Sarah Gosche

 IcoFX 1.5 is a free software program that can be downloaded to edit icons. It is designed to work for Windows, which is typically what students tend to be more familiar with. It has won many awards. The free technology has a wide range of features. Students can convert, extract, edit and create their own icons. The program has over 40 effects, drawing tools, multiple language supports, the ability to store the user’s favorites,  several editing tools, and more. This program would be extremely beneficial to students who are not familiar with Macs and Adobe Illustrator. This program runs on Windows and would help students who wish to use PCs to do their editing.

To learn more about this program visit IcoFX.

This podcast is a pocast written and produced by the students at Cumberland-Perry AVTS. The students each week report on the top stories in technology. Their teacher is Chris Champion. Students reported on the new AT&T Tilt phone with stereo bluetooth, windows, YFI, GPS, and camera features for $299. The Sony ultrathin television was introduced in Japan, bringing a new contendor to the market. Terrorists and the internet were discussed by a student. Also, echoing the iphone, the LG Voyager was introduced to Verizon Wireless users. The phone is very similar to the iphone and can be expanded to 8 gigabytes. Various games were also discussed. The new Apple Mac Pro was introduced and is much faster and gives its user more options. Also, someone has introduced computerized pillows that shift the sleeper’s head until the individual stops snoring. This website is beneficial to people who chose to watch it and learn more about technology news, and also is a great learning experience for the students broadcasting the news.

To visit this podcast visit:
http://www.epnweb.org/index.php?request_id=585&openpod=2#anchor2

Kurt Paccio first gives a demonstration and run through of the free online presentation software, SPRESENT. The program is very similar to powerpoint and may be even easier to use. It is easy to navigate and move things around. Images, captions, web elements, videos and more can be inserted. You can publish and embed the presentation. He explains that only JPEG images can be used in SPRESENT. Voice narration is possible and the online presentation creator has no compatibility issues and sharing is easy.
James Gates gives the presentation for SPLASHCAST, a broadcasting network and streaming media channel. He goes through the steps of building, producing, saving, and publishing. On the site, you can add pictures, video, record, and upload powerpoints. One of the best features of SPLASHCAST is that students can add commentary to their powerpoints instead of having to present them. The teacher can give feedback and the students can reply through the program.

To view the presentations visit: The Electric Slide: 21st Century Style.

To visit this keynote: Classroom 2.0 Keynote by Clarence Fisher at the K12 Online Conference 2007.

Clarence Fisher discusses how Classroom 2.0 is about redefining what happens in classrooms and preparing students to meet the future. Pedagogy, tools, relationships, and curriculum are what make up Classroom 2.0. We need to change the way we teach, use collaboration, and undergo constant change to figure out what students need. Using tools such as FlickR, blogging, edublogs, voice threads, and podcasting is important and Mr. Fisher thanks those tools for being free.  Classrooms need to change which will also change relationships students have with each other, with teachers and their school. Networks are essential. We also must change ourselves and attitudes toward education and classrooms. We need to think outside the box, and Mr. Fisher redefines the classroom as a studio that is vibrant and energetic – untraditional. He states that he agrees with the quote “Teaching today is a global effort not an individual accomplishment” and he believes the same is true for learning.  He states that the focus of technology should not be on skills, but on connecting and learning from each other.

Softpedia is a free downloading website for drivers, software, phones, games, and devices. It is also a site that gives technology, science, health, and entertainment news. Software products are tested for spyware and viruses. There are quite a few educational programs on the site that students or teachers could download to enhance learning. MyChineseFlashcards, MathTables, and Google Earth are a few examples. Also, other programs could be downloaded freely for classroom use or individual use for projects and classes. This site is beneficial because it has a wide variety of material to download for free.

For more information visit: Softpedia.

Leaf networks enable sharing between PCs, or between individuals. People can share secure and private networks or devices regardless of location, keeping them in touch. They control who has access. It is similar to instant messenging programs in which individuals invite others to join networks. It could be very helpful in schools for students and teachers, or even for homeschooling. Members of the network can share files and folders, networked applications, and devices.

To learn more about Leaf Networks, visit: the network sharing software.

Voice and speech recognition systems are starting to become more common in the classroom by helping children with special needs. One program, LISTEN which stands for “Literacy Innovation that Speech Technology Enables,”  acts as a tutor for children, listening to their words and correcting them.  The child wears headphones and speaks into a microphone. The program corrects the child or reads the passage to the child when he or she is struggling. This allows them to focus on what they are reading and they are able to block out surrounding noises in the classroom. Not only are children developing better language, reading, and English skills, they are getting more hands on technology training at the same time.

To learn more about Voice and Speech Recognition Systems visit: LISTEN.

Stagecast Creator is a program that helps children and teachers make programs easily and professionally. The program reinforces using logic to create programs. It is a demonstrational program that is followed in steps. Children’s questions are answered by an animation and they learn visually through the program. It creates an example for the child or teacher to follow. It is available for many different subjects and has been successful in the classroom. Children can also build simulations and games using the program. To learn more about Stagecast, click here.

Distance learning offers alternatives to the traditional classroom setting. It allows people to communicate without physically being in a classroom setting where an instructor is teaching. People communicate and learn through a system that connects them electronically, and video images allow them to interact through electronic space. Students learn via satellite or other long-distance telecommunication technology. Communication can happen via telephone, two-way video, writing, or television phone-in programs. Traditional classroom work may be completed via DVDs, Web Cams, and television and radio broadcasts. At first it was typically attractive and convenient for adults seeking education from home, but has become common in teaching institutions today. Distance Learning students often need to be ambitious and self driven to complete work since they do not meet with a class in a traditional setting.

To learn more about distance learning, vist Distance Learning Net .

Alvin Trusty’s Blog discussing important people in educational technology:
http://www.trustyetc.com/trustyblog/2007/09/05/who-is-important-here/

Raymond Kurzweil is an inventor who has made several advances in educational technology. He has created pattern-recognition-based computer technologies. These help people with disabilities such as blindness, dyslexia and ADD.  His text-to-speech convertor allows deaf or hearing-impaired users to use computers by enabling the computer to read elecronic and scanned text. His inventions have given users with disabilities the opportunity to learn.

Mark Gedlinske, Doyle Kirkeby, and Michelle Edenborg created the machine-readable identifiers for standardized tests. The identifiers process higher priority tests first, followed by lower priority tests. This invention has saved a lot of time,  allowing a larger group to be tested and their results to be processed quickly.