General

I Want This Web Page to Run in the Background

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

Fluid is a Mac app that lets a Website act like an application. In other words if I want my attendance and grading software to stay open and not get closed with my browser, accidentally of course, I use Fluid to "create" an app for it. It's useful for any Website that you run frequently in the background.

http://fluidapp.com/

New Open Icons Library from Sourceforge

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

Sourceforge is looking for help with a new site for free icons to use. Check out http://openiconlibrary.sourceforge.net/

iCal Sharing

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

I was setting up the school calendar for next year and, since I really don't like duplication of effort, I wanted to make it so I could share it with others in my district. Long story, short.... I found instructions and a Website to post the calendar so that it can easily be published from iCal by one person and subscribed to by others. See this link to simple instructions.
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060614115754569

You should set up the Box.net account with an email address and password that you can give to others that are subscribing to the calendar. So far I haven't been able to share the calendar without the receiver having the login information.

Another Online Chat Service

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

Here's another online chatting service option. This one allows for mobile access also. Chatzy is very simple and allows you to send invitations using email addresses.

I've used one where you create your own URL for your room but I have a warning for you. Be sure you pick an unusual address for your URL if you use one of those! Let's just say if you use a URL with a persons name or something easy and somewhere in the world someone else tells their friends to meet at the same address, you may see more that you bargained for!

So, back to Chatzy! If your school allows students to have email addresses that they can access, you can have a discussion with your students or another classroom, professional, etc. for free.

http://www.chatzy.com/

College App

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

It's that time of year again when students are picking out colleges. There's an app for that! (I love that saying!) Check out the "College" app for iTouch. It lets you locate colleges by state, program, cost, and provides links for scholarship funds. Look for this app icon. Search for "Petersons College".

Thought Mapping, Made Even Easier

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

I'm in a workshop today and I have been intoduced to Bubbl.us. Really nice thought mapping site that you don't have to download anything for. Give it a try!

CMap Tools is also a very nice free option if you don't mind downloading the software.

Open Source, Not Closed Mind

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

It's Spring break and what am I doing? On my computer, of course! Here's a good site with discussion about open source use in education. It includes survey results regarding what schools are using.

http://www.netc.org/openoptions/

Tsunami and Earthquake Sites for Education

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

Given the recent events in Chile, here are some excellent sites for earthquake and tsunami education.

Tsunami and Earthquake Education Sites
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/ocean/visualizations/tsunami_other.html
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/geophysics/visualizations/earthquakes.html

Links to other schools with seismic instruments.
http://www.scieds.com/spinet/

Real Time Earthquake Reporting
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/

Live Tsunami Bouys
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/

You've Gotta Check Out This Site!

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

I just "surfed upon" a really awesome Website! There's been a lot of time spent putting these resources together for this wiki. if you're looking for a Web 2.0 tool, it's most likely here!

Joyce Valenza

Loading Open Office on a Mac

Written by Ellen Zimmerman

I created this tutorial to send to our ISS department so my students can keep up with what we are doing in class on Open Office this week. I thought I would share it with you just in case someone else can use it!