Adrian Jarratt's Weblog

Cueprompter - The online teleprompter

2008-11-12T13:36:00.004Z

One of the problems when creating interesting podcasts is creating a script that is easy to follow and read. I have discovered this free service that enables you to create an easy to read script that appears like an autocue:

CuePrompter is a free teleprompter/autocue service. Your browser works like a teleprompter -no extra software needed.Bookmark this site and come again when ever you need teleprompter services. Free for any use (both commercial and non-commercial).

Fuse Creator

2008-10-10T15:44:00.004+01:00

Want to create high-quality, interactive activities for your students, but don't have a degree in computer programming? Well, now you don't need one.
Fuse Creator will help you to create engaging interactive content, quickly and easily, which you can use over and over on your school or personal computers, websites and VLEs.

Game Maker

2008-10-10T15:33:00.004+01:00

Do you want to develop computer games without spending countless hours learning how to become a programmer? Game Maker allows you to make exciting computer games, without the need to write a single line of code.
Using easy to learn drag-and-drop actions, you can create professional looking games within very little time. There is a built-in programming language, for more experienced users, which gives you the full flexibility of creating games with Game Maker. Game Maker is available free of charge. Making games with Game Maker is a lot of fun.

I-Tech's Virtual Keyboard

2008-09-22T15:51:00.003+01:00

This device will save space on your desktop and enable you to type into small mobile devices with a reasonable sized keyboard.
In the size of a Zipo lighter and in an outer spaced "enterprise" style, it uses a laser beam to generate a full-size perfectly operating laser keyboard that smoothly connects to MAC's, Smart Phones, the new Blackberry and Any kind of PC and Most of the handheld devices (PDA's, tablet PC's).

Jing

2008-09-22T15:41:00.004+01:00

The concept of Jing is the always-ready program that instantly captures and shares images and video…from your computer to anywhere.

A really good resource for developing online environments, this web application can be used to capture anything on your PC screen or record video and upload it to the web.

Bubbl.Us - Free Mindmapping Software

2008-09-22T15:30:00.004+01:00

Bubbl.us
Excellent and free mindmapping software. Mindmaps can be created, shared and printed from this online web application.

Learn Scratch

2008-07-24T06:25:00.002+01:00

“As more and more people start using Scratch, there is a great need for more tutorials and support materials. This site is a great example of how members of the Scratch community can contribute back to the community."
Mitchel Resnick, Director of the Lifelong Kindergarten Research Group and the Scratch Team, MIT.

Animator vs Animation

2008-06-22T22:34:00.002+01:00

A fun animation - very inspiring for students wanting to produce their own Pivot Stickfigure Animator animations.

Click here to view the animation

Copyright and Creative Commons

2008-06-04T14:25:00.006+01:00

Get Creative - Video
This is a an informative video about how Creative Commons copyright works and how it enables people to give permission for their work to be shared by others without infringement of copyright law.

Click on the Creative commons image to find out more:

Stats4Schools

2008-06-04T08:38:00.004+01:00

Looking for large data sets? Stats4schools is managed by the independent Offcie for National Statistics and contains thousands of records and data. Following the launch of the NS Renewed Framework for ICT and the change of emphasis in some of the Programmes of Study, in particular "Exploring Ideas and manipulating information"- "manipulating and processing large quantities of data efficiently" ICT teachers are starting to look for a source of "large data sets", the "stats4schools" site is an excellent place to start!

TxtTools

2008-04-05T08:03:00.005+01:00

txttools - SMS communication for education, health and business. I saw this demonstrated by Stephen Heppell at a conference recently - very cool!

Photosoup

2008-03-03T16:24:00.004Z

PhotoSoup is a visual word puzzle generator that allows users to create word search puzzles with tag-photo pairs taken from Flickr. The tag is hidden in the puzzle, and only the associated photo is shown as a clue. The objective is to find all hidden tags in the puzzle before you run out of time.

Splashup - Online Photo Editing

2008-02-05T18:18:00.002Z

Splashup, formerly Fauxto, is a powerful editing tool and photo manager. With all the features professionals use and novices want, it's easy to use, works in real-time and allows you to edit many images at once. Splashup runs in all browsers, integrates seamlessly with top photosharing sites, and even has its own file format so you can save your work in progress.
Great for anyone who wants to edit images but doesn't have expensive image manipulation software on their PC - access to the Internet required!

Bebo Safety

2008-02-01T11:54:00.001Z

Bebo Safety is designed to help educate young people, parents and teachers about the safe and positive use of Bebo.

http://www.bebo.com/Safety.jsp

This site is an excellent resource for teaching e-safety. It provides links to a wide variety of resources including vidoes that seek to address many of the issues around safe use of the Internet:
CyberBullying
Personal Data
Uploading/Sharing Content Safely

Ironically Bebo websites are often on the list of banned websites inside school so you may not be able to view these resources unless you are on a computer outside a school network. Not very helpful I know but it does illustrate why, if teachers are going to use these motivating and engaging tools like Bebo, e-safety needs to be addressed in school!

Hyperwords

2008-01-19T13:38:00.001Z

Hyperwords is a small (free) software application that will make any text viewed in a web browser interactive. Select any word on any page and choose a command; search, translate, reference, email, look up on a map etc. A very useful application but currently only availabe for Firefox and Flock with an IE version likely to be availabe later in the year. Have a look: http://www.hyperwords.net/

Stone UMPC

2008-01-16T08:35:00.002Z

Stone UMPC
Originally uploaded by landhere

I saw this device for the first time at BETT 08. The Stone UMPC is a small laptop with a design that mirrors the Asus Eee PC and RM miniBook, and adds the killer feature of Bluetooth connectivity. It is a little more expensive than the Eee PC but has more functionality.
Stone Computers

Hand-held Keyboard with SMS Text Translation and Predictive text software

2008-01-16T08:07:00.001Z

Introducing cre8txt keyboard from cre8txt limited. This keyboard is suitable for people who have already learnt to enter text on their mobile phones and want the same speed and experience when writing on a computer.
This is an excellent device for typing fast onto a computer, utilising SMS abbreviations and the advanced word prediction tool you can really achieve remarkable speeds with the cre8txt keyboard.
To find out more about it Click Here

ICT BETT Show, Olympia 2008

2008-01-16T01:06:00.001Z

Another BETT show has been and gone at Kensington Olympia. Have a look at what has caught my eye this year at the show. My video features clips of new mobile technology such as the iPod Touch, Asus Minibook and Interactive Whiteboard Hardware. I also have clips of new robotic technology, a wide range of visualisers and electronic voting systems. To compare it with last year's show have a look at my BETT Show 2007 on YouTube post.

If you have never been to BETT then I hope this gives you a flavour of what it is like and what you are likely to find there. Visit the Bett Show website to find out more about the event and register for 2009!

Free Control Software - Crocodile ICT Player

2007-12-06T17:48:00.001Z

The Crocodile ICT Player lets you create and modify sequences of flowchart instructions, which can control on-screen characters or animations.
Based on our programming and control software Crocodile ICT, you can use it either on a whiteboard, or on individual computers.
The best thing, though, is this: the Crocodile ICT Player is completely free, and once you've got it, it's yours to keep.
Simply register and then download it from here:
http://www.crocodile-clips.com/ict/

What we have all been waiting for

2007-11-11T11:56:00.001Z

The Asus Eee PC
At last! A computer that is affordable and appears robust enough to provide pupils with good access to technology:

Have a look here:

http://eeepc.asus.com/global/

Scratch

2007-07-12T18:58:00.001+01:00

Scratch is a new programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art -- and share your creations on the web.

Scratch is designed to help young people (ages 8 and up) develop 21st century learning skills. As they create Scratch projects, young people learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the process of design.
This downloadable web tool has huge educational potential and offers fun ways to also teach programming and control.

GapMinder

2007-06-25T12:30:00.002+01:00

What is GapMinder?
Gapminder is a non-profit venture developing information technology for provision of free statistics in new visual and animated ways. Goal: enable you to make sense of the world by having fun with statistics. Fun with statistics? It is true, have a look!
Gapminder’s Trendalyzer software unveils the beauty of statistics by converting boring numbers into enjoyable interactive animations.
View the online help
Search statistics through Google and watch it move with Gapminder. Google Subscribed Links makes it possible to search deep into Gapminder's moving graphs visualizing world development. Spring 2006.
Subscribe
Go straight to the graph

Netvibes

2007-06-19T10:10:00.001+01:00

Re-mix the web. This Web 2.0 tool enables you to create your own website or homepages and create RSS feeds and links to content you are interested in. To access your pages you need to log in.

Classroom 2.0

2007-06-18T09:00:00.001+01:00

Classroom 2.0. Classroom 2.0, created by Steve Hargadon, is a social networking site, devoted to those interested in the practical application of computer technology (especially Web 2.0) in the classroom and in their own professional development. Especially we hope that those who feel they are “beginners” will find this a comfortable place to start being a part of the community dialog and to learn more.’

Created using the Social Networking site Ning

Flickrvision

2007-05-22T00:05:00.001+01:00

Interesting resource. View images from flickr as they are uploaded on a world Google map. Also try twittervision to see what people are discussing around the world.