Social Media Smackdown!

For this weeks Social Media Smackdown, I want to talk about the website BakeSpace. BakeSpace is a website created by and for people who love cooking, baking, or just hanging out in the kitchen. It features thousands of amazing recipes for the beginners to novice chefs. People all over the world use BakeSpace  to share recipes, gain friendships, and learn from each other. 
 To use BakeSpace, you create a free membership and enter the online community. From there, you can post, search and swap recipes, and customize an "online kitchen". Members can also use forums, upload videos, create blogs, and use the online mentor program. BakeSpace's website is nicely organized and easy to follow. The website announces exciting contests to also get the users involved. On BakeSpace, you can create your own cookbook to share with your friends and print at home!
 I didn't know about BakeSpace until this assignment, however, I find myself using it a lot. It's so easy and fun that I really enjoy it! My family loves to cook. I quickly showed my family this website and they all love it. We can share recipes from different generations! Check it out!

Technology Blog 6

For this weeks Technology Blog 6, I stumbled across an interesting tool called Jott.com. Jott is a free messaging tool that can be used for android or the iPhone. Jott includes an AirChat feature. This feature means you can chat with friends nearby without the use of cellular data or even Wifi. Jott includes privacy features, such as screenshot detection and disappearing chats, to allow users to control their own privacy. Jott takes away the awkward step of asking people for their phone number. Using Jott, users can chat with their friends from school, work, and Instagram. All users have to do is join a network or link their instagram in order to chat with their friends. Jott's group chat feature lets users mute chats or leave groups very easily.
 Jott has made messaging friends and classmates much easier and safer. Even when there is no wifi or cellular data service around, the AirChat feature will still send your message! Jott.com has already been changing the game for students in the classroom. Students can connect with other classmates, nearby or on Instagram, and easily reach them. This comes in handy when students need to do group work, they need help from another classmate, or to send information to and from with or without wifi. This tool can revolutionize the way classmates interact together and potentially make the atmosphere in the classroom more lively.  Seriously, Checkout Jott.com.

 

 

 

 

Stop wondering what happens to your photos and texts after you hit send.  Jott’s privacy features, such as screenshot detection and disappearing chats, keep you in control of your privacy.

 

 

 

 

 

Technology Blog 5

For this weeks Tech Blog 5, I want to introduce a new system that I have just discovered in my class the other day. There are other apps similar, but this one caught my eye. Its is called, Poll Everywhere. The website allows you to make an interactive poll that can be used anywhere at anytime. The Poll is most commonly used to engage an audience or a classroom. When being used in a classroom, The Poll can be accessed by using a cellular device, the internet, and even twitter. The Teacher can create a poll prior to the beginning of class containing numerous questions that the teacher wants to test the students knowledge on. The teacher will then open the poll for the students to answer. The students will then access the poll and answer the questions by following the instructions and including the appropriate numbers within the message. To see the responses of the students, the teacher can broadcast the live, incoming, answers using the web or a Power Point Presentation.
Poll Everywhere allows the teacher to become more aware of how much knowledge their students have on the particular subject. What's the best part of the website? The fact that ALL of the answers are anonymous! Therefore, the teacher will know what topics need to be covered more, but will not know who got the answers wrong! This tool can really help improve learning in the classroom. The fact that the tool is interactive, it engages the student and creates a more effective learning environment.

Website Smackdown #3

For my Website Smackdown I decided to address the website known as StudyBlue! StudyBlue is a similar website to quizlet but features more useful tools that can help flourish a students learning abilities. StudyBlue al and allows users to create flashcards to study from but also gives the option to review other flashcards created by other students. Teachers can also create study cards to encourage their students to study more. StudyBlue also allows users to create study guides and quizzes to take education to the next level. This Webtool is essential to students. It can really help the students increase their memorization ability as well as be extremely prepared for their upcoming quizzes or exams. Teachers can use this tool so much in the education system. Teachers can use the StudyBlue tool to help engage their students and challenge them. Teachers could really take the time to go over the app with their students and show them the many features it offers. teachers could create study guides or their own set of flashcards, and they can share it with their students. Students are more likely to use a tool a teachers provides when the student can actually see the teacher use it. The more comfortable the teacher is with the tool, the more confident students will be to use the tool. A little encouragement goes a long way! I have personally used StudyBlue in the past, but have unfortunately lost touch with this webtool. However, doing this Technology Blog has helped me come back in touch with this tool and I plan to use it in my many further endeavors. Remember, try to use StudyBlue for a change, you wont be disappointed!

Technology Blog 4

For this weeks Technology Blog, I decided to showcase the website known as inklewrite. inklewrite is a free interactive website to allow storytelling creativity. The website allows you to create paragraphs of your own story and create branches to be stemmed off them. The branch you pick will alter the story in that direction. This allows for the creative juices to flow and several options for alternate story endings. inklewrite allows the user to be as creative as possible. The website is free for anyone to use. They just have to create a login with an email and a password. The student doesn't have an email? No problem! inklewrite allows users to create logins by picking a distinctive username and add @inklewrite at the end. The stories are able to be shared with everyone. inklewrite can bring so much creativity to the sometimes (yes, I will say it) boring writing process. It allows for endless opportunities and also engages the reader because their choices they click will affect the outcome of the story. Teachers and students are able to both benefit from this website. Teachers can assign students a writing assignment that can be done both in class and at home for homework. Students will be able to organize their writing right there in the inklewrite dashboard. Students will exercise logical thinking, computer skills, and creative thinking. The students can share their work with anyone and even have access to converting it to the Kindle. This website is fun, interactive, and easy to use! If you haven't already, check out inklewrite!

Technology Blog 3

For this Technology Blog 3 I would like to talk about the smackdown Brett Presented on Amazon Prime.
I never usually shop online because I am Leary about the materials I am purchasing. However, after Brett's presentation this past week I became interested in possibly using some of the resources Amazon Prime has to offer.
First of all, I was unaware about the vast items amazon has to offer. I never realized how many things people can actually order through amazon. You can order high priced items like TVs or video game consoles all the way to Grocery items. You can literally  buy everything.... Even items that have been used or the packaging is damaged! Then I learned about the amazon prime options and even begun a free trial of the prime. I used it and my books that I ordered arrived in two days. My prime membership allows me to have free music streaming, free video and movie streaming, free photo and document storage, and thousands of free eBook options for me to read with my membership. I am so happy I have discovered this amazing site and I can not t to use it throughout my future shopping adventures!

App Smackdown!

This week, my the app smackdown I will be presenting is on Google Translate. Google Translate is an app that helps translate languages through different features. The app allows the user to type, draw, and take a photo in order to translate the desired text. Google Translate has revolutionized the language barrier between languages. It helps use basic translations to understand what the other person is saying. The translations tend to never be completely accurate, but they do come in handy. I have personally used the app for communicating with my Chinese relatives. Some of them live here in America, but their knowledge of English is not the best. The app allowed me to communicate with them in some way. Even though the translation is not 100% accurate, it does provide a general understanding on what was said.

The app could potentially have beneficial features that could be highlighted in and out of the classroom. Google Translate could be best used in classes pertaining to a foreign language. The app is not supposed to be used in order to do the homework for the student, but to assist in homework. If a student is struggling on translating, defining, speaking, or understanding a word or phrase, google translate could help. It will provide the student with a better foundation and understanding of the particular word or phrase they are translating.

The app is simple and free for anyone to use. The consumer just has to go to their phone, tablet, or computers app store and download the software. Then, Google Translate is ready to use! It's simple and easy just like that.