Everything you would need comes with the headsets. There are swappable and upgradable earpads and three different connection cables.

The headset has a common headphone jack (3.5mm), and each of the three cables -- common headphone plug, USB-C plug, and USB-A plug -- are included.

Each cable simply plugs into the headset and, with a quick twist, ensures the cable will not pull out. There is a little "lock" on the headset end as you can see below.

The coolest feature of the Logitech Zone Learn Wired Headsets for Learners is the ability to go from the over-the-ear earpads to an on-ear ear pad with just another twist of the wrist!

This feature, along with the micro-adjustable slider arms for the head, allow this headset to be used by the youngest students. The on-ear ear pad is perfect for their needs!

I recorded a short video so you can hear the sound quality of the headset. (You may notice a bit of an echo, since I live in a geodesic dome where sound carries easily!)

The Logitech for Education site includes more in-depth information about the Logitech Zone Learn Wired Headsets for Learners and many other products for education, so take a look!

Favorite iOS Photo Editing Apps

2022-12-29T16:11:00.004-05:00

I have over 40 photo-editing apps on my iPhone. I wanted to share my top three favorites with you!

PhotosRevive Unlimited ($20)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photosrevive-unlimited/id1458125462

PhotosRevive Unlimited is an AI photo-colorizing app. It's a universal app, so, when you purchase it, you can use on your iPhone, your Mac, and your iPad!

PhotosRevive does a great job of easily colorizing black and white photos on the iPhone, as you can see below.

Original photo

Colorized on iPhone 14 Pro

On the Mac, PhotosRevive also offers options for tweaking the contrast, brightness, highlights, and shadows if you want to.

_________________________________________

TouchRetouch ($14.99)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/touchretouch/id373311252

TouchRetouch is an iOS app which allows you to remove unwanted items from a photo. Of course, it includes the ability to remove an object by "painting" over it with a paintbrush tool.

However, my go-to tool is the "line" tool. I use this one to remove power lines from every photo that has the power lines. You simply pick the width of the line and run your finger over the photo in the app, and it disappears!

Photo with power lines

Photo after using the "line" tool on the power lines

TouchRetouch also has a "mesh" tool which highlights and can remove chain link fences that are between you and the object you are trying to photograph. You can see the fencing below that has been chosen to be removed outlined in green.

Mesh tool highlighting the fence wire to be removed

Fence wire is gone!

____________________________________

PhotoFunia (free)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photofunia/id321240709

PhotoFunia includes 59 fun ways to use both your own photos and ones the app includes! There are backgrounds for your images, filters, and many other cool effects. This app is advertiser-supported, but the ads don't impede the use of the app.

Here are just a few samples of the included tools.

What are some of your favorite image-editing apps on your iPhone? Send me an email note (kathy@kathyschrock.net) or let me know on Twitter (@kathyschrock) or Mastodon (@kathyschrock@techhub.social)

Animoto for teacher creations

2022-10-27T13:32:00.006-05:00

Animoto, the online video creation software app for desktop and iOS, has been around for a long time. And so have I!

I made my first video with a free account at Animoto, using my iPhone 3GS, on August 3, 2009. I was amazed how easy it was to put photos up and have Animoto automatically create a cool 432 x 240 resolution video!

Here is that original video.

I soon realized how handy this tool could be! In August of 2010, I was asked to create a promotional video for our school district's new tagline, "Nauset Believes".

I immediately knew I was going to use Animoto. I had teachers in our seven schools send me photos to include in the video. With music tracks to pick from and automated cool transitions, everyone was wowed by my Animoto creation!

Over the next twelve years, I conducted professional development sessions in my district and at conferences across country and I always included Animoto as a cool tool for any teacher's toolbox and as a great tool for students to showcase their content knowledge as a summative or formative assessment video.

As I continued to use Animoto to create videos, there were tons of additional components to make my videos stand out. It was fun to try the new templates and themes one could pick from!

For all these years, Animoto continued to offer a free basic account. In addition they added all kinds of great new features to their paid offerings. So, when Animoto asked me to review their Professional Plus version, I jumped at the chance! I could not wait to see what cool features I could use!

As educators, we are always looking for free or freemium tools and apps. However, although a free account on Animoto allows us to create curriculum content for our classes, it is always worth trying out a higher tier of any tool for a month.

You can see if there might be some included features that would help you make the creation process of your instructional videos for students easier, faster, or more engaging. In addition, some of the included features might also replace similar tools you are currently using.

TRYING OUT THE ANIMOTO PROFESSIONAL PLUS VERSION

Without reading any directions or learning about the new features, I dove right in and created a digital story. I did not use the new voice-over option, since I had located, in the assets in Animoto, such a great audio background to use!

I was easily able to download my assets from Google Photos to the desktop of my Mac, so I did not use another one of the new features which allows you to to connect your cloud storage (Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box) to your Animoto account. I will try that option, as well as the voice-over option, in my next video!

VIDEO INCLUDING ADVANCED FEATURES OF PROFESSIONAL PLUS

I decided to take a static Keynote presentation and turn it into an Animoto instructional video. I first exported all my Keynote slides as images and then easily imported them into Animoto. You can also import from any of your cloud-based services, too, as seen in the screenshot below.

I decided to try the voiceover feature. I had the option of recording behind each frame in the video via the site, or uploading an entire voiceover file from my local assets.

I wrote a script and created the audio file in QuickTime Player on the Mac. I exported the file it to my desktop as an .m4a audio file. I then uploaded the audio file to Animoto.

I used the Educational Presentation template as my starting point. I replaced all the images in the template with my Keynote slide images. I then took a lot of time investigating the background audio files that were available on Animoto, and imported my choice to the timeline. You can view all of the audio file or pick a "mood" you are looking for.

I then shortened or lengthened the timing of the individual slides to match the uploaded voiceover file. I also decreased the volume of the background audio I had chosen from the Animoto assets.

Rather than download the video and add it to this blog post, I decided to just share the link to where it sits on Animoto's site. I also had a choice to get the embed code for the video or download it, also.

Here is the link to the video:

https://video214.com/play/1NCVzPxq9lmSDBMV9vhY5A/s/dark

The instructional video was easy to create and the number of assets I had access too were awesome! The presentation I made is a standard instructional video, but, since I had already created the slides, it only took about an hour to complete the project. If I had decided to use animated text on each slide instead of the voiceover, it probably would have taken me longer to complete.

Of course, with a video that has voiceover, it is important to include a transcript of the script online or printed out for any hearing impaired student. In addition, a transcript can help those that are more visual than auditory learners, as well as provide an overview of the information in the video for any student to refer to.

PRICING

The pricing to subscribe to Animoto is by the month or, to save up to 50%, by the year. Each tier has all the components of the tier below and additional content, too.

STANDARD PLAN ($0)

Standard quality video (up to 720p)
50 music tracks
3 standard fonts
30 color swatches
Unlimited social sharing
Available on desktop and iOS
Screen recording
Import from other cloud storage tools

BASIC PLAN ($8 per month)

All of the above plus..
No Animoto branding on your videos
High quality video (HD 1080p)
UnlimIted downloads

PROFESSIONAL PLAN ($15 per month)

All features of the Standard and Basic plans plus...
Add your own logo and colors
1 million+ licensed stock images and videos from Getty Images
3000 licensed music tracks
Voice-over
3 saved template
1 saved brand
40 professional fonts
High quality video (HD 1080p)

PROFESSIONAL PLUS PLAN ($39 per month)

All of the features of the Basic, Standard, and Professional plans plus...
Accounts for up to 3 users
License to resell to businesses
100 million Premium licensed and stock images from Getty Images
30-minute consultation with a video expert
Collect time-stamped comments
25 saved templates
Multiple saved brands
Upload your own fonts

As you think about creating content to support teaching and learning, I encourage you to give Animoto a try. Start with the basic plan to learn how it works and then consider subscribing for a month to one of the higher-level plans to have access to additional components and assets.

Fun with Lucidspark!

2022-06-13T14:44:00.010-05:00

I just spent the day exploring Lucidspark, a collaborative whiteboard educators and students can use for many educational activities and assessments!

Lucidspark is brought to you by the folks at Lucid for Education, who have been supporters of education with their Lucidpress and Lucidchart products for many years.

The Lucidpress and Lucidchart tools have many templates available for teachers, a few of which you can see below. And, of course, you can edit the templates and start from scratch if you want!

However, Lucid for Education is now providing a product to target the interactive educational needs of schools and classrooms with Lucidspark. The ease-of-use, sharing, collaboration, and organizing in this product is so intuitive. I completed my explorations on an iPad but, of course, there is also a robust Web version that syncs perfectly across all devices.

Here is a quick overview video of Lucidspark created by Lucid for Education.You can find them on Twitter @LUCID4EDU.

THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES

When you first open up Lucidspark, you are presented with the ability to create a folder, start with a blank document, or pick a template. I decided to look at the templates that were offered specifically for education. You can see from the video below there are a ton!

I wanted to share a closer look at some of the templates.

MIND MAPS

CONCEPT MAPS

K-W-L CHARTS

TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES

CLASSIFICATION

PROJECT PLANNING

MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS

STICKY NOTES (great for EdCamps, too!)

BLANK CANVAS

There is also a built-in timer and a built in vote/poll tool.

VOTING/POLL TOOL

TIMER TOOL

The toolbar is quite extensive and uses icons that are recognizable to users!

TOOLBAR

And you can see from the sharing window below, there are many choices and options for sharing the Lucidspark creation.

SHARING WINDOW

BUILT-IN-INSTRUCTION TEMPLATES

One of the very cool things I discovered was Lucidspark includs some templates with instructions and resources right in the template category where it is needed. Having the information close at hand, at point of need, made me feel secure I would become an expert in no time!

INTRO TO COLLABORATION INSTRUCTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS AND EXAMPLES

COLLABORATION INSTRUCTIONS

And there is even a train-the-trainer module!

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Lucidspark has a free version that allows the creation and use of three collaborative boards, with the ability to collaborate and share in real-time, create shareable links, and download your boards. You can add emphasis by using emojis and freehand drawing, too. The free version integrates with Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams. Just go to their home page to sign up!

There are also more robust paid versions of Lucidspark available and options for integration with additional tools your schools may be using. That information may be found here.

So, sign up and spend some time with Lucidspark and try it out. I am sure you will come up with lots of creative ideas for its use! Share your cool findings with me on Twitter and follow me, too!

Brenthaven Edge Companion for iPad Air

2022-03-01T19:23:00.002-05:00

Photo courtesy of Sean MacEntee https://www.flickr.com/photos/smemon/6972691660

With the plethora of iPads found on student desks, in classroom carts and in backpacks, it is more important than ever to protect the devices from harm. iPads with attached keyboards have become a popular combinations for students, and I want to introduce you to a cool new case that was created especially for that combo!

The Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air (10.9", 4th generation), has just been released. I own this particular iPad and was happy to receive one to review!

I have been reviewing items from Brenthaven for years. Most recently, in 2019, I penned a blog post titled I Love Brenthaven. I talked about Brenthaven's well-made and thought-out cases and accessories targeted for the education market. And they have been keeping up with all the change in device use in schools! Brenthaven has iPad cases, MacBook cases, Chromebook cases, sleeves and backpacks, headphones, and keyboards. The listing of all their protective gear and bags may be found here.

The Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air (10.9", 4th generation) that I tried out is so easy to put on the iPad. It provides tons of protection and has been made so it works perfectly with the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio. It also still protects the iPad Air without having the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio attached.

You can see below, when the iPad is installed in the Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air, access to all the ports and buttons on the iPad are accessible and protected.

You first put the iPad in the "frame" of the Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air and then, if you want, you can install the keyboard.

Take a look at this short video which demonstrates the process.

Here is a photo of my iPad Air (4th gen) installed in the Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air from the front and from the rear. The addition of the case makes the iPad and keyboard components feel much sturdier.

I took three photos to show how easy it is to add the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio to the Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air.

Turn the iPad over and open the plastic door on the left.

Then fold the folio cover into the back of the

Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air.

Simply snap down the plastic door and the keyboard is attached!

The Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air (10.9", 4th gen) has a ton of features. Here are just a few.

There is a built in Apple Pencil 2 holder which allows for charging.
One edge of the case is left open so it connects with the keyboard for typing when in "kockstand" mode.
The back components of the Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air allow asset tags or stickers to be attached and can be seen through the flaps.
The corners of the Brenthaven Edge Companion for the iPad Air protect the edges of the iPad.

The full spec sheet may be found here.

If you are deploying 10.9" iPad Airs (4th gen) give Brenthaven a call for a sample case to try out. And, if you don't have this specific model of iPad in your district, take a look at their site and this page to see if Brenthaven has a great case or sleeve for your district's devices! And don't forget to follow Brenthaven on Twitter @Brenthaven_Edu!

Higher Ground Gear for Schools

2022-02-23T15:37:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, I can't ever have enough technology cases to both protect and transport my laptops and tablets! I love being able to pick out a case that works best for my current road trip, from those that have crossbody and shoulder straps, to those that are slim and protect my devices while in my backpack, to my favorite Vera Bradley and Baggallini laptop totes.

Back in 2016, I reviewed a bunch of Higher Ground Gear’s technology bags and protective cases. The company has always been very thoughtful with their solutions for schools and continues to innovate with their new options for protecting student laptops, iPads and Chromebooks. I have used their products for many years and they never wear out!

Fast forward ahead to the FETC Conference in January 2022, when I stopped by the Higher Ground booth to see what cool new Higher Ground gear was available. I was invited to learn more about their new products and options and to try out a few items of interest to me.

Student needs

Higher Ground Gear has always had a stellar collection of "always on" laptop cases that provide great protection and allows students to work on their computers while it stays in the case. And this year's group of cases is no exception! They have a line of iPad specific cases as well as their upgraded Datakeeper and Shuttle lines of cases that stay on the computer while it is in use and protects it against the elements and drops.

Their Capsule cases are made to protect the laptop/Chromebook when in a student's backpack and are slim and protective.

There are other great choices for shoulder bags and backpacks to allow students to easily carry their devices and accessories.

A cool new innovative option for various collections is Higher Ground Gear’s new CleanShell™ material. This material has been tested with various household cleaners, has a dirt and weather-resistant coating, and can easily be sanitized with wipes and sprays to combat the spread of germs. Perfect for the educators and students!

Teacher needs

I decided to concentrate on educator needs for this blog post. (Not that students can't use the cases I picked.)

Teachers need to have a protective sleeve or bag for their school laptop or Chromebook as they travel to and from school, too! My three choices to review were the Vert 3.1 convertible shoulder bag/backpack, the Elements Plus slim sleeve, and the Elevate CS Ergonomic laptop sleeve.

Higher Ground Gear: Vert 3.1

The Vert 3.1 is a versatile, convertible case that has two inside pockets so it can hold both my 14" MacBook and my 10.5" iPad Air! My phone and some charging cables can be stored in the front zip pocket. It comes in two sizes, an 11" and a 13" version. (I requested the 11" version.)

The cool thing about the Vert 3.1 case is it can be use as an over-the-shoulder bag ...

or a cross-body bag...

or it can morph into a backpack!

It is as easy as pie to change it from one configuration to another. It checks all the boxes for how teachers and students might want to carry their devices! The Vert 3.1 Convertible Case has great drop protection on all sides, too.

The Data Sheet about the Vert 3.1 can be found here with much more information, specs, and measurements for the the small and large cases.

Higher Ground Gear: Elements Plus

The second item I requested was the Elements Plus Sleeve. For those teachers and students who already have a favorite backpack or "teacher bag", the very slim Elements Plus Sleeve protects the laptop, Chromebook, or iPad when it is carried in a backpack or bag. It also comes with a shoulder strap to use when a teacher wants to travel light! (I did fit both my 14" Macbook Pro and my 10.5" iPad Air in the sleeve, but I would recommend only putting one device in it!)

The Elements Plus Sleeve comes in both small (11" and 13" devices) and large (14" and 15") sizes. I requested the small size. It has a detachable shoulder strap and a top carry handle, too.

This sleeve provides basic protection from scratches and dings to your devices.

Here is the link to the datasheet with all the specs and options for the Elements Plus Sleeve.

I am always impressed with Higher Ground Gear's attention to detail for even the little things.

For the Elements Plus sleeve, the shoulder strap has a secure and unique connection.

By snapping the metal loop over the hook, teachers and students can feel confident the shoulder strap will remain securely fastened!

Higher Ground Gear: Elevate CS Sleeve

The Elevate CS Sleeve has a "transformer-like" quality. With its rugged rubberized case, it can protect your laptop from a fall, shocks, and the elements. It has a top handle for carrying and room inside for small cables, dongles, and accessories.

The "CS" in its name indicates that this sleeve is made with Higher Ground's CleanShell™ technology which easily allows the wiping away of dirt and germs from the outside surfaces.

The transformative property of the Elevate CS Sleeve allows a teacher or students to elevate their laptop to one of three ergonomic positions for typing.

The laptop is removed from the sleeve, the kickplate you see at the bottom of the image above is opened up, the elastic strap you see below is moved to the outside of the sleeve, the laptop is slid through the strap so it rests on the outside of the sleeve, and then the adjustable support you can see on the left below is folded out.

The image below illustrates what the Elevate CS looks like when it is "transformed". The support stand can be set for three different angles, so the teacher or student can pick the angle that feels best for them.

When I use an angled keyboard, I lower my seat so my wrists remain straight and not bent while typing and my bent elbows remain at a 90° angle.

If your district is looking for quality cases or sleeves, get in touch by calling or emailing Higher Ground. They can provide you with the solution you are looking for to protect the devices in your school or district!

Logitech's Tools for Schools

2021-08-21T15:16:00.004-05:00

Logitech for Education is targeting some of their tools specifically for schools. Three that I got to try out are the Logitech Crayon, the Logitech H390 USB Headset, and the Logitech C270 HD Webcam.

LOGITECH CRAYON

The Logitech Crayon has been around for a few years and many iPad schools already use them. If you are not familiar with it, the Logitech Crayon is a rugged, rechargeable drawing tool for the iPad which, in iPad apps that support it, includes a variable line weight, similar to a "real" pencil. It is built using the Apple Pencil technology. When a student angles the Logitech Crayon down a bit, the line one is drawing gets darker and thicker. Another useful feature of the Logitech Crayon is the "palm rejection" feature which ignores stray screen touches.

The Logitech Crayon works seamlessly with the iPad. Simply press a button to turn it on and it ready to write with. There are no delays to get started!

The Logitech Crayon runs for 7.5 hours of writing/drawing time per charge. And, to conserve battery life, it powers off after 30 minutes of non-use. There is also a battery life indicator light which will give the user a clue as when it it time to charge the Logitech Crayon. Charging the Logitech Crayon is easy-- just plug a lighting cable attached to your computer or small charger into the top of the device, as seen below. And the Logitech Crayon charges fast, too!

Having a stylus for each student with an iPad is important. We all know using a finger to draw on a tablet screen does not produce good results. With the Logitech Crayon, students can be precise when making a sketch of a science lab result, drawing a prototype of a 3D object they want to design, painting a picture to use in a video or digital story, or even taking notes in their own hand, and, when using a note-taking app like Nebo, Notablity, or Microsoft's OneNote, and convert their handwriting directly into text.

The Logitech Crayon works with many of the apps teachers and students use on the iPad. I happen to use it most with Procreate and Inkflow when I am sketchnoting, since the line weights make a difference in my sketchnote process. Here are a few of many other apps that work with it.

The current iPads that are compatible with the Logitech Crayon include, once they are updated to at least iOS 12.2

iPad Mini (5th gen)
iPad Air (3rd and 4th gen)
iPad (6th, 7th, and 8th gen)
iPad Pro 11" (1st and 2nd gen)
iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd and 4th gen)

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LOGITECH H390 HEADSET

One of the big problems with students creating in a classroom is the noise level. Educators have come up with creative solutions to allow students access to a quiet space in which to audio record a podcast, the narration for a digital story, or even have a Zoom or Google Meet video conference. I have seen large cardboard boxes, lined with foam, and set up so students can record with al least some of the noise of the classroom filtered out. Educators send students into the hallways to record at times. Some classrooms line the walls with commercial acoustic tiles, which are intended to decrease the noise levels. Other ideas include sending the students who need to record to the band room and using one of the practice rooms to record in. Here are some unique set-ups creative teachers have devised!

Julie Smith set-up a portable recording studio in her kindergarten classroom.

Mrs. Q showcases her recording booths on Instagram.

As all educators know, however, there are very few places in a school setting that are quiet. To eliminate most of the educator stress that comes along with trying to facilitate a recording process, a logical solution is having a headset for each student. By having a microphone close to their mouth and the audio being heard through the headphones, students will have the ability to record with little background noise.

I have used Logitech branded headsets for years and still do. Coincidentally, before being asked to review the Logitech H390 USB Headset, I ordered this same headset to use for my recordings and video conferencing use! I chose it because it was an on-ear headset (not over-the-ear) and had a noise cancelling mic. And the sound quality of the Logitech H390 USB Headset is excellent, as you can hear in this recording I made on a Chromebook. I used Vocaroo, the educator's favorite online audio recorder, to create the recording.

Here is the QR code to the recording in case you want to access the recording this way.

The Logitech H390 USB Headset has a ton of features packed into a very affordable headset for schools. Of course, IMHO, the best feature for the classroom, after the low cost, is the noise-cancelling feature of the boom mic.

Since I am a Mac user, I do not have any USB-A ports on my MacbookPro M1, only USB-C ports. I use a female USB-A adapter to USB-C adapter so I can plug my Logitech H390 USB Headset into my MBP. By the way, I discovered a long time ago audio is much cleaner with a USB headset connection than the standard 3.5mm headphone jack found on computers.

I also discovered I can use the Logitech H390 USB Headset with that same adapter to record audio with my iPadPro 12.9" (5th generation) since it has a USB-C connection, too!

In addition to students recording with the headset, the boom mic on the Logitech H390 USB Headset can be flipped up, and students can be listening to an instructional video, searching for royalty-free music to add to a video they are creating, working in an online tutorial, or searching for famous speeches for an assignment. With a headset on, students can all be working on separate projects without disturbing others.

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LOGITECH C270 HD WEBCAM

Almost every computer and Chromebook come with a webcam. However, at times, the quality may not be very good. The Logitech C270 HD Webcam strives to solve that problem at a low cost. It is a basic webcam with a built in microphone. It works with Windows computers, Mac computers, Android devices, and Chromebooks and has a USB-A connector.

The Logitech C270 HD Webcam has a simple way of attaching to a computer for use. The webcam sits on the top of the laptop or monitor and the adjustable universal clip allows the device to be used with any computer by simply adjusting the moveable component to rest on the back of your monitor.

One of the best features of the Logitech C270 HD Webcam for a school setting is the 55° wide angle view of the camera, which makes it easier for two students to create a recording while sitting next to one another and also for taking photos or videos.

The Logitech C270 HD Webcam has a built-in noise-reducing mono microphone, a maximum resolution of 720p and 30 frames per second. and the device has been tested to withstand cleaning and disinfecting between each use. It also has a special feature called "RightLight" which adjusts to various lighting conditions to produce the best look for the speaker.

Here are two photos which compare the Chromebook webcam and the Logitech C270 HD Webcam "RightLight" feature. I took these two screenshots one right after the other.

You can see that the Logitech C270 HD Webcam both brightened my face and zoomed in on it, too! Here is a good online tutorial on how to use an external webcam with a Chromebook.

I then opened a Zoom meeting and recorded both audio and video first with the Logitech C270 HD Webcam and then with the internal webcam and microphone. You can definitely see the difference in the video and the air-conditioner hum is not as loud using the Logitech C270 HD Webcam. (I used my iPhone to record the Chromebook screen.)

Using the Logitech C270 HD Webcam

Using the Chromebook internal webcam and mic

So, take the time to visit the Logitech for Education site and learn more about the Logitech Crayon, the Logitech H390 USB Headset, and the Logitech C270 HD Webcam. These hardware devices can really enhance student creation!

Logitech sent me these three items in return for writing an honest review of the capabilities of them.

V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera

2021-08-10T16:33:00.004-05:00

I have been a long time supporter and user of IPEVO products. Their ability to provide low-cost, high quality technology hardware and software specifically created for education is awesome! I have reviewed their offerings on the blog for many years, and you can see those posts here.

Their newest offering is the $149 V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera. What sets this new offering apart from their other document cameras is its upgraded audio and video performance.

IPEVO's document cameras have been utilized by educators during their virtual teaching sessions these past two years. With the V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera, educators now have a device whose microphone can filter out background noise as well as has a high resolution 8 megapixel lens (3264 x 2448 resolution) for increased clarity. This document camera is compatible with PC, Mac, and Chromebook. It is also plug-and-play compatible with many online video-conferencing tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and with software such as Seesaw and Camtasia.

The V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera is perfect for mirroring items, creating instructional videos to use for blended learning, and taking photos and sharing them with students. In addition, with its LED light, microphone and articulated components, can also be used as a high resolution webcam!

The microphone on the V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera includes an AI-enhanced voice technology created by IntelliGO. This noise filter removes any background noise to allow for clear and quiet conversations with students or peers.

Here is my test of the noise reduction feature. It is truly amazing!

The built-in LED light, at 172 lux, lights up the stage when using the camera, even if you are in low light. This light output is higher than the recommended workspace light for those ages 25-65 and provides a bright light. In addition, in the video above, I used the
V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera as both a Webcam and a light source for lighting up my face in a low light situation!

Here is a video from IPEVO which showcases all of the features of the V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera.

For those of you who want to know the inside scoop on the specs of the
V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera here you go!

Size

(when folded) 10.91" x 3.07" x 1.89" (277 x 78 x 48mm)

Weight

1.28lbs (581g)

Camera

Sony 8 megapixel camera
Resolution up to 3264px x 2448px
Frame rate up to 30 FPS
12X digital zoom using IPEVO Visualizer software
Autofocus range of 10cm ~ ∞ / 3.93” ~ ∞

Built-in features

Omni-directional microphone with EMI filter
LED light (172 lux)
AI enhanced voice technology from IntelliGO
Physical control buttons

Exposure
Noise reduction on/off
LED light on/off
Focus

Maximum capture area of 13.46” x 10.04” (342 x 255mm)
Attached USB-A cable of 4.90ft (150cm)

The V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera is very compact, easy to carry back and forth from school, and includes both a great microphone and noise reduction properties that are amazing! Besides working with all the computer platforms and many apps as a document camera, the V4K PRO Ultra HD USB Document Camera allows students or educators the ability to create instructional videos that include the "talking head" and the item on the "stage" that is being discussed and marked up!

Thank you to IPEVO for letting me try out this cool new document camera!

Wacom for Education

2021-07-18T15:56:00.010-05:00

Using a mouse or a computer touchpad to try to annotate an image on your computer or draw on an online collaborative whiteboard is very difficult. It is just frustrating. That is why I have used external pen tablets over the years. I am not an artist, but I do mark-up presentations, sometimes even when I am presenting live! I also take teachers through sketchnoting practice and show them a great alternative to pencil and paper sketchnoting. During the pandemic, many educators used pen tablets and blank presentation slides or online whiteboards to replace their in-classroom whiteboard when they were presenting from home.

Wacom (pronounced Wok'um) has been the standard in the pen tablet and pen display industry since 1984. I have had a couple of Wacom pen tablets over the years -- the Wacom Graphire in 2002 (which included a mouse and a pen), which we also used in my school's computer lab, and the Bamboo Capture Pen and Touch tablet which I reviewed in 2013.

The thing about Wacom pen tablets is they continue to work forever! I only had to put an USB-C adapter on the USB-A connector for the my 2013 Bamboo Capture Pen and Touch Tablet to work perfectly with my Asus Chromebook Tablet 10 and my MacBook Pro M1!

The wonder of Wacom is the electro-magnetic pen technology which does not use batteries, always works, is pressure sensitive, and very accurate. In addition, the tablets work great for both left and right handed users!

However, since technology has come a long way since 2013, when Wacom recently contacted me, I was happy to review some of the new tablets and those with new features which are targeted especially for the education market!

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ONE BY WACOM PEN TABLET

The new One by Wacom comes in two sizes - a small size for $69.95 (8.3 x 5.7 x 0.3 in.) and a medium size for $129.95 (10.9 x 7.4 x 0.3 in.). This pen tablet plugs into a Chromebook and just works! (You will have to install small drivers if you are using a Windows or Mac computer.)

Chromebooks need to be able to run the a current version of ChromeOS and have a USB port to work with this tablet. This page on the Wacom site contains a list of compatible Chromebooks and USB adapters that work with the One by Wacom.

Also on this compatibility site, Wacom includes a list of pen-supported apps for the Chromebook recommended for use with their pen tablets.

Chrome Canvas
Google Keep
Concepts
Jamboard
Kami for Google Chrome
Explain Everything
Collaboard
Limnu
Pear Deck
Squid
Infinite Painter
Autodesk Sketchbook
ibisPaint
Clip Studio
MediBang paint

One by Wacom

I love the following YouTube video which provides both an overview of the One by Wacom, but also showcases the power of the pen tablet for teachers. The same features highlighted for online teaching are of course, the same features that would make the content engaging for students in a face-to-face classroom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV9BVNpwtZs

However, the One by Wacom is not just intended for educators. Students, with a computer, will be able to freehand draw, easily do a math problem and show their work, mark up a peer's English essay with their feedback, sketchnote a lecture in class, create an animation in Google Slides, markup an photo taken during a science lab, take their class notes by hand, and much more. Using a pen tablet is just like writing and drawing by hand, but so much easier to edit and fix! In addition, the drawing pen is also available to be used as a pointer for choosing menu items on the Chromebook or other computer.

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WACOM INTUOS WIRELESS PEN TABLET

One of the newer features, to me, was the ability to un-tether a pen tablet. The Wacom Intuos Pen Tablet comes with or without Bluetooth, and I was intrigued by the Bluetooth model. The Bluetooth Intuos pen tablet comes in a small size for $99.95 (7.87"X 6.3" x 0.35in.) and a medium size for $199.95 (10.4" x 7.8" x 0.35").

The Wacom Intuos Wireless Pen Tablet comes with the ability to be tethered via a USB cable as well as un-tethered when using its built-in Bluetooth connectivity. I am always a fan of un-tethered technology for a number of reasons. First, one can use this pen tablet without worrying about what kind of USB port your device has.

But, more importantly, imagine the teacher being able to walk around the classroom with the Intuos Wireless Pen Tablet wirelessly connected to the front end computer which is being projected on a whiteboard or large monitor. The educator can hand off the tablet to students to have them to mark up a book passage, draw an image, or, in cursor mode, take the class on a guided tour of something on the Web.

I used the Intuos Wireless Pen Tablet, attached wirelessly to my laptop, to create two assets. The first was to sketchnote a TED talk by Matt Cutts.

https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days?language=en

I could sit comfortably with the pen tablet in my lap, watch the video, and then sketchnote as he went along with his presentation. To create the sketchnote, I used my MacBook Pro M1 and sketchnoted in an Explain Everything whiteboard on the Web, via the pen tablet. Here is a video of my sketchnote process.

My second project was to annotate an image on a slide in Apple's presentation software, Keynote. Now, since Keynote does not include an annotation tool, I used Ipevo's Annotator software on my Mac to showcase the image.

Again, I used the Wacom Intuos Wireless Pen Tablet attached wirelessly to my MacBook Pro M1. It worked great!

I also created a short video showcasing how to use this tablet's Bluetooth capability to control a teacher's laptop at the "front" of a classroom!

My Asus Chromebook Tablet 10 was not on the list for compatibility with the Wacom Intuos Wireless Pen Tablet, but I tethered it and was able to take notes in Google Keep, as you can see by the video below.

I think the Intuos Pen Tablet, whether wired or wireless, is a great addition to any classroom. Drawing naturally with a pen makes the process more precise and easier to do. I believe the Wacom Intuos Wireless Pen Tablet is a great addition to the teacher's toolbox, since the educator can roam and still draw and control the projected computer screen, as well as hand it off to students to allow them to do the same. This adds to the whole class experience in a big way!

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WACOM ONE CREATIVE PEN DISPLAY

I have never had the chance to use a pen display. A pen display differs from a pen tablet since you can see what you are drawing both on the display and on the computer at the same time.

Wacom has developed the Wacom One Creative Pen Display (not to be confused with the One by Wacom Pen Tablet) with the education market in mind. Wacom makes high-end pen displays for the professional market. The Wacom One Creative Pen Display, in my opinion, would fit best in a high school or college graphic arts program. With an affordable cost ($399), teachers and students would be using the same technology the professionals use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e16ahVR2jk

The Wacom One Creative Pen Display has a 13.3" diagonal display. Here are some specs, and much more detail can be found on their site.

The Wacom One Creative Pen Display plugs into the Windows or Mac computer and requires an HDMI port and a USB-A port on the computer. In addition, the pen display must be plugged in to electricity using the included power adapter.

Stock photo of a Windows laptop and the Wacom One

For those, like me, that do not have either an HDMI connector or a USB-A port on their computer, an external pass-through adapter is needed for using this pen display. My MacBook Pro M1 has only has two, USB-C Thunderbolt ports. As long as the tablet was plugged into the computer via a USB-A to USB-C adapter, I could use the external pass-through adapter for the HDMI. All I had to do after that was to download the Wacom drivers from their site.

My set-up of a MacBook Pro M1, external pass-through adaptor, and the Wacom One

According to the Wacom site, some compatible computer apps for use of Wacom One Pen Display include:

ibisPaint
MediBang paint
Bamboo Paper
Adobe Sketch
Infinite Painter
Concepts
Autodesk SketchBook
Adobe Premiere Rush
Jump Paint by Medibang
Clip Studio Paint

However, I am not an artist, so I decided to test it out using online drawing sites.

On my website, Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything, I have one page that is dedicated to online tools. Here is the list from my site. Remember, these same tools can be used with the Intuos Pen Tablet but the ease of drawing directly on the Wacom One Creative Pen Display felt more natural!

The first thing I tried was to sketchnote that same TED Talk by Matt Cutts I had previously completed. You can see from the shot of what is on the tablet, that I did a much better job this time using the Wacom One Creative Pen Display (Of course, it also could have been due to the fact I had now watched the video two times!)

I looked mostly at tools that did not require a log-in. With no login or saving, students would have to screenshot the drawings when they are finished. (Of course, these online tools work with the One by Wacom pen tablet, too.)The online tools that worked best with the Wacom One Creative Pen Display were:

ABCya Paint is an easy to use drawing tool for the youngest students. The brushes and colors are big and easy to choose and use!

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InspirARTion is a great site that offers tons of features, but it did not feel overwhelming. There were pop-up helper tips which would support students as they are learning this online art tool.

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Sketch Toy has a grid background, which makes it easy to draw mind maps, mechanical drawings, and project prototypes and keep them neat.

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Draw Island has simple drawing tools, but it has layers available, and students can even make a hand-drawn animated GIF from this site.

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AutoDraw is a very fun site! With auto-draw turned on, as a student draws, the tool provides artificial intelligence-generated icons of the item the student is trying to draw. It is a great beginner site for the non-artist. And, if one turns off the with auto-draw feature, the blank sheet is able to be used for anything!

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If you are a Google Suite user, Google Drawings has a scribble mode which allows the user to draw on the blank sheet, and, of course, embellish it with text, images, or icons that the user pulls in, too.

Another cool thing that I did not think about when using the Wacom One Creative Pen Display, was that it is actually also an external second display! When I shut off "mirror screen" in the Preferences on the Mac, I could see a separate background on the Wacom Pen Display. This would come in very handy for virtual meetings.

For example, as you can see below, after picking "Play Keynote in window" I could drag my open Keynote presentation to the Pen Display, but I could control the presentation and see my notes on the laptop. When presenting, I would pick the "external display" for the audience to see, and still be able to refer to my notes.

The Wacom One Creative Pen Display is a great pen display. It is easy to set-up and use. It feels natural to draw with the pen. The matte surface makes the pen display feel like a piece of paper, too!

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I want to thank Wacom for sending me the tablets to review and for their development of these new, lower price-point products that provide excellent tablets for K-12 teachers and students!

Thanks also to Thomas Fresco for help with some items in the post!

Having fun with MockoFun!

2021-03-24T09:17:00.043-05:00

Designing graphics is a great way to enhance your slideshows, videos, newsletters, and more. I love to try new (to me) online graphic design tools and put them through their paces! I recently discovered MockoFun, a graphic design toolset which works right in the Web browser and includes a photo editor, a logo maker, and a text editor.

After registering for an account, and seeing how easy it was to create great-looking graphics, I sent a note to MockoFun and asked if they would consider an education offering. They wrote back and told me the company was just releasing an educational version of the product which provides teachers with the Premium version of their offering for no-cost! You can sign up for that here: https://www.mockofun.com/free-for-teachers/

The MockoFun Online Graphic Design suite includes over 100 templates, 245,000 images and element assets to use and the ability to upload your own images for your design, too. Some items are for sale, but 80% of the assets are free.

COOL FEATURE 1: CURVED TEXT GENERATOR

One of the text editor features that I love is the curved text. I know how difficult is to curve text in some programs. In addition to making it as easy as just typing in the template, MockoFun includes many styles of curved text to pick from.

To better learn how to use the Curved Text Generator, take a look at this great tutorial the MockoFun staff have put together!

I was even able to find an asset in the elements and create my own cool stamp with the curved text tool!

COOL FEATURE 2: THE TEMPLATE GALLERY

The template gallery in MockoFun includes a template for anything you need to create. (And, of course, you can always start designing from scratch, too!)

Following are some of my favorite template categories and some screenshots, followed by the list of all the template types.

CARDS

POSTERS AND FLYERS

LOGOS

PHOTO EFFECTS

Template categories

Backgrounds
Cards
Facebook post
Flyers and posters
Infographics
Labels
Logos
Mockups
Photo collage
Photo effects
Quotes
Social media graphics

COOL FEATURE 3: THE ELEMENTS

The elements included in MockoFun include everything from photographs to dividers. Most of the element categories includes tons of sub-categories so you can easily find that perfect asset to use!

In addition to the easy to use features, MockoFun also includes advanced features such as layers, 50+ fonts to pick from and editable text features. Your classroom graphics will wow anyone that sees them!

If you are an educator, sign up for MockoFun for teachers to be upgraded to the Premium features. And, if you are not a teacher, sign up for MockoFun for free to give it a try!

IPEVO Whiteboard and VZ-X

2021-02-24T18:43:00.013-05:00

Back in July 2020, I wrote a review of the IPEVO VZ-R HDMI/USB Dual Mode 8MP Document Camera ($219). That is a great document camera with excellent optics and many useful features.

Since then, IPEVO has also released the IPEVO VZ-X Wireless/HDMI/USB 8MP Document Camera ($329) which has the same excellent optics but with the addition of built-in wireless! With this wireless capability, you can easily connect the document camera to your computer, AppleTV and your iOS or Android device!

IPEVO has released a new version of their IPEVO Whiteboard software for iPad to take advantage of this wireless connectivity. Simply connect your IPEVO wireless document camera via WiFi to an iPad or Android tablet using IPEVO Whiteboard. You can then display, adjust, draw, or annotate on the live image. You can also take snapshots or record videos, and add annotations and audio. In addition, you can start from a blank whiteboard and record yourself as you annotate and bring in assets.

I decided to give the new IPEVO Whiteboard for iPad a try. It is now optimized for the Apple Pencil, too, and includes an easy-to-use pallete for color, lines, highlighters, and shapes.

IPEVO Whiteboard also includes advanced tools such as a ruler and a protractor which would come in handy for math lessons. There is also a Spotlight tool which can help you draw the student’s attention to important sections of the screen. You can also use the Attach function to add an image, text, map, and more to the whiteboard.

If you pick the video recording option, you can record your material with audio and annotations as you conduct live lessons or your introduction to a unit. This is great asset for students who need to review the material again or for a flipped classroom model.

I created a blank whiteboard and picked the video option.

The IPEVO Whiteboard for iPad comes in two versions — the regular version and the Pro version. The Pro version adds the advanced features of disappearing ink, the ability to add a browser window or a map, some background templates, picture-in-picture capability, and more!

The Pro version of IPEVO Whiteboard for iPad is $1.99 per month or $19.99 for a year and is available as an in-app purchase.

Presenting with Apple's Keynote in Zoom

2021-01-03T15:21:00.010-05:00

I am one that needs my notes in front of me when I present. Whether I look at them or not, it makes me feel more secure if they are there.

I have been doing a lot of presentations on Zoom using Keynote. In order to see my notes, I have had to use two monitors. Of course, when I push Play in Keynote in real life, I see my notes and the audience sees the presentation on the "big screen".

In Zoom, I share the window of the the external monitor, that has the presentation showing, with the audience and I see my notes in front of me. I do see my video and can open the chat if I need to. However, there are sometimes problems directing the audio so both the audience and I can hear me speaking and any video sound.

I finally have come up with a one-computer solution to the problem!

Here are the instructions followed by screenshots.

WHAT TO SET-UP IN ZOOM

Open or join a Zoom meeting.
Pick SHARE SCREEN and tap the ADVANCED tab.
Pick PORTION OF SCREEN. Stay on that ADVANCED tab.
In the bottom left corner of the ADVANCED tab, check SHARE SOUND and OPTIMIZE FOR VIDEO CLIP.
Hit SHARE in the bottom right. Don't worry (yet) about the green frame that shows up.

ZOOM ADVANCED SHARE TAB

WHAT TO SET-UP IN KEYNOTE

Open your Keynote presentation.
Pick PLAY - CUSTOMIZE PRESENTER DISPLAY.
Move things around on the screen to allow you to both see your notes and make the current slide as large as possible.
Move the Zoom green frame over the current slide and resize the green frame by dragging the handles
Close the PRESENTER DISPLAY.
This time, pick PLAY - REHEARSE SLIDESHOW and you will see the Zoom CONTROLS (and you can open the Zoom chat) and your notes. The audience sees only the slides in the green frame.
Any videos play and you can open the slide navigator if you need to.

REHEARSE SLIDESHOW WITH ZOOM PORTION OF SCREEN SHOWING SLIDE

The flexible FlexClip video maker

2020-12-14T13:53:00.000-05:00

FlexClip is an online video editor with lots of great features and tons of assets! You can use the included templates or create your video from scratch. You can also import a video you already have made and edit and customize it in many ways. This video maker/creation site does it all!

TEMPLATES

FlexClip has over 40 video template categories including templates for birthday wishes, technology, holidays, marketing, education, Instagram, TikTok and everything in-between. Each category has multiple templates that are editable to meet your needs. There are even intro and outro templates which can provide you with a reusable beginning and ending for any video you create!

All of the tools have interfaces that are easy to understand, navigate, and do and un-do mistakes.

I picked the "Education and Training" templates to see what was available.

I picked the one below to explore the customization features of the templates.

I could decide whether I wanted to pick media assets from the FlexClip collection, upload files from my computer, and record directly in the Flexiclip interface.

In addition to recording directly into FlexClip from the web cam, I could screencast, too!

There were tons of stock videos and photos that I could use as part of my video.

I could pick any number of type styles, locations, and backgrounds for the text on the title slide.

I was then presented with choices for overlays for text for decorative additions and had the ability to add a logo to the video.

Included was a library of elements and shapes to use to highlight items in a video.

I could add a professional-looking background using their stock backgrounds. These would probably be used for the title slide or the outro of the video.

FlexClip provided background music to use with the ability to change its volume and loop it.

And, to protect my original work, I could add a watermark and place it where I wanted on the video.

I loved how easy it was to pick a format for my video!

FlexClip included other cool features, too. There were choices to animate a photo and place it in the video.

There was a library of filters to pick from.

I could even adjust saturation, brightness, tint, and more to enhance the photos or videos.

Here is the list of tools that are included with FlexClip whether using the supplied templates and assets or your own.

- Add a logo to a video

- Add music to a video

- Add text to a video

- Add a watermark to a video

- Compress a video’s size

- Convert a video to another video file format

- Add a filter to your video

- Change the brightness of your video

- Merge videos together

- Rotate the direction of your video

- Change the speed of your video

- Split your video into separate sections

- Add transitions to your video

- Add a zoom-in or zoom-out transition to your video

STARTING FROM SCRATCH

If I did not want to use one of the templates in FlexClip I could start with my own blank canvas to work on!

PRICING PLANS

FlexClip has four pricing plans, as shown below. They offer monthly and annual pricing.

FlexClip is an easy-to-use video creation and editing tool. Even though there are a ton of options available, the tool did not overwhelm me. The menu structure and navigation are consistent, which helps a lot. From the beginner video creator who just wants to customize templates and use the stock assets and music to the professional video creator, Flexiclip can work for anyone!

In exchange for this review, I received a subscription to FlexClip.

IPEVO's Uplift and iDocCam make a perfect pair!

2020-11-30T11:28:00.011-05:00

Although having a dedicated document camera, like IPEVO's DO-CAM which I reviewed here, there is another great solution from IPEVO that takes advantage of using your own smartphone as the document camera feed.

The IPEVO Uplift is a multi-angle arm for smartphones. You simply insert your smartphone in the padded clip, and adjust the arm to any angle or orientation you want to! The sturdy base keeps the IPEVO Uplift from tipping over.

You can use your phone attached to the Uplift as a Webcam to show your face and arms when you are demonstrating a science lab or a basketball move, showcase a page in a book or a text piece, use it for holding the phone still when you are creating a stop-motion animation, do a close-up on an object, and it allows you to use your hands to record a paper slide or Common Craft-type video for your students!

There are two secret sotware ingredients to this process. The first is the IPEVO Visualizer software (no cost) which is available for Mac, Windows, and Chrome. The IPEVO Visualizer allows you to display the video from any camera feed, record it, modify it, and more. You can use it to show what your camera sees, either on a big screen or in an online video conferencing app.

With Visualizer you can adjust the displayed image in various ways. You can zoom in, rotate, mirror, change the resolution, adjust exposure, apply a video filter, take a snapshot, and more!

The second secret ingredient is IPEVO's iDocCam app (iOS/Android) which allows you, in conjunction with the Visualizer software on your computer, to select your smartphone as the camera source for the desktop if the two items are on the same network.

You can then wirelessly view, control, or adjust the live images captured by your smartphone's camera, such as educational instructions, worksheets, training guides, presentation notes using the Visualizer software.

IPEVO's iDocCam is not free, but is priced as a monthly or yearly subscription or you can purchase it outright. If you purchase an IPEVO Uplift, you get six months of iDocCam use included right now!

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I did not receive any monetary compensation from IPEVO for writing this article. I did receive a copy of the iDocCam app and the Uplift Multi-Angle Arm so I could try things out!