The cool thing is you can move around the classroom with this app on and iPad or iPhone camera on and have a “portable, wireless document camera”!

If you want to show it on a projector, just remember that you need to have an adapter to go from your Mac to your projector (which is most likely a VGA connection).

Download the Reflection App.

Part of the student-created Mathtrain.TV project.

She recorded and edited the entire screencast by herself!

Part of the student-created Mathtrain.TV project.

Part of the student-created Mathtrain.TV Project.

Original video with alternative method is at http://youtu.be/yXiG2iv1Vq8 .
Part of our Mathtrain.TV Project.

“Kermit” did 100% of the editing and this was her first time ever using Camtasia Studio!

Part of the Mathtrain Student-Created Project at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica, CA.

In this episode, the ScreenChomp App is showcased.

It is meant as a rough “tutorial” and mainly as an introduction to the possibilities we might have using this with our students.

FluidMath is a cool, new math software for tablet pc and IWB users.  It can recognize handwriting and then solve, graph and animate on the fly.

Their Web site is http://www.fluiditysoftware.com/.

http://sketchup.google.com/

Yup, it’s free.

Created by 8th grade student, Andrew Rothman.

We use a variety of Tablet PCs to create our student screencasts.  We have also used iPads, Wacom Tablets and Macs.  Below, is a list of Tablet PCs we use or have used for screencasting:

The first Tablet PC I purchased was a Toshiba R25 3503.

I loved it!  Recently, I installed Windows 7 onto it.  The processor is a bit slow by today’s standards.  It’s clunky, yet durable.  Nice big screen, loud speakers and accurate writing.  I bought it in 2005 and it’s discontinued.  Almost 5 years later, it still works great!

I got a Gateway Tablet PC from school, but I don’t recall it’s model.

The company has changed since it was purchased and I have no idea if they still make tablets.  It is also clunky and durable.  Although, the installed speakers have worn a bit and they feedback at times.  So, we have to use it with the speakers muted.

For the most part, we use a Fujitsu 5010 Tablet PC.

I purchased this last year.  I like it.  My major issue is that the installed computer speakers are lame.  It is difficult to get any true volume out of them.  My iPhone plays audio louder than this computer!  It is still a bit clunky, but it has been mostly great.  I like that the screen can swing both left and right.

I also got a few HP Tablet PCs from a grant.

I am glad I did not pay for these.  I do not like them.  They are touch/pen, but the pen writing is not as accurate as the Toshiba, Gateway or Fujitsu devices.  We may have gotten a bad batch because I had to send all the HP’s in for service after only a few months.

I hear the newer HP Tablets are better.  I think this is a good entry tablet if price is a major factor.

So, if price is a major obstacle, perhaps look at the HPs.  Or perhaps purchase a Wacom Bamboo tablet.  The Wacom tablet hooks up to both Macs and Windows computers.  It can transform your current computer into a “tablet pc”. Otherwise, if price is not a major issue, then check out the new Fujitsu or Toshiba models.  I like the “active digitizer” tablets because they tend to write the best.

Some of the newer “slate” tablets, such as the Galaxy Tab, Xoom and the HP 500 Slate, seem very cool!  I want one of each!  But I’m not sure how they are for screencasting.

For my next Tablet PC, I’m looking at a slate.  I like the ones by Motion Computing and TabletKiosk, but they have slower processors and smaller hard drives.  They are also expensive.  However, I like the idea of the handle and the ease of mobility.

Well, thanks for taking this tour of some of the Tablet PCs we use or have used to create our student screencasts at Mathtrain.TV.  I strongly recommend anyone interested in buying a Tablet PC to first try it out.  Sometimes companies may even lend a demo device to a school.  If the specs list “active digitizer”, that is a plus.  And if you’re a teacher, please let the students use it!

We are trying this one out in HD.

In this rebroadcast, Matt Pierce is joined by Dave McCollom (both of TechSmith fame) and they discuss different ways to screencast. Specifically, they focus on various input devices one can use to create screencasts.

We are extra excited, because they demonstrated one of our very own Mathtrain videos which was created by “Bob”!

Thanks to Matt, Dave and TechSmith. And thank you for permission to rebroadcast this show. I’m sure many of our viewers will find it interesting and helpful!

We edited the original segment. But go watch their intro and full show…
The original “The Forge” Episode 2, part 1 can be found here.

Find more informative videos at: www.youtube.com/user/ChannelTechSmith

Hopefully this video will be viewable on the ipad and iphone.  And hopefully it shows up in itunes.

We created this using the free xtranormal software.  Xtranormal could have some nice uses in the classroom or for student projects!

Enjoy!

This is the story of Rob and the MegaHunk Chocolate Bar that he ate.  But he did not eat the whole thing.  And he did not even start off with an entire bar.

See how to solve this several ways, including visually.  This problem was adapted from my former colleague, Dr. Marcy, and his Marcyworks!

As seen on Mathtrain.TV!

[As seen on Mathtrain.TV.]

Visit Mathtrain.TV for more student-created math tutorials from Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica, CA.

Thanks for watching!

Check out Edusim and try it out in the classroom or at home.

Edusim is a “3D multi-user virtual world platform and authoring toolkit intended for your classroom interactive whiteboard (but equally powerful on the students laptop or desktop computers !).”

http://edusim3d.com/

http://www.convergemag.com/classtech/math-screencasts.html

or go to http://bit.ly/cWhOgz .

Mathtrain Students featured on Convergemag.com

Or, listen on the November Learning’s iTunes Podcast.

Thanks to students “Bob”, “Billy Billy”, “Jerry” and “Paul”! And thanks to Brian Mull, of November Learning.  We are so excited about this! 

Alan November interviews us:

Talking Student Tutorials with Eric Marcos – Part 1 of 2

Talking Student Tutorials with Eric Marcos – Part 2 of 2

This is always the greatest conference.  This year, I am co-presenting with one of my former students “Jerry”.  We will be discussing and demonstrating our “Kids Teaching Kids” classroom model and student screencasting.

Our sessions:

See you at our sessions.  In the meantime, check out our iTunes Podcast or Mathtrain.TV.

Please come visit us in the TechSmith booth! We don’t work for TechSmith, but they were once again so kind in sponsoring our trip and presentation.  Sadly, our school district and school has never assisted us when we go present our student work.  But thankfully, TechSmith understands.  They paid for us to fly out and stay in Denver to participate in the conference.

Here’s the scoop:

ISTE 2010 Conference, Denver, CO

Wednesday, 06/30/10
1:30PM – 2:30PM
Room 504 (CCC)
Formal Session/Lecture
Sponsored by TechSmith

This session focuses on the positive effects of adopting a collaborative “kids teaching kids” model via student-created screencasts. This collaborative model helped spark student interest and enthusiasm inside and outside of the classroom. Our student-created screencast lessons (also known as mathcasts) have reached a global audience thanks to Alan November, our free Mathtrain.TV web site and our iTunes Podcast.

Actual student-created screencasts will be shown. Attendees will also learn how to create their own screencasts and watch a live student demonstration of the process.
Student, “Bob”, will be co-presenting.

Here is a fast video showing how one can “see” the angle measures in a triangle.

Here is an example I created using my fingers on my iPad and the Pages app.

I think the beginning effects look the most promising. We’ll keep experimenting with the 3D webcam.

The students took a day off from creating math videos to share this video with you.

Percent of a Number

Recorded Live in Santa Monica, CA, during a Skype Call with school
IS 281 – Joseph B. Cavallaro School in Brooklyn, NY.

From Santa Monica, CA to Brooklyn, NY
December 18, 2009

Featuring 7th grader, “Jerry”.

http://screencast.com/t/NDQwOGY4ZWEt

*Revised for ipod/iphone use.

*Re-recorded to play on the iPod/iPhone.

In order to be “allowed” to use this book as a supplement in class, I must have the School Board approve it.  The process sounds simple.  I go to my school librarian, fill-out a form and she forwards it to the school administration.  The administration then probably needs to sign-off on it before forwarding it to the School Board.  No one told me this, but I think the School Board requires or suggests that supplemental books be on display in a public place for at least two weeks.  I only think this is the case because I have seen other books looking for approval go through this display process.

Eventually, the book will be placed onto the Agenda of an upcoming School Board Meeting.  From there, I guess the School Board votes to approve or deny the use of the material.  Once approved, I assume I could finally begin using the resource.

Too bad this process can take the entire time the actual course runs.  It has been about a month and I am getting information that perhaps the book is still in my school on some administrator’s desk – - waiting for a signature.  That puts the book out of my student’s reach for at least another month or so since the book still needs a two-week public display and then approval from a School Board Meeting (which only meets twice per month).

So much for sense of urgency.  I have been patient, but I guess it is almost time to start prodding.  Maybe school officials are fearful of empowering their students?  Obviously, it is not a priority to the school.  But it needs to be a priority for our school and community.  No one is taking the responsibility of teaching and training our students Web/Information Literacy skills.  Many parents/guardians would benefit from this “how to” knowledge of validating and evaluating content from the Internet.  It needs to be a priority for our school to train our students on how to produce better search results and how to deepen their ability for critical thinking.  Using Alan November’s “Web Literacy for Educators” is a great place to start.

You call a number, speak your message, and it gets transcribed for you and sent out to where you requested it to go.  The recipient gets a transcribed message, along with a link to the actually voice message in case they need to listen to it due to a faulty transcribe or something.

You can e-mail people via your voice, send a text or even add to your Google Calendar.  There are other things you can do too, like post to Twitter and WordPress and much more

When you call Dial2Do, a female voice asks what you want done.  This female voice is not as smooth and grand as Jott’s is.  Jott has a much better female voice greeter.  But Jott costs money!

So far, the transcribing has been quick (minutes) and accurate.  Although, it did spell my last name as “Marcus” instead of “Marcos”.  But you can also spell out words for it if you want.

It’s called Duo. The website is http://www.converttotouch.com/index.html .

Here’s an image from their site. You’ll need to go there to watch the video since I couldn’t find an easy way to link that via my iPhone. Tell me if you try this product. I wonder how well it works.

Powered by Jott

It recognized my school math textbook and showed me prices to buy it.  I also enabled it to send me a copy to my e-mail.

The app recognizes “books, DVDs, CDs, and video games sold in the US”.   They state they will cover international products at some point too.

Free iPhone App

It’s free.

(it’s free!)

However, 6th grader “Bob” (not her real name) created this on the spot, with no script and no rehearsal.  It was also her FIRST time ever using Camtasia Studio.  Camtasia Studio is the screen recording software we use.  I thought we should release this as an episode.

*revised for iPod/iPhone

I was invited to present in the TechSmith booth.  It was an amazing experience.  Yeah, I know.  I spoke way too fast.  But hey, I was excited!

Thanks to @loisath New blog post: The Mathtrain @ NECC09 http://bit.ly/tXm09

Jen, Eric, Lois at NECC09

Use this link to read the story if the above one does not work:

http://loisath.edublogs.org/2009/07/11/the-mathtrain-necc09/

6th graders “Ben” and “Jerry” show us a probability example using 2 spinners.

See our related “GEMDAS” video

See our related “Integers” video

Congratulations goes out to one of our favorite Australian techies, Darrel Branson (aka, the ICTGuy and of EdTechCrew.net fame).  He was mentioned in the Washington Post, PC World and MacWorld regarding his Scratch resources!

with 8th grade student, “Matilda”

I composed the music from putting together numerous generic loops in Garageband.

I need to take a survey soon and find which file type is preferred by you.  Here is one specifically for the iPhone and iPod.  Let me know if this version is better, or not necessary since the other mp4 files can easily be converted in iTunes.  Thanks.

Source: Lemay, Laura (1998). SAMS teach yourself Web Publishing with HTML 4 in 21 days. Indianapolis, IN: Sams Publishing.  By the way, a great resource on Web Literacy can be found in Alan November’s book, “Web Literacy for Educators”:   November, A., (2008). Web Literacy for Educators. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.  Or check out Novemberlearning.com.

This is a remix version with… well, let’s hope you enjoy!

I composed the music from putting together numerous generic loops in Garageband.

By the way, a great resource on Web Literacy can be found in Alan November’s book, “Web Literacy for Educators”:

November, A., (2008). Web Literacy for Educators. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.

with 6th Graders “Ruby, Sara and Maxwell”

“Taffy” makes her debut showing us how to find missing angles in a triangle.

Mathtrain Project by Mr. Marcos & his Students at Lincoln Middle School, in Santa Monica, CA.

Google Voice

I’m excited about this!  Google Voice will transcribe my voicemails!

I’ll post more once I figure everything out.

If you are reading this, then I guess the app worked!

I just got a new 3D webcam called, “Minoru 3D Webcam“.  I decided to make my first 3D video a mathcast of course.  It’s silly and really just a demo to see how the 3D effects look.

3D webcam

I think my students will do a better job with this camera.  Stay tuned for future math video lessons in 3D.

Please ignore this episode.  I changed some things and this is a test video.  Thank you.