Clif's Notes

Publishing to AudioBoo from a Web Browser

Our kids and I have a lot of fun with AudioBoo. AudioBoo is a service that makes podcasting and audio blogging a snap and can positively impact your classroom (See previous posts1, 2, 3 and 4). Although the service has previously pretty much been limited to iPhone users it is now available to everyone. Here’s a screencast demonstrating how to use their recently released BrowserBoo feature which makes it possible to record to AudioBoo through any web browser.

Here’s the sample Boo that I created during the screencast above.

You can browse through my AudioBoo profile page to look through many other examples of boos that the kids and I have published.

I strongly encourage all teachers to take a look at AudioBoo. Whether or not you choose to use it as a teacher I believe there are students in your classroom that would enjoy using it and benefit from engaging this learning modality.

Sign-up for your AudioBoo account, friend me and other educators, and begin enjoying the valuable contributions this can bring you and your students.

• AudioBoo: Simple Podcasting from iPhone
• Creating an AudioBoo: A Quick Demonstration
• Bookmarks for 01/17/2010
• Kids Get Creative with AudioBoo

Reply to Miguel Guhlin

THINKING OUT LOUD
Episode 006

Yesterday’s blog post by Miguel Guhlin (@mguhlin) caused me to think…and that caused me to want to share and think out loud…and now I’d really like to know how others respond…so…please read Miguel’s brief post about the Google Teacher Academy application process, then view my reply below and share your response.

I’d definitely appreciate it.

Please share your text/audio/video reply in the Comments section of this post or respond to the corresponding Seesmic conversation (Think video-based Twitter).

• Advice for Future Teachers Graduating This Month
• Connecting the Classroom and Outside World (Feedback Requested)
• Connecting the Classroom and Outside World
• Students and PLNs (Feedback Requested)

Connecting the Classroom and Outside World (Feedback Requested)

Educators, what are some strategies for connecting the classroom with the outside world?

NOTE: I’d like to share responses in an upcoming workshop/presentation and on my blog and wiki. You can submit your ideas using the form below, share your text/audio/video reply in the Comments section of this post or respond via Twitter, Plurk or on your blog using the tag #thruwalls. You can also view the compiled database of suggested strategies on my wiki, Learning Telecollaboratively.

Share this post using http://tr.im/104.

Conversation tag: #thruwalls

• Connecting the Classroom and Outside World
• Students and PLNs (Feedback Requested)
• Educators and PLNs (Feedback Requested)
• Reply to Miguel Guhlin

Free Educational Technology Workshops

The Instructional Design and Technology program at The University of Memphis is pleased to offer FREE workshops on Apple tools and applications. These will be conducted by Tim Matheny, a Senior System Engineer with Apple. Seating is limited and registration is required…but these top-notch workshops are FREE.

Use the links below to discover additional information and register.

Tuesday, November 10

First Session: iLife ‘09 and MobileMe
Register for This Session
Time: 4:00 – 5:45,
Place: Room 310, Ball Hall

Second Session, Apple Show and Tell (Quick demos of Leopard, iWorks, iTunesU, etc.)
Register for This Session
Time: 6:00 – 8:00
Place: Room 310, Ball Hall

Wednesday, November 11

First Session: Mobile Learning (iPhones, App Store, Apps for School, etc.)
Register for This Session
Time: 4:00 – 5:45
Place: Room 310 Ball Hall

Second Session, Digital Video
Register for This Session
Time: 6:00 – 8:30
Place: Room 310, Ball Hall

Thursday, November 12
One Session, Enhanced Podcasting
Register for This Session
Time: 6:30 – 8:30
Place: Room 310, Ball Hall

• Free Educational Technology Workshops
• Podcasting and Video Workshops
• Day of Discovery in Memphis
• Free Apple Seminar for Educators

Playdough Land Formations

Our oldest son’s class used Playdough to model the land formations about which they have been learning. He loved this hands-on project! Here’s a quick tour of the geographic landscape that he created (via iPhone video).

Educational Connections
Here are some quick thoughts regarding this activity.

• Our son said everyone in the class really had fun with this project.
• This is an inexpensive way to encourage kinesthetic learning.
• An activity like this could potentially move beyond knowledge and comprehension and into some of the higher-order thinking skills such as application.
• I’m predicting that the students are more likely to retain this information as a result of the hands-on application.
• You don’t always have to teach with technology. As I always say, “It’s not about the technology. It’s about the learning.”

• 13 Yr. Old CEO of Innovative Educational Gaming Company
• We the People…
• It’s Good to Be Back, Again!
• Noteworthy from NECC

Animoto Does Even More

I’ve been a fan of Animoto ever since @kconger introduced it to me about a year and a half ago. I’ve used it to make fun videos for friends and family and for end-of-event presentations for things like a conference we hosted and for church camp. I even got the 10 free bumper stickers back when they were offered.

The Animoto Video Contest finalists and winner have just been announced. Wow, folks are doing some really “cool” things with Animoto. I knew that I could now upload and add video into my Animoto files, but I haven’t gotten around to actually trying it. I’m not sure that I would have thought to be as creative as these folks, though. Take a look at the contest page and see if you aren’t inspired. I’m hoping students will begin using this to complete some of their assignments, too.

• World’s Best Presentation Contest ‘08.
• Suggested Reading for 07/28/2009
• Another Creative Video
• Reminder: BrainyFlix Contest Begins Today

21st Century Schools

Dr. Stephen Heppell’s video about 21st century schools provokes you to consider what lies ahead. Wes Fryer states that this video “makes a strong case for blended learning where the learning connection between home and school is seamless.”

• Do Schools Kill Creativity?
• Will Ed Tech Win in 2008?
• President Advocates Merit Pay and Charter Schools
• Lowe’s Toolbox for Education

Wordles of Every Inaugaration Speech [Video and Gallery]

Governing Dynamo has developed a gallery of all 56 American presidential inaugural addresses that includes full transcripts, Wordles (word cloud visualizations) and video footage. The video below can be a useful way to navigate through the gallery. Click on the glowing green dots in the video to learn more about an inaugural address.

• Did You Know 4.0
• 15 Second Search Tip Videos
• Remembering Dr. King
• Video Cameras in the Classroom

Bill Nye: Just Wash Your Hands [Video]

Given concerns about Swine-Flu and similar illnesses I figure we’ll all spend a lot of time reminding our students to frequently wash their hands this school year. Bill Nye’s fun video is just one more strategy for spreading the message.

• Pay Attention
• Teens Talk about Educational Technology
• Do You Believe in Me?
• Schools 2.0

Do You Believe in Me?

This is a great video for teachers, staff, administrators, students and parents to watch as we all begin a new school year. It was developed for the Starkville School District (Hometown of the Mississippi State Bulldogs!).

• Teachers’ Online Identities
• The 11th Annual Beyond Access Inclusion Conference in Memphis, TN
• Pay Attention
• Be an Extraordinary Teacher