Screencasting Tools for Making Video Tutorials

Information taken directly from:  http://www.technologybitsbytesnibbles.info/

Freescreencast

Free software that lets you record your screen, capture audio, control the cursor, and export to FLV format. You can then upload to FreeScreencast.com  for free hosting (no file size or resolution limits) and sharing.

Screentoaster

ScreenToaster is a free web-based screen recorder designed to capture your screen activity, audio and webcam images in real-time then publish and share your video in blogs and websites.ScreenToaster works in all browsers and doesn’t require any download so that you can use it anywhere, anytime.

Screencast O matic

It’s like an online tool which you don’t have to download anything.You just click the Create Button and a box appears which works with Java and you adjust the screen area to start recording as you see in the below screen shot.you can send the recorded file directly to through hosting.

Screen jelly

A free web-based utility that lets you record your screen and audio for up to three minutes, then send it out to Twitter or in an email.

Screenr

A free web-based tool for Windows or Mac that lets you create screencasts without installing any software. Your screencast is published in high-definition Flash format, and can be shared on Twitter, YouTube or anywhere else on the web. Screenr is made by Articulate, the makers of Articulate Studio.

Jing

Free simplified screen recording software for Mac and Windows machines that allows users to quickly record videos (including audio) from a window or region on their desktop, including the mouse, scroll movements and clicks on websites or applications. You can record up to five minutes. Jing is a product of TechSmith, the makers of Camtasia Studio

100 Google Tricks for Teachers

Education Article :: 100 Google

NewsMania - The News Trivia Game as Fresh as Today's Headlines

NewsMania - The News Trivia Game as Fresh as Today's Headlines

Sketchcast

About - Sketchcast.com: "Sketchcasting is a new way to communicate something online by recording a sketch, optionally with your voice speaking. Any sketch can then be embedded on your blog/ homepage for people to play-back, and you can also point people to your sketchcast channel here (or let them subscribe to your sketchcast RSS feed)."

What can I use sketchcasting for?

You can just let your ideas flow. Here are some examples, but don't let them restrict your creativity!

* Create a tutorial explaining how boomerangs work (and why they don't always return)
* Draw a doodle of your ex
* Explain a math formula
* Create a cartoon (you can use the eraser tool to make place for several panels of the cartoon)
* Get a partner and explain a concept together... voice recording doesn't have to be used by only one person!
* Write a love letter with lots of sketching inbetween
* Create an online Chinese course and explain Pinyin writing
* Create a masterpiece and show others how to draw
* Explain baseball to Europeans... or explain soccer to Americans!
* Create a riddle for kids: draw something and the kid has to guess while you're drawing
* Draw a manga action scene
* and much more...

ManyBooks

ManyBooks provides free ebooks for your PDA, iPod or eBook Reader. You can randomly browse for a ebook through the most popular titles, recommendations or recent reviews for visitors. There are thousands of eBooks available here.

Remember The Milk

Remember The Milk is the best way to manage your tasks online. With Remember The Milk, you no longer have to write your to-do lists on sticky notes, whiteboards, random scraps of paper, or the back of your hand.

Stupeflix

Turn your pictures, videos, and text into professional videos. Create nice video slideshow presentations from a collection of media, and add a soundtrack.

360 Cities

360 Cities contains a large collection of panoramic images from all over the world. Select your city, and view all the possible explorable panoramas on the map.

Son of Citation Machine

Son of Citation Machine helps students and professional researchers properly credit the information they use. Its primary goal is to make it so easy for student researchers to cite their information sources, that there is virtually no reason not to.

ccMixter

ccMixter is a community music site featuring remixes licensed under Creative Commons where you can listen to, sample, mash-up, or interact with music in whatever way you want. This is great material for podcasting. If you're into sampling, remixing and mash-ups grab the sample packs and a cappellas for download and you can upload your version back into ccMixter, for others to enjoy and re-sample.

Free e-Books

Free-eBooks is an online source for free ebook downloads, ebook resources and ebook authors. Besides free ebooks, you also download free magazines or submit your own ebook. You need to become a Free-eBooks member to access their library. Registration is free. 

FotoFlexer

FotoFlexer is a powerful online image editor. You can import photographs from your desktop, or from other sites that you may use, so you don't have to upload them again. You can add different effects, shapes, and use FotoFlexer's other tools.

School Wax tv

SchoolWAX TV was designed with schools, students, teachers, and parents in mind. You will only find educator approved videos on SchoolWAX TV so everyone can learn in a safe and comfortable environment. SchoolWAX TV is the perfect resource for students who are working on their homework or just need a little extra help on any given subject. Teachers can use the animations and videos to capture their students' attention and enrich classroom lessons!

tXtBlaster

tXtBlaster.com

tXtBlaster is a free, instant, and mobile txt messaging tool built specifically to help groups stay connected.

tXtBlaster makes it easy for groups to notify members of last minute events and updates – or simply stay in touch.

• Group TXT messaging via mobile phone or the web
• No charge to use tXtBlaster
• Full featured admin tools
• Unlimited number of groups, members, and messages
• 100% Spam Free

The Education Podcast Network

The Education Podcast Network | A Landmark Project

Listen to podcasts over various topics. Such as resume building, job interview, dance, health, etc.

VoiceThread

VoiceThread - Group conversations around images, documents, and videos

Create your own

Browse voice threads that are already created.  You can also find tutorials, etc. LOVE THIS TOOL!!

bubbl.us

bubblus - is a simple and free web application that lets you brainstorm online.

Zoho

Zoho

"Zoho provides a wide, integrated portfolio of rich online applications for businesses. With more than 20 different applications spanning Collaboration , Business and Productivity applications, Zoho helps businesses and organizations get work done. Zoho's applications are delivered over the internet, requiring nothing but a browser.

Prezi

Prezi is a great tool for creating engaging presentations in a different style than PowerPoint. Featured here is a nice Prezi about some Web 2.0 tools, and the philosophies behind them. It also demonstrates good Prezi design.

Flowers2Mail

Send that special someone a virtual bouquet of flowers!

Click here to visit website

Plurk

Plurk.com

Vocaroo

Vocarroo is a voice recording service.

Random Name Picker

Let the computer randomly choose a student's name!

Basic Instructions:
1. Go to http://classtools.net/education-games-php/fruit_machine/.
2. Enter your names.
3. Click the embed button in the bottom right corner. (Looks like a wheel.)
4. Copy the provided code and paste it into your blog post.

Example:
Click the Fruit Machine or the Typewriter button to randomly choose a student name:

Google Search Tips

Topic Oil Spill - Search for Images, videos, News, Blogs, etc.

Google Tips and Tricks

Tips and Tricks (per Tammy Worcester)

• Calculator - type a calculation (2 + 5 * 2 - 1/2) and press Enter
• Conversion Tool
• Be sure to use the word "in"
• 1 mile in feet
• 1 cup in tablespoons
• 100 dollars in euros
• 180 c in f

• Dictionary
• Define:  folksomanies

• Weather
• Weather in Cancun, MX

LiveBinders

LiveBinders is one tool that certainly is gaining teacher popularity this summer. For those moments when teachers need to share a set of links, create a webquest, Internet scavenger hunt, or content related sites with parents, this tool is the perfect ticket.

Photo Editing

A great photo editing tool is a must for teachers and I recommend Aviary, LunaPic, Picnik, or BeFunky with some being simpler than others, but all having unique features. Explore all the tools and choose the best option for your skill level.

Social Bookmarking Sites

Delicious or Diigo are online bookmarking networks teachers need. Inevitably a wonderful link is shared with us that we think, “Oh, I know I’ll use that later” and then we forget what it was. Using one of these resources lets teachers save bookmarks in a webspace and allows networking.

Dropbox

Dropbox  is a 2 GB e-vault tool that allows teachers to drop files in an online folder and sync it with multiple computers. For example, I might create a file on my MacBook at school, move it into my Dropbox folder and then open it up on my Dell at home. No jump drives to lose or accidentally wash and no email files that are too large to send. Plus, as an added bonus, I can create collaborative folders in Dropbox to share with partner teachers. Love it!

Edmodo

Edmodo – Social networking tool for within a classroom or amongst all the teachers in a building. It’s simply easier to have files, links, and discussions held in one location. I am going to encourage our principal to set up a group in Edmodo for all building communications which can reduce the number of papers in teacher inboxes significantly.

Webspiration

Use Webspiration to map out ideas, organize with outlines and collaborate online with teams or colleagues. Webspiration unleashes your creativity, strengthens organizational skills, and transforms your ideas and information into knowledge.

Dabbleboard

Bighugelabs

Visit bighugelabs

Utilize this website for pictures for your presentations.

Zamzar

Zamzar  Have you ever wanted to convert a file? Have you ever wanted to save a document as a .pdf or make changes on .pdf documents? This online tool allows you to convert files to different formats, including conversion of .pdf files to Word documents and Word to .pdfs. You can also convert music, video, and photo files to different formats of your choice. This is a VERY useful tool. Select the file to import, the change to be made, and receive a file in the new format at your email address after registration. The documents are editable after conversion. Images will not be as "editable" as text. The text comes in within a text box, but can be edited.

tinyurl

Are you sick of posting URLs in emails only to have it break when sent causing the recipient to have to cut and paste it back together? Then you've come to the right place. By entering in a URL in the text field below, we will create a tiny URL that will not break in email postings and never expires. 

Visit tinyurl.com

JogtheWeb

Jogtheweb.com

Great research tool! Share bookmarks for an assignment.

Studystack

Create flashcards or study tools!  Studystack.com

Tokbox

Video Chat!

Tokbox.com

Weebly

Create a free website & blog

Visit Weebly.com

Tinychat

Create a chat room! Just share the link of the room with whomever you want to join your chat room. Click here

Wallwisher

Wallwisher.com :: Words that stick

Wallwisher is an online notice board maker.

No registration required - click, write, post - that's it!

iGoogle

Customize your Google homepage by adding a theme and gadgets.  You can switch back and forth from iGoogle to Classic view.

Glogster

Glogster.com
Create an online poster!

bibme

bibme.org

Mashable

Mashable.com

A Internet site that discusses the latest technology/social media news stories.  The latest social media news on topics such as:  Twitter, Foursquare, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Myspace.

Mashable also guidebooks on Twitter and Facebook.

Histats

On this website you can create a counter to add to your blog, which tracks your visitors.  You must create an account on Histats.com

To see my HiStats counter - scroll down to the bottom of of this blog.

To read more about the features of Histats - click below.

iclippy

iClippy is an online clipboard where you can store your images/screen shots.

You must install iClippy to utilize its features:

With iClippy you can capture from a screen, scanner, camera, or browser.

Keep class or meeting notes organized
Keep online clips organized
Store and organize business cards and receipts
Publish to social networking sites
Quickly grab an area of the screen
Communicate visually with image shots
Monitor other PC's remotely
Smudge personal information online before sharing

Basic Plan
Stores 100 images
1000 transfers a month


You can use your clips in twitter, instant messaging, display in online photoframe, or for a reference.

iClippy blog

Meez

Meez is an online website where you can create a 3-D, animated avatar. Customize your avatar with hair, clothing, accessories, gadgets and even animation - to express/represent yourself. I created an avatar using a computer and one cooking!  This is a very FUN website to create an animated avatar.  I had fun choosing hair, clothing and playing with all the animations.  You do recieve 2000 points when you save your avatar.   To earn points you may actually pay for them or play games to earn coins and cash!  You also receive gifts - which are worth points!  Visit your meez page daily and click Daily Boost - and you will receive points.

You can use your Meez just about anywhere you can use a digital image. Here's a few examples:

• Instant Messaging
• Personal & Professional Web Pages
• Online Communities
• Blogs
• Bulletin Boards
• Forums
• Email

Meez is the only online virtual playground for teens to create social and multimedia activities to share with friends. Meez is an online community that combines a social virtual world with social networking, gaming, sharing and more. In has an interactive environment, where users can express their personal taste by creating unique avatars and Meez Rooms with virtual goods. Meez is where teens get to share their own interests with one another, from fashion, music, videos and hobbies - nearly anything they love to do in real life - with friends, in a cool virtual hangout.

Information from meez.com:

Virtual World — Meez Nation is a virtual world, organized into various neighborhoods where teens can interact with other Meez users. Each 'hood contains different locales, public hangouts and custom-decorated Meez Rooms where users can chat, share music, watch videos, perform in dance contests or just be Meez. Active Meez users watch one million videos per day and typically spend at least an hour per visit to the popular Meez Nation.

Avatars — Meez core Avatar technology allows users to create a digital representation or identity that can be used throughout Meez Nation and exported to other social networks, virtual worlds, gaming sites, instant messaging platforms and mobile devices. Avatars can be customized with physical attributes, clothing, accessories, popular branded items and animations or actions. 

Coinz — Meez users can earn and spend virtual Coinz, the currency for Meez's virtual economy, to buy exclusive items such as clothing, hair styles, accessories, decorations for "Roomz," gifts for other Meez users and more.

Word Clouds

WHAT ARE WORD CLOUDS?


A word cloud is an attractive arrangement of randomly positioned words, where the most important words are bigger than the others.  Word clouds visually represent the frequency or importance of a word in a given text.   As you can see in President Obama's Inauguration speech that someone created a word cloud from.  Example:  President Obama's Inauguration Speech Created from Wordle

Created on Wordle

Word clouds can be used for educational and fun purposes.  You can place them on your blog, website, social networking site.  You can also print them automatically onto items: a great idea for making custom gifts - printing on T-shirts.   They are a fantastic tool to summarize large documents (reports, speeches, questionnaires, etc), as well as websites.

There are various websites available on the Internet to create word clouds.  Word clouds can be created from sentences, whole documents, web addresses and on some websites even from tables.

Read article on ways to utilize a word cloud:  Click Here 

More ideas for the classroom:  Click Here 

Word Cloud Websites

Wordle

Tagul

Tagexdo

TagCrowd

ToCloud

Textorizer

Text Tag Cloud

Image Chef

Worditout

ABCya Word Clouds

Text Type

 Text Type
A complete touch typing course suitable for all ages. Exercises start with the home keys and progress to typing sentences. Customizable options allow this activity to be used by learners with a visual impairment.

Talking Text Type
This activity has been specifically designed for those users with a visual impairment who also need speech feedback to access the exercises. When using the Practice Keyboard with Speech, the name of the key pressed is spoken. In the Talking Exercises, the user is prompted by speech to type each letter and hears spoken feedback for each key pressed.

Dushare

What it is: Dushare is an incredibly easy way to share files.  Dushare lets you transfer files via a web browser as fast as you can upload.  The site could not be easier to use, just pick your file, decide if you want it password protected to download, and then share the file.  Dushare requires NO login or registration, it really is simple to use!  While the transfer is in progress, you can chat with the person you are transferring the file to over Dushare.  File sharing just doesn’t get much easier than this!

How to integrate Dushare into your curriculum: Dushare is a great way to quickly share files with students, colleagues, or Twitter friends.  In a computer lab setting, quickly share a file with all of your students via url.  If they can access a website and have downloading privileges, they can access the file.  Students can use Dushare to quickly turn in work or send in work that needs a quick review.  Need to send something to a colleague but your work email limits the size of an attachment? Dushare can make sharing that file a breeze.  Dushare works when an IM transfer fails, it’s too big for email, or someone is blocked behind a firewall.  Share away!
Tips: Dushare doesn’t view chats or files, they just facilitate the transfer of files over a secure connection.  Dushare sets absolutely NO limits on file sizes of file types making it easy to send whatever you need to.

Tagxedo

You can use the app to create visually stunning word clouds like the one I embedded in this post by inserting words (e.g. speeches, news articles, letters, slogans, themes, and so on). You can do so by uploading a document, entering a URL or simply by pasting text into the appropriate field. Tagxedo will size words appropriately to highlight the frequencies of occurence within the body of text, leaving out small words like “is”, “are”, “do”, etc.

With just one click, you can rotate the cloud, modify its colors and font, and also alternate between themes and shapes as you please. You can even upload your own images and have the word cloud assume the shape of the image (e.g. Twitter).

Doorway Online

Doorway Online is a new collection of free learning activities provided by the Scottish Borders Council. The suite comprises highly accessible educational activities that learners will find easy to use independently. Each exercise has range of accessibility and difficulty options.

Click Here

FlowGram

FlowGram – a Web 2.0 tool that allows you to create interactive tours or tutorials by combining web pages, PowerPoint presentations, pictures and your voice, notes and highlights. The website provides examples and instructions on how to get started.  This would be perfect for students and teachers to use for class presentations or information they want to share with others.
http://www.flowgram.com/