Lots of cool sites out there, but here are 12 websites that can get you started applying Ed Tech in the classroom, or small businesses.

From creating documents, alternates to YouTube to edublogs, check these resources.

Tech Integration in the Classroom

With so many resources out there, it’s hard to decide what’s really useful. Here’s some updated links that provide a wide variety of writing resources.

LInk to: Writing Workshop.

Good luck, and let me know of others that may be helpful.

Don Johnston just announced partnering with Intel to distribute the new Intel Reader. The reader allows over 55 million people having trouble reading to convert printed text to digital text.

“The Intel Reader features a unique design that combines a high-resolution camera with the power of an Intel® Atom™ processor to convert printed text to digital text and read it aloud to the user. This portable device can take pictures of any printed material including textbooks, novels, letters, magazines, or even bus schedules and automatically converts it into accessible digital formats. The device also highlights each word on its built-in LCD display.”

Product features include:
A high-resolution camera with flash for capturing text in low light

Priced at $1,499 the Intel reader is available at Don Johnston, or contact 800.999.4660.

What’s Internet Public Library?
If you’re looking for a trusted research source, consider the Internet Public Library. Since 1995, IPL.org has provided vetted resources for students, teachers, librarians, and academia. It is a public learning technology service sponsored by University of Michigan’s School of Information, and Drexel University’s College of Information Science & Technology.

“To date, thousands of students have been involved in designing, building, creating and maintaining the IPL and its various services. In addition, hundreds of volunteer librarians throughout the world have been involved remotely, answering reference questions in our Ask a Question service. It is through the efforts of these students and volunteers that the IPL continues to thrive to this day.”

To access, click on Internet Public Library.

Adobe Offers More Than Great Software
Every day, new media products come online providing students and teachers different tools to excel. When paper and pencils were introduced, these tools were a breakthrough in technology. Now, today’s schools incorporate computers and technology, yet it can be difficult to keep up with all the changes. Young minds absorb new media technology as if they were born with the skills. Teachers are expected to understand, and incorporate e-Learning solutions in various lesson plans, but trying to find the time for training, teaching and developing material is….well, time consuming!

Adobe’s Digital School Collection offers a cornucopia of teacher resources to incorporate digital media into daily classroom curriculum. Adobe listens to administrative staff, students, parents and teachers, integrating their requests to develop numerous online activities, lessons, projects and tutorial services.

The Adobe Digital School Collection includes the following software product line:

• Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 – edits, enhances, crops, organizes and share images
• Adobe Premeire Elements 8 – edit and share video
• Adobe Soundbooth CS4 – edit audio, prepare podcasts, customize music, add sound effects
• Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro – simplifies creating and sharing documents, graphs, media rich lessons, assignments and project material
• Adobe Contribute CS4 – add content, images, edit web content

What’s Offered in the Collection
Let’s say you want to develop a lesson plan, or project that incorporates digital storytelling using storyboard techniques, video clips, digital photography, podcasting and publishing the finished results on a website.  Where do you begin?  What lesson strand are you following?  Is this project to be cross curriculum and collaborated by teamwork, shared by exporting to other classes or schools, or constructed on different computers? Whether teaching elementary school subjects, middle school history or high school media classes Adobe offers some great resources.

First, the full product line (Adobe Photoshop Elements 8, Premiere Elements 9, Soundbooth CS4, Acrobat 9 Pro, Contribute CS4) is $149 for volume licensing, a definite savings over purchasing individual software programs.   Second, there are numerous, detailed lesson plans prepared by teachers and specialists that demonstrate how to use these programs, as well as incorporation into classroom curriculum.  Additional content is provided in Photoshop Elements 8 and Premiere Elements 9. Students (and teachers) learn by collaborating, sharing knowledge, teamwork, problem solving and discussion.

Here are samples of prepared lesson plans at in math, science, language arts, history/social studies, visual and performing arts at the Adobe Teacher Resources:

• Geometric Concepts (ages 8-10)
• Patterns (ages 6-8)
• Dolch Word Practice (ages 5-7)
• Volcano Eruption (ages 9-13)
• Visual Dictionary (ages 11-17)
• Pioneers of Music (ages 11-17)
• A Person in Time Online (ages 11-17)

Each lesson provides supporting guides (U.S. and British version), sample final project, media assets or website templates.

And There’s More Free Support
Now, you’ve found a lesson plan that you can incorporate, or follow to use for a similar project. Yet, what if additional assistance is required? No problem.
Click on K-12 Teachers and Administrators to explore online events, cross curricular resources (digital storytelling, teacher resources, workshops, e-portfolios and assessments). Adobe TV offers basic to advanced lessons for free. Many shows are offered especially for Adobe Digital School Collection. Click on Channels to view a variety of tutorials.

The Adobe Education Leaders blog shares thoughts and advice from Adobe Education Leaders.

And if that’s not enough, students and teachers can access e-portfolio workshops and support from Atomic Learning . For podcasting, Adobe has collaborated with Podbean.com for free podcasting.

As I keep perusing Adobe’s Digital School Collection, resources, I keep uncovering additional online, or pdf material. When purchasing the Digital School Collection, schools and teachers receive a Teacher Resource CD highlighting many of these resources:

• Lesson Plans
• Digital Portfolio
• Technical Guides
• Tips and Tricks
• Image and Video Gallery
• Teaching Process and Assessment

Netbooks are supported by Photoshop Elements 8, and Adobe is working on developing additional application to support netbooks.

To reach 21st century students, teachers have to apply 21st skills. And Adobe delivers these skills and more.  No teacher left behind is Adobe’s motto.

System Requirements: Windows XP; check individual software programs for additional system requirements
Contact: Adobe Education K-12
Cost: Volume licensing at $149 US.

Offering Current Events, Articles, Photos & Videos As Lessons
The New York Times offers free educational material using current news.

“Our mission is to offer rich and imaginative materials for teaching and learning using New York Times content.”

The NY Times offers:

Lessons are planned by multiple categories.

Learn more at New York Times Learning.  And it’s free!

Co:Writer & Email Help Autistic Students & Beginning Writers

Don Johnston produces an interesting software called Co:Writer. I reviewed this product earlier (Solo Literacy Suite). From  a recent email, the company rep informed me how Co:Writer assists autistic students and beginning writers with word recognition.  It all comes together through the email with email pen pals, or “epals”.

Students Helping Students
Speech and language pathologist Barb Wollak, and Dr. David Koppenhaver at Appalachian University, NC developed a program using Co:Writer to improve word recognition and communication skills for autistic children.   Autistic students at Highland Park  and Appalachian college students exchange messages through email.

Ms. Wollak and Dr. Koppenhaver use an assistive technology word prediction tool (Co:Writer) that aids students with disabilities to communicate through real-life events.  Special needs students exchange messages with college students studying to be teachers. Barb Wollak teaches teens with special needs, including students with autism and cognitive learning disabilities.  Using the word prediction tool withing Co:Writer,  students can communicate through email and a blog.

Here is a link to this program: Wollak Epal Program

Autistic students learn to communicate, and respond in real life scenarios. College students benefit by developing teaching skills and working with special needs students. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.

Systems Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4, Windows XP
Contact: donjohnston.com
Cost: Single Computer License ($325 per computer); Multiple Computer License ($81.25 to $227.50 per computer)