Google Voice: A Great Communication Tool for Educators

What is Google Voice?

• Google Voice is a free online phone service that allows multiple phone numbers to route through a single number.

How does it work?

• Sign up for a Google Voice account and choose a number. 
• Set your Google Voice number to link with your mobile, home, and/or work number
• Place calls from your regular devices (phone or computer) and your Google Voice number is the number that appears on caller ID
• Forward all incoming calls to the email of your choice
• Send and receive SMS (text messages) via computer or your smart device (Apple and Android apps available)
• Transcriptions of voicemail sent as an email or SMS
• Google Voice is NOT Skype or Vonage. You still need a standard phone connection to use Google Voice.

Educator Advantages of Using Google Voice:

• Send class reminders via SMS without using your personal mobile number
• Communication with students/parents without giving your personal mobile/home number 
• Forward calls to your Google Voice inbox if you do not wish to receive phone calls
• Send bulk SMS without charges from your mobile phone carrier

Google Voice Guide: (click here)

Tip of the Week:

Screen shot on a Mac:   shift + command + 4  (you choose what area of the screen)

Web Resource:

AppShopper - find iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch apps all in one place. Sign up for a free account, download the free app, and begin putting apps on your wish list. Be sure to turn on "push notifications" so you will be notified when apps go on sale.

VoiceThread: The Perfect Online Class Collaboration Tool

Extend your classroom online!
Your students spend countless hours online surfing the internet, posting and following others on Twitter, or updating their Facebook statuses. Wouldn't it be nice to have those students spend some of that time on your class assignments? With VoiceThread, you can engage the "digital natives" in your classroom in an online, collaborative learning adventure. It's easy and FUN!

VoiceThread is an online interactive tool  that allows you and your students to collaborate and share information using images, documents, videos and more. Everyone can comment and collaborate with voice, text, audio and even video. You can post your VoiceThread on your website or save it to an MP3 or DVD or provide a direct link.  More about VoiceThread...

Don't worry! There are plenty of ideas and resources  to help you start using this tool.  As always, your Instructional Technology Specialist is there to help you too.

Convert Powerpoint To Images
Did you know that you can convert PowerPoint slides to images to use in other applications? It's easy to do. Just open your PowerPoint, select File, Save As and select the jpg option as your file type. All the slides you choose to convert become images to be used in other applications.

Fill in any PDF Form onYour Computer

FillAnyPDF.com is a website that allows you to upload any PDF form to make it interactive so you can fill in the blanks. No software is required and it's free. There is a paid version as well. If you must fill out a form, you will find that this site is a time-saving resource.