Award Certificates

Posted in Labels: , , | at 8:18 PM

My daughter-in-law, who is doing her student teaching, just called. She's finishing up with her third-grade class and wanted to print a "candy award" certificate for each of the students in the class. In searching for some options for her, I found three FREE means of printing certificates.

First, because of its flexibility, is the Microsoft Office website. At the present, the site includes 299 templates for award certificates; most seem to be for PowerPoint, while some are for Word and a few for Publisher. Once downloaded, you can make any changes you wish to text, fonts, colors, and images. As templates, these would be available for your use at any time, and created awards could be saved to your computer.

The next is DLTK's Printables Custom Awards and Certificates. You can choose to create your certificate in either portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) orientation. Then it's as simple as choosing or creating/uploading text and images for the template. The certificates seem to be more appropriate for elementary-age recipients. The site is very easy to use.

The final site, Certificate Creator, has a wider variety of certificate styles appropriate for any age or use, although I am not sure all are availabe without a membership. You can create certificates without registering (memberships begin at $12), but you will be unable to use the sites clip art library; change colors, fonts, and sizes, or open saved certificates. Be certain, as always, to read the Terms of Use.

If you'd like to look at other certificate creation sites, this Tooter4Kids page has a list of links.

Do you have any good ones to add?

Read Users' Comments (0)

Convert PDF to. . .

Posted in Labels: , , , , | at 7:31 PM

There are times when I have wanted to convert a page of a PDF document to an image to be inserted into a Word document or PowerPoint presentation. Finally, I have found a site that will do that for me...for FREE.

Upload a PDF document to ConvertPDFtoImaGe.com, and in short order you can download your converted file(s). If you upload a multi-page PDF document, you will receive JPG of each page. I definitely like that the file is (nearly) immediately available for download. Other sites I have tried used email to deliver the completed document, and often a substantial amount of time elapsed before it arrived.

Tabs across the top of ConvertPDFtoImaGe window give access to other file conversion actions: PDF to Word, PDF to Text, PDF to html, Text to PDF, and Word to PDF. Wow! That's a lot of file conversion options from one site, and you download your converted file immediately; no there's no waiting for it to arrive in your email inbox, as with other sites I have used. I haven't actually tried each of these other conversions, so I can't comment on their performance, but I certainly will check them out next time I have a need for their functions..

Read Users' Comments (0)

ZipList

Posted in Labels: , , , , | at 7:37 PM

I probably won't use this site right now, because Handy Shopper, which I have been using on my PDA for many years, meets my current needs. Should I not have that available in the future for some reason (or should I get an  iPhone), this site looks like it would be a likely candidate for a  replacement, at least for grocery shopping.

ZipList lets you create grocery lists which can be accessed and shared via Internet, text, email, or instant message. Item entry is as simple as entering "2 lg cans of peaches" or "butter;olive oil;bread" or, for a high priority item, "milk!" Your list will be organized by category, and you can add prices for individual stores and enter coupon information. The site appears to be incredibly easy to use.

Now, that's the straight shopping portion, but there's more. ZipList also features a Recipe Box for storing recipes clipped from the Internet (at the present time--see post date--there is no allowance for hand-entering recipes). An "Add to List" button on each recipe lets you click to indicate items you don't have on hand from the list of ingredients and then add all those to your shopping list at once.

I learned of this from a post on one of my new favorite blogs, Coupon Cravings. This is a great place to find out about all kinds of great deals--free offerings, discounts, and coupons for anything from retail items to restaurants and other retail establishments.

Read Users' Comments (0)

Audio Tours

Posted in Labels: , | at 9:34 AM

Several sites provide downloadable audio driving and walking tours for locations (cities, parks, gardens, museums) all around the world. These come in the form of mp3 files for your iPod or other mp3 player which could be burned to CD if desired. Some, but not all, come with maps. Information concerning the length of the audio is provided as well as a sample of the program and a summary of its contents. Since we like to do a lot of traveling on our own, I think these would be a good addition to the research I do prior to visiting a location. While I haven't tried them yet, having just found them, I plan to do so on our next trip! I expect to search all three sites reviewed for content for our destinations.


1 Free Audio Book - Audible.com
The first site, audible, is one that I've used for years for audio books. A keyword search for "tour" produces, at this date, a list of 302 commercial possibilities. Prices for true tours (some results were for books rather than audio tours) range from free (museum-produced) to $15.86. Registration is required. (If you like or want mp3 audio books, this is a great site!)

image used by permission
(tm)
I learned about tourcaster in "100 Things to Do With Your Grandchildren," a download from grandparents.com (see previous post). Free registration is required for this site, and the terms of use (yes, you should read these) indicate that you can receive points by taking advantage of opportunities provided by tourcaster and third-party sites as well as responding to offers you might receive email, postal mail, or telephone (though indicating a telephone number is not required for registration). The availability of points to offset cost would be a plus, but this would indicate to me that registration would generate email traffic, so you will want to take this into consideration. Doing a general search, I found a nice variety of walking tours available. Most I saw were $10 or under, with one being free; I saw one priced at $16.00.

image used by permission
The third site, AudioSnacks: Podcast and MP3 Audio Tours for Travel, Museums and More!, provides access to a large number of free tours, though I saw some for prices from $1 to $12. Many of these have been created by individual members, while several were produced commercially by entities such as parks and museums. The ones I previewed were quite good. Downloaded zip files may include maps and coupons in addition to audio. Should you desire, you could record and submit your own tours to the site. Again, registration is required.

These sites provide a variety in pricing and quality, so by sampling their offerings you should be able to find audio tours that suit your needs.

Read Users' Comments (0)

phrasr and bookr

Posted in Labels: , , , | at 8:09 PM

These sites utilizing flickr photos are just fun!

After you have entered a phrase, phrasr will pull a photo from flickr for each word in the phrase. For each word, you can change the photo, selecting from among the suggestions they provide, or choose to have no photo for that word. When you are finished, phrasr puts together a flash slideshow of the photos you have chosen with the phrase, which you can view again or email to someone (perhaps yourself) if you wish. I don't know how long it will be available, but here is an example using a Mahatma Gandhi quote.

bookr uses photos to create a flash book. You can place text on each page and then do a flicker tag search for photos to illustrate the text. This is easy enough kids could do it, younger ones with help spelling the tags/search terms. Here's a sample book I created about clouds; to turn a page, click on its bottom corner.


If you'd like to see other Pimpampum toys, check out the Pimpampum Labs. The 4 x 4 memory game would be fun for kids.

Read Users' Comments (0)

PDFescape

Posted in Labels: , | at 11:41 AM

I love having the ability to fill out a form on the computer in the same way I would have done in the "old days" with a typewriter. Unfortunately, not all pdf files are made available in an editable format, so they have to be downloaded to be filled in by hand. This happened today with a medical history form for my dentist, so I looked around to see what remedies might be available online. The best FREE site I found was PDFescape.

Inserting text is fairly primitive, as you have to click each place you want the text; you can't tab from field to field as you would be able to do in an editable pdf document. I think this is a small price to pay for a free option. Each text entry is placed in a text box which can be moved around and the text within it edited. Checkmarks, circles, rectangles, arrows, lines, links, sticky notes, and form fields can also be added to the document.

Important to note: To download a copy of the edited document to your computer, you need to use the site's File menu to Save and Download; saving only saves your current edit on the site. Though you can print the document from the website, you will probably want to download and print from your computer unless you are comfortable changing page setup options in your browser to eliminate the standard text which is added to Internet printouts.

Registration is available but not required. Documents of unregistered users are available for editing only until the web browser is closed; I have exited the site, then opened it in another window and was able to "View My Previously Opened PDF Documents" to continue editing. With free registration, however, documents can be stored on the site; these files will be deleted after 15 days of no use. Registration also allows multiple users to collaborate and edit documents. Additional features for paid subscriptions are described on the site.

Read Users' Comments (0)

One Button Bob

Posted in Labels: | at 11:58 AM

While cheking out woot's deal-of-the-day, I decided to see what was on the blog there. One of the posts led me to One Button Bob. As this post will prove, I am definitely not a gamer. I occasionally play solitaire of one form or another, but I just don't spend time on the computer playing games. This one, though, might provide an occasional diversion from more productive activities.

There are none of the complexities inherent in the types of games enjoyed by true aficionados of such computer pursuits. All you need for One Button Bob is the left mouse button to control his movements--make him jump, speed him up, slow him down, or stop him--to get him past the dangers as he travels through the depths of an ancient castle. However, your control over Bob changes with each screen, and you have to use some problem solving to figure out how to get him to the next screen. This flash game keeps track of your clicks in the upper righthand corner of the screen, so you can compete with yourself or others to see who can get him through to the end in the fewest number of clicks.

Perhaps one of the things I like about this is that it reminds me of the graphics of games for my old Commodore 64.

Read Users' Comments (0)

The Coloring Spot

Posted in Labels: , , | at 3:10 PM

I suppose every elementary teacher in America knows about this site, but it's a new one to me. Looking for something else entirely (horseshoes), I came upon The Coloring Spot. Here you'll find simple coloring pages for just about anything imaginable (well, anything that isn't trademarked, that is). The categories are too numerous to tell in one breath: animal, bird species, cat breeds, cowboy stuff (yep, and there were my horseshoes!), dinosaur, [inhale] dog breeds, fairy, furniture and appliance, insect, medieval, music, mythical creatures, ocean life, [inhale] people and their jobs, princess, sports (athletes), and wonders of the world . There are also pages for Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, Thanksgiving, and Valentine's Day.

The site even includes several animal pictures to color online which can be printed. As if all that weren't enough, there are also links to other sites with coloring pages.

I can think of several uses for these pages, both in school and at home. I know I'll use them with the grandchildren for alphabet and word work, as well as for just plain fun. This has been a serendipitous afternoon!

Read Users' Comments (0)

GIMP

Posted in Labels: , , , | at 3:06 PM

I'm always on the lookout for FREE alternatives to expensive software. While Photoshop is probalby the best-known photo editing software package, with incredible features and results, its pricetag is a little high--well, extremely high--for the average user. I do appreciate the features in Irfanview, which I have used for years, but sometimes I need--well, want--more advanced options. I have found GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) to be a viable alternative for those times when a little more power is needed.

GIMP is not for the faint-hearted. Any software which can accomplish a wide variety of more complicated operations such as this will not be as easy to learn as simple word processing software. It does have built-in help, and a user manual is available for downloading. The GIMP website offers tutorials for various levels of expertise, and a Google search for "GIMP tutorials" yields even more. Perusing a few of those will give some idea of the amazing finished products which can be produced.

Oh, and for those of you who use portable apps, try GIMP Portable for your on-the-go photo editing.

GIMP is freeware, but of course you are encouraged to make a donation if you like the software.

Read Users' Comments (0)

Free Technology for Teachers

Posted in Labels: , , | at 2:23 PM

I think this is only the second time I've included another blog in a post; usually I just add them, over there on the right. The first post was about a fun one, and this time it's a practical one for teachers.

From it's title, Free Technology for Teachers, one would think it might be simply a resource for finding and obtaining free technology. Oh, no, not quite. The site's subtitle reveals there's more here than that: A review of free technology resources and how teachers can use them. Ideas for technology integration in education.


The typical structure of a post begins with highlights of some aspect of technology, sometimes with additional directions, followed by an Applications for Education discussion and closing with links to related items.

Free Technology for Teachers also has a Facebook presence, but I don't know yet if that will provide anything different from the blog.

Read Users' Comments (0)

Photosynth

Posted in Labels: , , | at 9:11 PM


The general, bare-bones idea of Photosynth is that you upload several photos of the same location or object taken from different distances, perspectives, times, etc. Photosynth will then stitch them together, by analyzing and finding similarities, into an "interactive 3D viewing experience." Your creation is then available for viewing by anyone on the web. Here's an example, a synth of Owachomo Bridge in Natural Bridges National Monument.

The description from the website is: "Photosynth creates an amazing new experience with nothing more than a bunch of photos. Creating a synth allows you to share the places and things you love using the cinematic quality of a movie, the control of a video game, and the mind-blowing detail of the real world."

I'll have to admit I'm still trying to figure this out, but it's fascinating. I'll have to see what photos I might have that I could upload to try it.

In the classroom? I wonder what kind of creations would result from photos taken by students on a field trip.

Read Users' Comments (0)

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)