Add Voice and Music to Prezi

You can now add background music to your Prezi presentation and voice-over to the stops along your presentation path. Below are details about each new addition. These are the audio file formats that work with Prezi: MP3, M4A, FLAC, WMA, WAV, OGG, AAC, MP4 AND 3GP.

Background Music

• Sound can be useful for a Prezi that you intend to embed on a website or play on a continuous loop.
• Adding Music
• Find the background music you want and save it to your computer. I suggest using Soundzabound from www.badgerlink.net. 
• At the top of the screen in Prezi, click on Insert and select Add Background Music. 

Voice-Over

• You can add voice to specific path steps. The sounds will begin to play only when you reach the chosen path step. They will stop playing when you move to the next path step. 
• Record your audio on your Windows machine using Sound Recorder. (In the start menu, under programs, you can find it in the Multimedia Folder.) On a Mac machine you can use QuickTime or Audacity.
• Adding Voice-Over
• Create your path.
• Create your voice recording in another program and have it saved to your computer.
• Click on the thumbnail on the left side of the screen you want to add voice to.
• At the top of the screen in Prezi, click on Insert and select Add Voice-over to Path.

Classroom Management Using Class Dojo

Class Dojo is a real-time classroom management software that can be used on a computer, android device, or iPad/Ipod Touch.  Sign up for an account at www.classdojo.com and enter your class rosters.  Then display your Class Dojo created classroom on your smartboard.  As you see positive or negative behaviors you can record them either using your computer, or as you walk around the classroom using a mobile device.  Class Dojo will make a sound getting students attention and show if a student is being awarded points for positive behavior or points being taken away for negative behavior.  Some of the elementary schools in our district are already using this program.  Class Dojo is very customizable.  Class Dojo also creates reports for you about daily, weekly, and monthly classroom and individual behaviors.  Students and Parents can also be given access to their own accounts to monitor behavior.

Here is a video to get you started:

2nd Annual Digital Learning Day

Wednesday, February 6th marks the 2nd Annual Digital Learning Day. Digital Learning Day is a national campaign that celebrates teachers and shines a spotlight on successful instructional practices and effective use of technology in classrooms across the country.

Tools for Teachers

• Lessons plans for ideas: http://goo.gl/dDfXK
• Tool kits for various subject areas: http://goo.gl/UjffP
• Technology tip of the day: http://goo.gl/tSNjl

Digital Learning Day in Wisconsin

• Check out this website for information about the happenings in our state.

Google Drive App for your mobile device/tablet

You can access your Google Drive from any smartphone, tablet, or apple device using the Google App. Simply download the Google Drive app from the Google Market or Apple App Store. Then login in using your school email address if you want to connect your school google drive account. This short video gives you step-by-step directions:

Here are instructions to set up your school google account on your phone: https://sites.google.com/a/mjsd.k12.wi.us/mjsd-google-apps/mobile-users

Chromebook Shortcuts

Have you gotten a chance to use the Chromebook carts that are in all the schools? Below are some of the shortcuts for the Chomebooks.

Google Search Tips

For those of you who attending the TLC tech conference in October, you will remember in Alan November's keynote speech he discussed ways to use google to get better search results.  So for those of you who were unable to attend the conference, or just want to get better results from Google I am offering these tips and tricks about Google Searching.

ThinkTank and NoteStar

Tis the season for research papers. These past few weeks I have seen almost every ELA teacher in the labs with their students. I have also seen reams and reams of paper being used to print research information. This is why I have chosen to re-post the February 21st post on ThinkTank and NoteStar.
Many times students will not know where to start or even know how to put their ideas together. Students will truly need some modeling before feeling comfortable with developing a topic for a report or project. ThinkTank will help support the students thinking and NoteStar will help the students stay organized without taking down a forest!