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Coffee Talk Tech Tools


 * **Awesome Screenshot - BeFunky - WikiSpaces**
 * Awesome Screenshot**: I was excited to use this tool since the only way that I knew how to capture something from the web was within our Interwrite program. I use Awesome Screenshot all of the time now. Both personally and professionally. I love that I can just save the image in a file. Great tool!!


 * BeFunky**: I love to take pictures, and although I haven't had the time to play with this Chrome app much, I know that I will. I was able to take a picture of my friends and I on a boating trip and create a really cool look. I think with more time, I will have some fun with this tool!


 * WikiSpaces**: I love the idea of a shared space to share ideas and add common files, etc. I actually set up a wiki for a book study team last year that I was a part of. Unfortunately, only a few people joined. I think that the "newness" of the whole wiki idea scared some people off. Our curriculum director is now asking our staff to add to a wiki that she has set up for the Montana common core. I think that the more people use a wiki, the more they will realize the benefits of this shared space.

  **Google Url Shortener**: I like this tool. I could see it being beneficial when teaching a class and giving the class the web address. I have tried many times to frantically copy down a web address, only to have it wrong anyway.
 * ** Goo.gl - Connected Mind - WikiSpaces **

**Connected Mind: **This is a great app for the visual learner that I am! I did have some trouble trying to type the curvy lines. It was easy to get out of control! Here is a piece of a map I made. You can see how the lines can get curvy! I can imagine that students would find this app beneficial.

 **Too Many Tabs - BioDigital Human - Cloud Storage**
 * Too Many Tabs:** This extension was easy to use and I can see it being used while browsing for a specific lesson topic. I should have used it when I was browsing for ideas for my Wizard of Oz unit!


 * BioDigital Human**: I like the set up of this app. It is handy for someone with an ache or pain in a specific area. I don't know if I would use it much in the first grade, but if a student broke a bone or something and wanted to show the class where it was, we could look at this. I can already hear the "ooooooooo's and ahhhhhhhh's" from a first grade audience. The 3D part of this app is amazing!


 * Cloud Storage:** I signed up for Sugar Sync and installed it on my home laptop and on my school computer. It was easy to save files and retrieve at school. I really thought I would use it more than I have. I do often take my laptop to school with me and haven't had the need to share files. Once I get organized at home with personal pictures, I can see using the storage more,especially when out of town. I also need to catch up soon on my students' digital portfolios, so I may be sharing more in Sugar Sync then.

**Print Edit & Webpage Screenshot ~ Math Apps ~ Woot & Yelp**
 * Web 2.0 tools, Extensions and Apps:** Though I haven't had a lot of time to play around with Web 2.0 tools, I plan to try Voicethread very soon. My first graders have been writing some amazing stories and I would love to find a way to record each one reading. I have been using Awesome Screenshot Capture more than any other extension. I have used connected mind a little to plan out a project and hope to play more with BeFunky photo editor.


 * Woot**: I can really see where this little shopping site could become part of my daily routine (in fact it did for a while!). On this site a daily deal is shown each day. Though I haven't purchased anything yet, I still like to look at the deals. I may use it more closer to next Christmas!

**Clearly-Equation Editor-Audio Editor**  **Evernote Clearly:** I really love this app. It is a way to take out all of the extra "junk" around an article, etc. It works great for printing a worksheet without the extra sidenotes! I noticed that there is a separate app for the news and weather. Great tool!  **Equation Editor:** This app would be very useful for a math teacher, or even a math student. I don't see much use for it in the first grade curriculum, however, my oldest is in fourth grade now and I imagine this app will come in handy soon with math homework! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2513; display: block; font-size: 1.25em; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2513; display: block; font-size: 1.25em; text-align: left;">**Audio Editor:** I think my jaw dropped open and remained open the whole time Diane was showing us this app. I am not sure yet, when we would use this, but the fact that music can be made on the computer like this is so unbelievably cool! I know I will find a use for this app at a later date!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2513; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 1.25em; text-align: left;">Pinterest
What can one not like about pinning images of favorite ideas on bulletin boards? Well, I can tell you, it is right up my alley!! I started about four boards. These range from home, education, food, and photography. I have found so many neat ideas on this site. I even told my mother about it and she pinned one of her quilt designs from her website. She installed the "pin it" button before I did!! I have been telling everyone who I think may be interested, about this site.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2513; display: block; font-size: 1.25em; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2513; display: block; font-size: 1.25em; text-align: left;"> ===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2513; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 1.25em; text-align: left;">Open Source: ** This is another option like Microsoft Office that is free and kid-friendly. The icons are big and also include and option to draw. I like the variety of backgrounds in the presentation tools. Sometimes after a lot of Power Points, I get tired of the same limited choices. I will let my kids play around with this fun tool soon. Here are my quick presentations (I may take the one that is like Power Point and use it for our Family Literacy Night) **===



<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2513; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 1.25em; text-align: left;">TubeChop ~ Kathy Schrock ~ QR Codes

 * Tube Chop: ** I learned about this tool about a week to late :)! I put together a Prezi for our upcoming elementary talent show and I wanted to get some clips from America's Got Talent. However, every montage I found, it had something that wasn't quite appropriate at some point. I just wished that I could have a piece of the clip. With Tube Chop, this can be done. I could see this tool being very useful in the future, when creating presentations and lessons.


 * Kathy Schrock: ** I had heard her name before in reading or discussion, but I didn't know about her amazing website! I signed up for the weekly idea newsletter and have been receiving e-mails. Her site is a wealth of information. I could see using it while training teachers next year with the traveling mobile lab.


 * QR Codes: ** I really hadn't heard much about using QR codes until we did a math scavenger hunt at the tech cadre training with the i pod touches. I think it will be the next big wave in the near future. I found it so interesting that professors are using a QR code for students to scan and download course syllabus, and other information needed for class. I would love to use a set of i pod touches and do a scavenger hunt with my class using QR codes. I plan to do something like this next year with the traveling i pod touches!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2513; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 1.25em; text-align: left;">Picnik? - Text to Speech - ThinkBinder

 * Picnik?** I really didn't have a chance to explore this site before it closed. I love to take pictures and just need the time to sit and edit!!


 * ThinkBinder:** This site would have really come in handy while I was taking my masters courses online a few years ago. I can see how this would be a great collaboration tool! I like the fact that you can embed a video right onto the whiteboard. At this time I think that it would be too much to share with staff (we just showed them "Prezi" presentations. However, maybe a small book study would be a good place to start. The possibilites are endless!!

**Google+** I wasn't interested in a new social media, until I watched the video! I do get frustrated with Facebook and censoring what I say to each person. I also just kind of gave up a while ago and really haven't posted much since. I have too many people in too many different circles!! I just may have to look into Google +!! I looked at the "earthquakes" topic and I really like the set up. I could see using this personally when diving into a topic. I have the habit of googling medical issues when one of my three children comes down with something. I could use this as a way to organize all of the articles I find. I don't think I would use it much in the first grade setting. Although, I could use it more as a teaching tool. Junior High and High School students would really be able to organize and even add their own journaling to sum it all up! **Yippy ~ WolframAlpha ~ Tagxedeo ~ Block Posters ~ Certificate maker ~ Tammy…** I chose to look at Block Posters and Certificate Maker. I love to take pictures throughout the school year and would love to make a block poster of one of our class pictures. I tried to go in and upload a picture, but each time it said that my photo size was to big and could only be one MB and when I clicked properties, I had a photo at 1.03 MB, so then I thought I would try a school camera photo and that picture was still over the limit. One must need a cheap camera in order to upload a photo that is under 1 MB. Darn!! I love the certificate maker site. I can find so many uses for this in my first grade classroom! They love taking a certificate home and I need to remember that it is just as important as a prize (plus it may save me some money!!). Final Paper: **So many new tools!! Thanks Diane for a great class!!**
 * Storify**