The Cloud

"The Cloud" is a phrase that is used quite often in today's tech world but what does it really mean?  When I think of a cloud the image of a white fluffy object comes to my mind.  A real cloud is something out in the sky and it really is full of something.  A tech cloud is full of information that you or another user has created.  The tech cloud gives an individual mobility, the ability to collaborate and frees up space on your actual computing device.

Cloud applications can be split into categories:

• storage & share 
• Dropbox
• Flickr
• Picasa
• create, collaborate, store and share
• Presentation Applications
• Google Apps/Drive
• Zoho Show
• Prezi
• Educanvas
• Glogster
• Animoto
• Present.Me
• Voice Thread
• Word processing/Spreadsheets
• Google Apps/Drive
• Zoho Show
• SkyDrive

I'm sure there are plenty of other applications out there, these are just some that I am personally familiar with and have used frequently.

Before you make the decision to move to a cloud based storage system - think about what it is you are wanting to create/store.  Is it highly confidential information?  The cons of cloud based storage/creation is the fact that you aren't 100% sure of the security level.   In my field of work - cloud based applications work great.  It allows me to create something from any device that I used and from anywhere I have an Internet connection.  Another con - you rely on the availability of the Internet.  As with any technological tool - you will probably run into technical difficulties on occasion.

Please watch my blog for posts that focus on the individual applications mentioned above!

It takes two to tango

Did you ever hear the phrase, "It takes two to tango?"  Well - it might take 3 or 4 when working on a powerful presentation!  I don't mean 3 or 4 people, although two heads are better than one, but I mean put multiple tools to work to create one Powerful Presentation!

I will be presenting "Blending Applications" this week at the eRev conference in Evansville, IN.

I am excited to share my ideas of how you can take a simple blog and add video, audio, images and much more - stay tuned for more details!  In the meantime try to create a

Getting ready for the week

This week is full of teaching, conference and presentations.  I will be teaching Intro to PowerPoint tomorrow

Introtopowerpoint from jengossman

As I continue to finalize my presentations I will be posting them here as well!  Have a great week!

Edcanvas - digital poster

 I know that many of you reading this blog have at least been introduced to Glogster.  Students love Glogster and the age of the student doesn't seem to matter.  It is fun because they can create a digital poster and things are posted in all different ways.  Edcanvas is the new big thing and I compare it to Glogster.  I recently attended ISTE 2013 and was able to meet two of the developers of Edcanvas.  That was exciting for me.  Amy and Harrison were wonderful and so excited about their new product.  Let's get started creating!

You first want to sign up for an account at http://www.edcanvas.com/.  They have a free version and there is also a paid version.  The paid version is marked down to $3.00/month for a limited time - a $5.00 discount off their regular rates.  In the paid version you can record audio and collaborate:

  I am finding the free version to work for me at this time so it is a personal choice for each individual.

There are a few things to take care of first.  If you plan to use this with your class you will need to establish that first.  So, after logging in - just click on Classes:     In the Classes section you will choose your grade level and name your class.  After that you will be given a class code (similar to the Edmodo setup).  This class code is what you give your students so when they create their accounts they can join your class!      When your students create their account they will choose Student instead of teacher.  It will ask for the class code.

Now you are ready to start creating.  Click on  and start.  

  At the top you will see the options Templates, Themes, Play, Print and Autosave.  Templates are the way your canvas is laid out and there are five options:  

Themes are your two color scheme options:  

The Play feature is for when your canvas is complete.  Also notice you can add a row at the bottom to make your canvas bigger. 

Now that the basics are out of the way - how do you add content?  Easy as pie!

On the right of your screen you will see  .  You simply choose the content style you want (YouTube, Google, Flickr, Website, etc) and search from within Edcanvas.  I'm going to search the Internet for the Fourth of July images (appropriate theme this week!).  I will click the G (Google Search) and type in Fourth of July.  Now I will choose an image, drag it and drop it onto my canvas!  EASY!  If I want to put a website on a tile I need to know the website first, then click on the globe and type the website (or paste) into the box.    Just like the image - I click, drag and drop.  I can add my own text or even create a quiz!  

When I am finished I simply share, or play, with whoever I want to view it!  The wonderful developers at Edcanvas give us several ways to share:

   Happy creating! Fourth of July

ISTE 2013 Here I come!

In 24 hours I will be on a plane heading to San Antonio, TX!  This will be my 4th ISTE conference and I have to say that I am more excited this year than I have ever been!  I have an action packed few days.

Anyone that follows my blog and will be attending ISTE - don't miss the SIG Fair on Sunday!  I will be at the SIGMS table with some amazing women!  I have worked with these women virtually for over a year and I finally get to meet them face to face - how exciting!

This will also be my first time to be a presenter at ISTE - I have a BYOD session called Presentation 2.0.  Once my presentation is finished I will post all information here for those who didn't get to attend!

San Antonio - watch out.  There will be thousands of ed tech people swarming the Riverwalk!  Safe travels everyone!

Waiting

The past few days have brought quite a but of excitement for me.  I was asked to develop a new curriculum for a local university and have gotten several great opportunities through ISTE 2013!  I am so excited for the conference this year.  It is my first year to present for them so not only am I excited but nervous.

I am still waiting to hear about two opportunities I have applied for.  The waiting is torture?  I have wanted to to attend the Google Teacher Academy for years.  I was finally able to apply, let's hope all works out.

I was also contacted by a developer to meet and discuss their new product, Edcanvas.  I will be meeting with her at ISTE and have already checked out the program.  It is very similar to Glogster and I can already tell it is much easier to work with.  Look for my upcoming blog that will go into further detail on Edcanvas.

Summer is Here!

For most teachers and students it is summer break already.  Unfortunately (maybe) for my two youngest they are still in school.  My son will be graduating 8th grade one week from today.  That means - next Thursday I will officially have two in high school and a 7th grader.

Now - I am supposed to be on summer break, too.  However, I am continuing to work on many projects.  (I have two conferences to prepare for.)  The most rewarding project of all is my son's 8th grade graduation video.  The parents of our class have trusted me to make this video.  Most of these kids have been together since kindergarten.  My son and his three best friends have been together much longer.  Ryan met these three boys when he was 3 years old.  This is quite an emotional time for me and for them because they will be going in different directions; two to one high school, two to another (each together though).  These boys have been through alot.  When they were 5 one of the boys lost their mother to breast cancer.  Although sad it does put a special bond between the four of them that I think we last a lifetime; even though they are highly competitive and have definitely had their arguments.

I'm so thankful I am able to put my technology training to work for these special kids - using iMovie!  Trust me, I have hundreds and hundreds of pictures of them to put in.  The hardest part is making two movies.  One has to be a shorten version to be viewed during graduation Mass - the other, well, it may take us all night to watch.  Like I said - the class has been together a long time; but these four boys have been together even longer.  They have played every sport together with their dads coaching most.

Not only has my son made lifelong friends but I have to with their parents.  I'm going to share the movie I made for their graduation Mass (none of the parents know about my blog so I know they won't see this! haha).  I hope you will see their bond through this video!  I can't wait to finish the extended version because I have some amazing pictures.  The four boys that have been together the longest - well, three of them have 2 sisters and one has 1 sister - and all the sisters dance or did dance!  Talk about some good pictures!