I recently came Show Document, a nifty net platform that can be used to facilitate collaborative online meetings. The product features numerous features that can be used together or one at a time. The interactive services you can take advantage of while using this service include the following:

• shared files capability – work with colleagues on any document including PDF, Word, Power Point, jpg files
• an interactive whiteboard – during a web meeting users can write and draw images on the whiteboard
• a shared text editor – an advanced online text editor allow users to work together during the web meeting on text files and save the files on their workstation afterword
• YouTube sharing capability – to share a video during a meeting open the Interactive Whiteboard; then, open a new tab and select Share YouTube video. You can control what the other user(s) see as you pause and draw on the video
• Google map sharing – Begin a net meeting by clicking on Interactive Whiteboard and open a new tab and select Share Google Map
• the ability to share a web page – a user can pull up a web page to share with other users during a meeting

Registration is not required, but is recommended. Once you register for a Show Document account you will be able to save documents you plan to use during an online meeting (think…online storage) and access your files from anywhere. Registered users also have access to a dedicated Net Meeting room address that can be shared with others. A nice bonus…you can upload a document and convert it to a .pdf file.

I found this application intuitive, quick in response time (I have a high-speed Internet connection), and liked the interface. The more I play with this application the more I like it. However, I will admit that I did not have an opportunity to collaborate with anyone while I reviewed and explored the application. Here is a screenshot of the invitation screen that appears when you first start a meeting…

I wonder if you could use this application if you had a student who was absent, but still capable of participating in class. A teacher could actually upload his/her material and use this application like a remote whiteboard. Then, the absent student could participate, download notes from the session, etc. It would also be an opportunity to explore if you had students who need a scribe. A teacher could open the whiteboard and write all notes using the computer and then save the notes to .pdf format and/or email them to the student. I can see where this application could also be used for remote parent conferencing. Check out the application and share your ideas for online collaboration using the comment link below. It’s really hard to believe this marvelous application is FREE!

I have lost a lot of family members in recent years, so holidays can be bittersweet. I miss the individuals who used to gather with us to celebrate, but cherish the memories of a family that loved to get together and share good times. One of my favorite Fourth of July memories…

I was that awkward age of 11 (maybe 12) and my grandparents came to the house to celebrate the Fourth of July. Grandpa was a Kodak photographer and had smuggled sparklers over the border following a photo shoot in Canada. The night was ink black and we ran like banshees in the back yard weaving our sparklers as we created miniature fireworks for all who watched. I recently came across a photograph of myself running through the yard with the sparklers. When the photo was taken I felt beautiful, but the photo does not reflect those inner feelings…my hair was askew and I was wearing geeky glasses…an awkward pre-teen for sure. That night Grandpa taught me where the big dipper was. I still feel like a carefree child full of joy and delight whenever I look up in the skies and see the big dipper.

I can’t share sparklers online, but I have embedded a fireworks widget…click in the skies below as you think back to some of your own Fourth of July joys.

As I researched the Big Dipper I also came across this lovely Flickr photo featuring the Big Dipper and coupled it with a favorite quote (the photo is a bit dark…click on the image to see the larger version). Please consider this my feeble attempt to share the big dipper via words and images and join me in thanking Flickr user joiseyshowaa for sharing the photograph.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

I’m willing to bet you don’t tell your children or your students, “I want you to create a scene,” very often. After you review some of the sources I am sharing today you may find yourself encouraging your youngsters to create scenes on a daily basis. Here are a few curriculum ideas that might apply…

• Create a scene and write or tell a story
• Use different objects in a scene to create patterns
• Help develop memorization skills. Project a scene you have created and then give students an opportunity to re-create the scene.
• Create a scene and print it; revise the scene and print it again. Use the two printouts to see if students can identify the differences between the two images (compare and contrast skills) You could also project the two images on your SMARTboard so students can work together to identify differences.
• Project these sites on your SMARTboards (interactive white boards) and invite students to take turns coming up to “create a scene.”
• Print images for greeting cards, stationary, and story-starters.
• Older students could use the images to create stop motion animations.
• Use the Images to accompany math word problems (especially the shopping scenes).

I’m sure you will think of many other ways you can use these scene-makers for learning props. Please feel free to share your ideas using the comment link at the bottom of the post. Enjoy these scene-makers as you help students develop digital spatial and detail-oriented literacy skills. None of the resources I am sharing in this post have social elements (no chat rooms, etc.), though they are pretty embedded with advertising.

I have posted an image below to give you an ever so brief tutorial on how to get started using these site generators, as I had a bit of trouble initially locating the appropriate prop buttons. Once you click on the prop button and see images appear, you need to click on the OK button. Then, simply double-click any image you would like to appear in your scene. Once an image is in a scene you can drag it and drop it. If you decide you don’t want the image simply right-click and delete it. You can also right-click an object to bring it to the front.

Here are a list of the scenes that I found most engaging and easy to manipulate…

1. Mini-Hospital.com – build a hospital scene by selecting a size for your scene, a color for your background, kids, furniture, and miscellaneous items for your room. I have included a sample image to give you an idea of how a downloaded image might look.
2. Animal Kingdom Zoo
3. Alice in Wonderland Maker
4. Mini-school Maker
5. Mini-Penguin World Maker
6. Mini Kitchen Maker
7. Luxury Bathroom Maker
8. Mini Camping Maker
9. Merry Christmas Maker
10. Super Hero World Maker
11. Zelda (Castle World) Maker
12. Mini Modern Art Museum
13. Mini Flower Shop
14. Mini-Tales Maker – bring some of your favorite stories to life on the stage
15. Mini Gym Maker
16. Mini Photo Studio- Create TV sets
17. Mini Haunted House
18. Mini Maids – cleaning up can be fun!
19. Mini Supermarket
20. Mini Office Maker
21. Mini Wedding
22. Mini Sleep-over
23. Mini Kinder.com – a nursery/daycare scenemaker
24. Magic Jars Shop
25. Summer Maker- let the summer begin!
26. Mini Hotel Maker
27. Ideas (Birthday) Party Maker- cute teddy
28. Hair Salon Maker
29. Rilakkuma Kingdom
30. Livingroom Maker
31. Hello Kitty Room
32. Pony Castle
33. Mini-mall Maker