stephen reck - technology&education

miro.

a great software addition for your computer is miro. it's a cross-platform, zero-headache, free, video player and can be used as a great classroom resource when videos are needed. miro can subscribe, download, and organize video podcasts. although it sounds like simply a replicate of itunes, miro provides far more support and attention for video entertainment. users can actually search for new videos via google, yahoo, youtube, or others directly from within the program. miro is most useful because of its versatility, as it handles a wide variety of file types and allows you to pull videos from a wide variety of sources.

animoto.

animoto allows users to create online video presentations. it marks a clear evolution from the standard photo slideshow in ease of use, entertainment value, and educational worth. animoto takes your photos and music and creates a captivating slideshow that can be viewed via a specific url or embedded elsewhere. with its newer education branch, animoto is a great resource to create exciting multimedia presentations.

quizlet.

quizlet is a flashcard application, allowing teachers to use pre-built sets of vocabulary or create a custom word list. quizlet is free to use & provides a variety of resources. the interface is easy to understand. vocabulary lists can be shared by providing the targeted user with a link or url.

rubistar.

rubistar is a web application that easily allows the custom creation of assessment rubrics. rubistar provides access to dozens of pre-made rubrics, or you may create your own. the website is free & requires no log-in, account setup, or membership. this is an excellent resource for project-based instruction.

back to school

it's that time of the year. big yellow busses are filling the streets & teachers are anxiously preparing for new students. in this time of hectic schedules, i'll do my best to routinely update this site. my goal is 4 posts a week, I believe it is obtainable. If you have any new resources, tools, websites, or ideas, please share. i rely on colleagues for inspiration & new ideas.