Utensils (tools you just need)

~  URL Shorteners (bitly - https://bitly.com/ or better yet...furly - http://fur.ly/)

~  Digital Notes...in the Cloud (Evernote - http://www.evernote.com)

• take notes, tag notes, access notes from anywhere

~  File Storage...in the Cloud (DropBox - http://www.dropbox.com/)

• simplify your life by having access to your files anywhere, any time

~  Bookmarks...in the Cloud (Delicious - http://delicious.com)

• access and share "favorites" from any computer

~  Arkansas Digital Sandbox 

• newest and safest way to collaborate, store, and share multi-media in a closed, social learning network. Users can store everything from science experiments, artwork, projects, professional development content and much more. All student work, as well as district uploaded content, is password protected and complies with CIPA and COPPA
• link to ADE Commissioner's memo -  http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved%20Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=259 
• to search for your district's login page -  http://adesandbox.arkansas.gov/welcome.php 
• South Mississippi County School District login - http://adesandbox.arkansas.gov/SMissCountySD/ 
• Note: If YouTube is blocked in your district, you can upload YouTube videos from home into your sandbox and view them from the sandbox at school! 

Appetizers (choose one and share)

Word Clouds (Wordle- http://www.wordle.net/ or Tagxedo-http://www.tagxedo.com/)

• conduct polls, analyze text and/or make predictions, brainstorm, etc.
• compare text 
• need more ideas? http://www.slideshare.net/boazchoi/fortyfive-interesting-ways-to-use-wordle-in-the-classroom 

~  Virtual Sticky Notes (http://corkboard.me or http://en.linoit.com/)

• brainstorm, share ideas
• Try corkboard -  http://bit.ly/trycorkboard  

~  Mash-Up of Info (Qwiki- www.qwiki.com) 

• search for any topic and this site pulls together the most current info and pics, renders it, and reads it to you (alpha)

~ Computation Search Engine (Wolfram Alpha - http://www.wolframalpha.com/)

• more than a search engine...

~ Google - Square It! (Google Squared - http://www.google.com/squared)

• takes a category and creates a starter 'square' of information, automatically fetching and organizing facts from across the web
• information can be opened in a Google spreadsheet (Google account required) to edit/add more information

~Instant Polls (Poll Everywhere - http://www.polleverywhere.com/)

• instant audience feedback
• Poll students (audience) to gauge interest, get opinions, etc. before or during a lesson/session
•  http://pollev.com/danalane

Main Dishes (choose one)

~   Glogs (http://edu.glogster.com/edu)

• create a one of a kind online poster with multimedia elements
• get instructions for using Glogster Edu
• see an example: http://s018.calgaryscienceschool.edu.glogster.com/NancyPanel3/

~   Wikis (http://pbworks.com/)

• This is a wiki! One way to use a wiki is to create a page for a certain topic. Divide the topic among students (jigsaw) and create links to other pages for students to write about their topic. One of the benefits of this is an authentic audience (share the link with parents, other teachers, etc.). 
• Want to set up your own wiki? Use this link for step-by-step illustrated instructions. 
• Experience how to edit a wiki -  http://smcwhatscooking.pbworks.com

~   Web Page (http://education.weebly.com/)

• Allow your students to create a web site about a particular topic. One of THE easiest ways to create a web site. Let's give it a try. (http://students.weebly.com/)

~ Blogs (Posterous -  https://posterous.com/, Edublogger - http://edublogs.org/)

• 2011 ISTE Blog -  http://smccolts.posterous.com/
• Edublog Awards -  http://edublogawards.com/ (find your favorite one to follow)
• Blogs can be great reflective tools for adults and students. 

~ Digital Binders (Live Binders - http://livebinders.com/shelf/my)

• This is a 3-ring binder for the Web. Collect resources; Organize them neatly and easily; Present them with pride. Best of all, it's free!

~ Google Docs (https://docs.google.com)

• Create and share your work online and access your documents from anywhere. Manage documents, spreadsheets, presentations, surveys, and more all in one easy place.
• Check out Google Forms! Complete this form: (http://bit.ly/whatscookingform)  

~ Presentations: A Fresh Approach

• Pecha Kucha (20 slides, 20 seconds)
• Ignites (20 slides, 15 seconds)
• Images - Little or no text

Side Items (choose two)

~   Avatars (Vokis - www.voki.com or My Avatar Editor - http://myavatareditor.com/)

• explain a concept, state facts about a historial figure or author, etc.
• need more ideas?  http://www.voki.com/Voki_for_education.php 
• My Avatar Editor allows users to save as png with transparent backgrounds. This opens up many possibilities! (independence hall.ppt)

~   JeoardyLabs (http://jeopardylabs.com/)

• create your own Jeopardy game online

~  FaceBook...well, sort of...(My Fake Wall - http://www.myfakewall.com/)

• create FaceBook-like profiles and walls

~  Simple Online Publishing (Pen - http://pen.io/)

• the fastest way to publish online

~  Simple Collaborative Documents (TypeWith.Me -  http://typewith.me/)

• makes real-time text collaboration dead simple

~  Audio Recording (Vocaroo - http://vocaroo.com/)

• fluency, audio notes to students, students recap the day's lesson 
• sound file can be embedded on a web page, emailed, or accessed via a link

~   Newspaper Clipping (http://www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp)

• create your own newspaper article

~   Graphs (http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/)  

• gather data about a topic and easily create a graph

Desserts (optional)

~  Bibliography Maker (BibMe -  http://www.bibme.org/)

• teach students to cite sources - model that behavior!

~  Back Channel (Today's Meet - www.todaysmeet.com)  

• embrace the back channel and interact with your audience in real time

~  Photo Editing (Picnik - www.picnik.com) 

• easily edit photos 

~  Big Huge Labs (http://bighugelabs.com/)

• do really cool things with pictures

~  Read...Write...Compete (Boom Writer - www.boomwriter.com)  

• become a real author

~  Search Techniques (Advanced Google Search - www.google.com)  

• search by reading level
• search by file type 

~ Emerging Technology - QR Codes

• Try one of the newest emerging technologies - QR codes - to enhance scavenger hunts/webquests. To generate QR codes, simpley search "qr code generator" (http://qrcode.kaywa.com/). You will also need a QR code reader on your mobile device (Visit the your app store and search for QR code reader.)

Design your own menu!  Mix some of your favorite technology resources with more traditional products to come up with a learning menu for a topic you teach.