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description by The Scout Report "Whether you're writing the Great American Novel or just trying to finish a term paper by tomorrow morning, the biggest threat to productivity is distraction. And the biggest progenitor of distraction is the very machine you are working on to write that novel or term paper. This open source app blocks access to distracting websites, as well as mail servers and everything else on the internet. Just set the timer, and write." Macs only. 
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description by The Scout Report "The International Writing Program at the University of Iowa is often considered the best fiction writing program in the United States. Not everyone can dedicate the blood, sweat, and two years it takes to complete the program, but this new MOOC series allows fiction writers to engages with the material over a few short weeks. The course is free and the teachers are extremely well known literary novelists. After signing up, access to videos, transcripts, assignments, and tools will be at your fingertips. Through video lectures and various writing assignments, the series is a great way to learn about the writing process and interact with other students/writers working on their craft."
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description by Internet Scout Project "Freelance writer Chris Baty declared November as National Novel Writing Month in the fall of 2000. Since then, the number of participants has grown from 21 aspiring authors hacking away at manuscripts to over 300,000. The project's "No Plot? No problem" slogan tells it all. No perfectionistic haute culture here. Participants are simply encouraged to put at least 50,000 words on paper between 12:00 am on November 1 and 11:59:59 on November 30. Scout readers can explore this official website via section subheadings such as, About, How It Works, Press Information, and Testimonials to find out all about the process. Signing up to participate in the challenge is easy and free, and the website will help track your progress, link you to support in your geographical area, and provide platforms to meet fellow writers in person and online. NaNoWriMo, as it's called, is a great resource for encouraging novice and veteran writers alike to work through their writer's block and delve into their creativity"
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by Richard Byrne "Wiki Summarizer could be a good tool for students who are just starting a research assignment and are not quite sure what terms to use or what topics to explore. By using the Wiki Summarizer web view or word cloud view students will be able to find some terms and topics that could help them alter and or direct their searches. In other words, Wiki Summarizer could help students who have a very broad research topic narrow down their searches."
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"We’ve been publishing a Word of the Day every school day since our blog began, and last year, just as we were about to hit 1,000, we announced our first Vocabulary Video Contest.
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via The Scout Report "Watchup wants to reinvent the way you watch the news. Starting is easy- just turn it on and, based on your location, newscasts begin to play. As you pick and choose what draws you, Watchup learns your interests, and feeds you more on that. Meanwhile, it suggests contextualizing articles to accompany the broadcasts. Think of it as Pandora for news junkies. Available for iPhone (iOS 7.0 and later) and Android (3.0 and up)."
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by Bakari Chavanu "It’s time to do less typing and more talking with the new real time voice-to-text feature in iOS 8. "Relatively little has been said about the new real-time dictation function in iOS, and in previous versions it may not have been worthy of the highlight. But with the recent iOS 8 update, Apple has restored bragging rights when it comes voice dictation and mobile devices. "Past iOS dictation implementation wouldn’t show the text you dictated until you tapped the Done button, which meant activating the feature several times for long form dictation. Well, not anymore. For me, the new voice-to-text feature works more efficiently than Dragon Dictate on the Mac." Jim Lerman's insight: I have been a user of Dragon Naturally Speaking for about 8 years and have found it very, very useful -- both for myself and in teaching. Having an effective, "free" voice-to-text capability opens up fabulous opportunities for students to express themselves. The advent of easy voice to text moves writing in a whole new direction. I know because I dictated most of the last book I wrote and several recent funding proposals. It takes awhile to learn how to dictate efficiently and effectively, which has little to do with the software learning your voice patterns and much to do with developing a different though process.
Sandra Carswell's curator insight,
September 28, 2014 10:49 PM
I can see it now, students all over the library talking into to their phones, assuring me they are writing their papers. ;-)
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by Nathan Garvin Summary by MiddleWeb by SmartBrief "Blending music and short journal prompts helps students build their confidence in writing, educator Nathan Garvin writes in this article. Garvin, a middle-school teacher in Texas, describes an assignment in which he plays a song while showing images to the students and then asks them to write about the image they chose as the best match for the song. "It's a simple journal prompt that can lead to creative, deep, and original writing," he notes." Free registration for eSchool News is required to access the full article.
Leontre’ Floyd Jr's curator insight,
November 17, 2019 11:55 PM
Music can inspire us to do more things than just write. It inspires us to be more than what we thought we were able to do.
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by Meera Nair "Last semester, I discovered Genius.com (formerely RapGenius), a new site that allowed media-rich digital annotation for text. Several of my students had used the site to annotate rap songs and were enthusiastic (and a little bemused) when I suggested we use it in our class.
Jim Lerman's insght: A very informative and detailed article about a fascinating way to approach the study of fiction using online digital media site Genius.com
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by Maria Popova "Psychologists believe that our capacity for creative work hinges on our memory and the ability to draw on our mental catalog of remembered experiences and ideas. More than that, memory is our lifeline to our own selves. Indeed, can there be anything more central to identity than memory? "The Memory of an Elephant: An Unforgettable Journey (public library) is a most unusual picture-book by writer Sophie Strady and illustrator Jean-François Martin. Unusual not because it measures an impressive 15 inches in height — though that alone makes it a kind of enchanting narrative poster — but because it blends the fascination of encyclopedic curiosity with deep questions about memory, identity, and what makes a life worthwhile."
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by Maria Popova "On March 24, 2008, two years before she penned her oft-cited ten rules of writing, the immeasurably brilliant Zadie Smith delivered a lecture at Columbia University’s Writing Program under the brief “to speak about some aspect of your craft.” Appropriately titled “That Crafty Feeling” and included in Smith’s altogether enchanting collection Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays (public library), the lecture outlines the ten psychological stages of writing a novel. "While invariably subjective, as all advice is, and rooted in Smith’s own experience — by that point, “twelve years and three novels” — her insights undoubtedly belong with history’s most enduring wisdom on writing."
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Jim Lerman's insight: My fantastic daughter is headlining a terrific jazz-driven tap show at Dizzy's Coca-Cola this coming Monday as part of The Coca-Cola Generations in Jazz Festival. Student tickets are only $10. Act now for best seats. To make a reservation, click on the image or headline above. This is a wonderful show, taking place in one of the greatest jazz nightclubs in NYC.
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by Stephanie Grimes "It seems like everywhere you go, someone is talking about the maker movement, making or people who are makers. You may also be hearing about making in the classroom and, as a teacher, wondering how you might bring making to your school.... "Maker education programs are cropping up in schools across the nation as the maker movement gains momentum. Making relies heavily on skills such as problem solving, innovative and creative thinking, and perseverance — and it promotes positive mindsets and attitudes. What could be better for our classrooms, schools and society than confident, determined, innovative youth? Making empowers youth and amazing things can happen when we get out of their way!"
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description by The Scout Report "There are many great resources for those who want to write stories for adults. But what if your market is more in the seven to twelve range? Well, then this site, the official blog of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), is for you. Continually updated, blog entries offer a variety of topics ranging from interviews with award winning children's book authors, editors, and publishers to advice on innovative marketing techniques, writing, and networking in children's literature. It is a must for anyone looking to engage in the wide world of writing and publishing for kids"
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description by The Scout Report "Anyone who has ever tried to write a novel will agree on at least one basic fact: it's deceptively difficult. This site, from novelist Harvey Chapman, provides beginners with helpful step-by-step advice. He lays it all out in simple, digestible categories including, The Writing Process, Becoming a Writer, Elements of Fiction, and How to Write. Each category includes helpful, targeted articles designed to take some of the sting out of putting words on screen or paper. For instance, How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step breaks down the novel writing process into eleven linear stages. Prose Writing 101, found under How to Write, is another great feature of the site that details the importance of writing with a clear, concise, and uncluttered style."
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by Leah Levy "Teaching critical thinking and creativity in writing can be a difficult task, but it is crucial in preparing students to meet the standards of the Common Core. Digital storytelling is a highly effective technique for doing so, as it requires a clear organization of thought, discipline, and problem solving skills — all of which can translate directly into more traditional essay writing. What’s more, digital storytelling has the added benefit of meeting other Common Core standards relating to proficiency in technical skills. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at why digital storytelling is an effective approach for teaching writing, and how to do it best."
Ruth Charles's curator insight,
June 16, 2015 8:36 PM
The cross-curricula advantages of digital storytelling should always be in an educator's mind, planning and teaching also.
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by Rory O'Connor How One School Teaches It
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Marinhos's curator insight,
September 23, 2014 3:59 PM
Estímulo para a reflexão e a escrita. Mas pelo que sei só funciona em iPad.
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by Denise Cassano "Children naturally connect thoughts, words, and images long before they master the skill of writing. This act of capturing meaning in multiple symbol systems and then vacillating from one medium to another is called transmediation. While using art in the classroom, students transfer this visual content, and then add new ideas and information from their personal experiences to create newly invented narratives. Using this three-step process of observe, interpret, and create helps kids generate ideas, organize thoughts, and communicate effectively."
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by Dan Haugh "VideoNot.es is an online app that syncs note-taking with videos for quick and easy reference. VideoNot.es syncs with your Google Drive to automatically synchronize your notes with whatever video you are watching. Users can then click on their time-stamped note to instantly jump to the appropriate place in the video. VideoNot.es works with Coursera, Udacity, EdX, Khan Academy, Vimeo, and YouTube. "VideoNot.es is a great addition to any student/researcher/teacher’s toolbox. The dual panels make writing while watching a video simple and efficient. Additionally, its seamless integration with Google and Google Drive make this tool even more attractive. Making the backups readable in Google Docs might draw more users"
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A.K.Andrew's curator insight,
September 25, 2014 5:59 PM
Looks like a great tool for young and not so young!
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Each of us has a story that can move others. As you learn this skill of story-telling, you will be able to tell a compelling story that includes elements that identify yourself, your audience and your strategy to others. In addition, you will gain practice in hearing and coaching others to tell a good story. Jim Lerman's insight: Quite an interesting approach to storytelling. This is a workshop for how to design and tell stories to organize and motivate people to engage in the environmental movement. It is very specific and planned in specific detail. It is certainly helpful in an educational setting as well. Also, a quick note about the Venn diagram. To me, the most interesting parts of Venns are where the circles overlap. What does this Venn tell us where Us and Self overlap, where Us and Now overlap, where Now a and Self overlap, and where Us, Self, and Now overlap. If you can name these intersections, you are demonstrating excellent command of the storytelling topic under consideration.
Dr. Helen Teague's curator insight,
September 24, 2014 10:14 AM
Each of us has a story that can move others. As you learn this skill of story-telling, you will be able to tell a compelling story that includes elements that identify yourself, your audience and your strategy to others. In addition, you will gain practice in hearing and coaching others to tell a good story.
Jim Lerman's insight: Quite an interesting approach to storytelling. This is a workshop for how to design and tell stories to organize and motivate people to engage in the environmental movement. It is very specific and planned in specific detail. It is certainly helpful in an educational setting as well.
Also, a quick note about the Venn diagram. To me, the most interesting parts of Venns are where the circles overlap. What does this Venn tell us where Us and Self overlap, where Us and Now overlap, where Now a and Self overlap, and where Us, Self, and Now overlap. If you can name these intersections, you are demonstrating excellent command of the storytelling topic under consideration.
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by Maria Popova "For my part in the 2014 Future of Storytelling Summit, I had the pleasure of collaborating with animator Drew Christie — the talent behind that wonderful short film about Mark Twain and the myth of originality — on an animated essay that I wrote and narrated, exploring a subject close to my heart and mind: the question of how we can cultivate true wisdom in the age of information and why great storytellers matter more than ever in helping us make sense of an increasingly complex world. It comes as an organic extension of the seven most important life-learnings from the first seven years of Brain Pickings. Full essay text below — please enjoy."
Raquel Oliveira's curator insight,
September 16, 2014 8:13 PM
excelente animacao sobre a era da informacao que nao garante conhecimento e sabedoria... #avancee
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On Mondays, we publish a Times photo without a caption, headline or other information about its origins. Join the conversation by posting about what you see, and why. A live discussion is offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time. "Welcome back, students and teachers. "We’re excited to begin our third year of “What’s Going On in This Picture?”, and we’re thrilled it continues to be one of the most popular features we offer. Teachers tell us they use it for everything from helping students strengthen their skills in evidence-finding to encouraging E.L.L. students to practice speaking aloud. "We hope students will continue to join our moderators at Visual Thinking Strategies in responding to other students, making the feature truly an inter-school conversation. Below, we explain all the directions that we post on Mondays with each new photo. "Thank you for participating."
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by Steve O'Hear "I didn’t think I’d ever get excited about an iPad stand. But the Yohann, designed by Swiss architect Berend Frenzel, ticks all of my boxes. First up, it’s a thing of beauty, with an incredibly simple but clever — why didn’t I think of that — design. It’s also highly functional, in terms of viewing angles and positions. And it’s European-made. "Two versions are currently being crowd funded on Kickstarter. One manufactured with a glassfiber-reinforcedpolymer body covered with a high-end “piano” lacquer finish, and a second handcrafted wooden version, made in Germany and Italy, respectively.
Jim Lerman's insight: Do watch the video; Yohan is a thing of beauty.
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