CamScanner - great app to scan paper docs using smartphone camera

CamScanner is a great app that I use quite often. The app is available for iOS and Android and the free version is very useful. The paid version, $4.99 on both platforms, adds some useful features, like uploading directly to Evernote. You get a 7 day trial of the paid version free, and can get an additional 60 day trial by sharing it on social networks.

The app allows you to take a picture of a paper document, crop/clear background/improve quality, and then save it as a PDF file. Take a picture of important documents, meeting agendas, whiteboards, and more and save them as PDF files for future reference and use. You can add tags to the files too, and search text in the scanned picture. You can then share the file to cloud services like Dropbox, Google Docs, Evernote, and more.

This app turns your smartphone into a scanner and document processor. Give it a try.

Google Play Store

Apple App Store

More Accessibility in Google Apps for disabilities

Google Accessibility is a collection of resources that Google has to make Google's products more accessible and usable by people with disabilities. Last year, Google added enhanced accessibility for Google Docs, Sites and Calendar, and continues to improve the features and resources for accessibility.

Other improvements to accessibility features of Google's many apps include more fixes in Google Calendar, adding Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to Google Drive, increased support for screen readers, new features in mobile apps like Gmail and Google Drive (iOS and Android) and more.

You can read more about all of the improvements and new features here on the Google Accessible Group.

You can also visit the Accessibility website, www.google.com/accessibility, to learn more.

These are great resources for teachers and students to use to help those with disabilities access information and resources.

Google Translate Android App has ability to translate words in a picture

Google Translate is a great app for translating written words and even supports translating spoken words (and it will speak it in the other language). This is a great resource for teachers and ESL/ELL learners. And, it's free.

There was a recent update to the Android app for Google Translate that makes it even more useful. You can now translate text in images using the smartphone's camera. Open Google Translate app, click the camera icon to take a picture, and then highlight what you want translated, and viola, translated. This is very useful for ESL/ELL students, as well as travelers. Some other updates include the ability to specify preferred dialects for speech input, instant, as-you-type translation similar to the Google Translate web interface, and improvements to the way Japanese characters are handled

Get the app in the Play Store.

Related:

Android Resources for Education

Google Resources for Education

Still some spots left for the free CT Day of Discovery this coming Saturday

The Discovery Educator Network Day of Discovery is a free educational conference being held this coming Saturday in Groton, CT.  This is going to be an interactive day of free professional development which will highlight creative ways to engage students and invigorate your curriculum using the latest 21st century tools.

There is NO COST to you to attend this event.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided as well.
There will be some great prizes and give-away's also.

Day of Discovery

Date: Saturday, September 22, 2012

Time: 8:30AM – 3:00PM (Registration closes at 9:00AM)

Location: Fitch High School

101 Groton Long Point Road

Groton, CT 06340

Cost: FREE! Breakfast & lunch are provided.

Flyer: https://discovery.box.com/s/f47d4183a0de0b29a196

Link to Register: http://links.discoveryeducation.com/fallnedod

Google Course Builder - create your own online courses

Google Course Builder is a new resource from Google that allows you to create your own online courses. Google used it to create their Power Searching with Google online course. It has all of the software and instructions for creating an online course. Your course can contain lesson materials, student activities, and assessments. There are also instructions for integrating other Google products into your course.

The course builder does require some knowledge of HTML and JavaScript, but you can learn that online too. The site has tons of resources to help you build your course and they have Google Hangouts to help you with experts you can ask for help. The instructions are well written and step-by-step and there are checklists and timeframes to help.

This could be a great way for teachers, or schools/districts, to build their own online courses.

citelighter - Store, organize, and share your education and research for free

Citelighter is a free tool that helps you to do research online and capture your research notes easier. Using a toolbar in your browser, you can easily clip the important information and notes and then save it all to your account. You can organize it and even format a bibliography. It is being touted as "Evernote for Education". While it can clip and organize your research like Evernote, it adds the bibliography function.

You can highlight and save your notes, instead of cutting and pasting, and then simply organize your ntoes in the drop down window from the toolbar. You can even add your own notes and comments right with your research.

This is a great tool for anyone doing research online. Check it out. http://www.citelighter.com/

K-12 Blueprint site updated - resources for planning and implementing EdTech

This week, Tech & Learning and Intel released their improve K-12 Blueprint web site. The site has resources for educators about planning and implementing technology initiatives.

The site has resources about one-to-one programs, BYOD, digital content, reviews about technology, success stories and case studies, tips and ideas, webinars, educational technology news, and much more. This is a great resource for teachers, and especially for educational technology specialists, managers, directors, CIO's, and others that plan and implement technology projects.

K-12 Blueprint offers resources for education leaders involved in planning and implementing technology initiatives. Whether you are launching a one-to-one or BYO program, moving from print textbooks to digital content, revamping the curriculum to improve STEM learning, rethinking assessment, or embarking on (or continuing to support) any other ambitious technology-supported initiative, Intel’s Blueprint model can help.
The K-12 Blueprint model emphasizes several key elements for building effective and impactful technology initiatives. Click on any of the elements below to learn more and to access relevant articles, news items and resources:
LeadershipPolicyCurriculum and AssessmentFundingInfrastructureProfessional DevelopmentResults

Tech & Learning is a great, free, resource for educators also. You can subscribe to the free magazine and use the site. There are educator blogs, articles on educational technology, and much more.