A Tiny Tip with Big Benefits

Using TinyURL.com to Create Simpler Web Page Addresses

(Including Bonus: New Projector Manual!)

Some of the strange, long web addresses I see on the Internet almost make me dizzy.  Here's an example that I encountered when researching tips for using our new classroom projectors at Buhler High School and Prairie Hills Middle School: 

  http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/1409X/en/ug/

  pdf/1409X_en.pdf 

Don't you like THIS web page URL better?   http://tinyurl.com/projectormanual

To make the projector manual web address shorter and easier to type and remember, I simply went to http://tinyurl.com, pasted in the looooooong web address, and then chose my own words to follow the beginning part of the web page URL. Now the web URL for the Dell projector user manual is much simpler.  In fact, I might even be able to remember it if I forget to make a bookmark for the web page!

When you use Tinyurl.com, you have the choice of creating your own "ending" of the web address or having a random web address generated. Either way, you have a much simpler web address to use.

(Remember, to post a comment, simply click on comments at the bottom of the blog entry. Type your comment, click to check Name/URL, type in your name, then click on the button to Publish your Comment.)

A Rave Review for iTunes Radio

Playing background music while students work can be an effective way to create a mood and enhance learning. Now you have even more options with the hundreds of stations available through iTunes Radio on your computer. When you open iTunes and click on Radio, you will see several genres listed. As you click on the small triangle to the left of each category, a list of stations will appear. Just double-click on a station and enjoy some wonderful music! You also can bookmark your favorites by creating a playlist, naming it "Radio Playlists" or something similar, and dragging the station(s) into that folder.

These new musical options can make your classroom "out of the ordinary." Of course, you may need to create a fair way to select which radio stations to play because your students will have definite opinions!

(Please share your ideas for using this digital tool in your classroom by commenting below. Remember, to post a comment, simply click on Comments at the bottom of the blog entry. Type your comment, click to check Name/URL, type in your name, then click on the button to Publish your Comment.)

On the Run with GOOG-411

Free 411 Business Connections on Your Cell Phone!

We're always on the go, it seems, and while we're running around, our cell phones connect us immediately to friends and family. Now your cell phone can connect you free of charge to businesses with Google's free GOOG-411 service. Just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 from any phone, state the location and business name or category, and Google will connect you to the business for free. You don't even need the name of a business. You can request a category such as restaurants, and GOOG-411 will present several choices and offer to dial any one you want. Watch this video for more "information" about Google's new 411 "information" service, then create a speed dial link to GOOG-411 on your cell phone!

Extra! Extra! Hear All About It!

Buhler Teachers Podcast Thoughts About Digital Learners

Last week several teachers from Tech Cadres 1 and 2 attended an "upgrade workshop" in which they learned about new ideas for technology integration to engage students in learning. One activity we shared was using a cell phone (or any phone, for that matter) to record audio files which can be heard via the Internet or downloaded for use in class projects. These teachers selected songs from their iTunes playlists and compared the song titles to the characteristics of today's digital learners. To listen to these short audio podcasts here, click on the name of the first audio file. It will begin playing, and the other audio files will follow automatically. To view the entire list of podcasts and select a specific one to play, click on Posts.


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Just think of all the possible uses for cellphone podcasts in the classroom! Students in social studies classrooms could interview people about their experiences in selected periods of history, or they could solicit people's opinions and reactions to current events. Foreign language students could podcast via cellphone to record their voices using the second language outside the classroom. In science class students could record data at various stages of a lab experiment.

If you are interested in learning how to create audio podcasts with your students, let me know so that we can set up a time to get you started. You will be excited to see how easy it is, and your digital students will be excited that you are helping them learn with 21st century tools.

Please share your ideas for using this digital tool in your classroom by commenting below.

Remember, to post a comment, simply click on Comments at the bottom of the blog entry. Type your comment, click to check Name/URL, type in your name, then click on the button to Publish your Comment.