Flashcards online

While "understanding" a concept is always more desirable than straight memorization, occasionally students need to drill a concept to own it, and that means flashcards! There are a number of great web-based flash card sites out there, but one I like is "FlashCardExchange". This site allows you to create 2 or 3 sided (ie giving hints) cards that you can access from anywhere. There is even a link to an iPhone app that works in conjunction with the site. Whether it's French verbs, or abbreviations for the periodic table, sometimes all you need is a good set of cards. (Teachers can create sets and then have the students use them.)

On-line Reading: Harper Teen

If you want to encourage reading among your young adult students, you might consider sending them to view publishers sites. Many of them are offering a "browse before you buy" feature, allowing interested students the opportunity to read the first chapter of two of a new or upcoming novel,

Harper Teen lets you do just that! Current offerings are mostly of the "vampire" genre, thanks to Twilight, but there are many others if you dig a little. Enjoy!

Also: check out their podcast. (Interviews with authors, reviews etc.)

No Comic Life installed? - try "Comiqs"

So, you love Comic Life, but it's not installed in your lab? You're in luck! There are a number of web-based comic creators out there. (I've mentioned a couple of them in previous posts.)

What's great about these apps is that there is no software to install, and as long as you have internet access, and a browser, you're in business.

Here are some of the sites that seem promising:

• http://pixton.com/ca/
• http://comiqs.com/editor/ 
• http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
• http://chogger.com/
• http://chogger.com/createfullscreen
• http://stripgenerator.com/strip/create/

Both Pixton and Comiqs have great potential, but teachers are advised to check out the sites first in case there is inappropriate content. (Pixton has an education version that allows more control.) Like most of these apps, Comiqs has a login that allows you to save your work and return to it later, and is most like the "Comic Life" application used in many Elementary schools.( Even without the login, students always have the option of creating and taking a screen shot, or printing to the desktop.)

http://comiqs.com/editor/ <--- this is much like Comic Life

Online Pro-D resources: Anneberg Media

Sometimes, it can be difficult to find just the right Pro-D resource to encourage a colleague.

Anneberg Media has a number of videos and video series (complete with downloadable facilitator materials) that might just fit the bill.

 Just look for the "VOD" icon to view clips "on-demand.