Convert PDFs t Word Documents

I thought you might be interested in hearing about PDF to Word, a state of the art smartphone converter

The most praised PDF to Word converter on the market. Easily and quickly convert PDFs from anywhere on your device, Dropbox, Google Drive, Gmail, Box and OneDrive, into editable Microsoft Word documents. Easy-to-use app and powerful converting engines.

• No limits on file size or number of converted files. 
• Excellent conversion quality.
• Scanned and complex PDFs can be converted as well.
• You can convert Gmail attachments and files from Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive directly from our app.
• You can also convert PDFs and Google documents from your Google Drive right within our app.
• Word documents are optimized for fast viewing and reuse. 
• The converted document is in the .docx format and immediately ready for further reuse. 
• Layout, formatting, tables, images and text look exactly like the original.
• No need to further fix the converted document.
• Your file is deleted from servers, right after the conversion ends.


Reuse and edit your PDF documents. Fast application and cutting-edge converting technology allows you to turn your PDF texts, forms and tables into editable Word documents. Find your PDF document and open it in PDF to Word. Once the PDF is imported, it is automatically sent to our servers for conversion. The file is downloaded once the conversion is done. Because the conversion is not being performed on your device, the app will not burden your device’s resources or drain its battery.You can find out more about PDF to Word on iTunes by following this link:


Hope you’ll find it helpful.

Free Teacher Resource of the Day App by Simple K-12


The school year has ended and many of you are enjoying your summer and many I assume are teaching summer school like I am. I have an online class this summer with 63 students, Yikes!  

I have been a member of Simple K-12 for years, and have even presented for them.  Recently, they came out with an App to share one resource a Day.  Thought you might be interested, even if it is summer. It’s free so you have nothing to loose by checking it out.
Looking for free teacher resources? This is the App for you! Receive free access to top-rated, award winning classroom resources for teachers.  

These educator-created and approved resources are sent to you daily, exclusively through this App.

Sign into SimpleK12’s Teacher Resource of the Day iPad App and discover a new free teacher resource every day. Receive daily inspirations to spark a new idea, refresh a lesson plan, or engage your students in new and exciting ways.  

TYPES OF RESOURCES INCLUDE:
•Instructional Videos
•eBooks
•Lesson Plans
•Educator Interviews
•And much, Much, MORE!

TOPICS INCLUDE:
•iPads and Mobile Learning
•Digital Storytelling 
•Common Core State Standards
•STEM 
•Literacy 
•Special Education
•Google
•School Safety
•And much, Much, MORE!

To access your Resource of the Day, sign in to your FREE SimpleK12 account. Don’t have one? You can create a free membership quickly and easily once you have downloaded the App. Just click the “Sign Up for SimpleK12.com” button of the App welcome screen.

Think Different: Turn Webpages into PDF with InstaWeb - Free for a short time


Have you ever needed to turn content from a website into a PDF? Maybe you just want to get rid of the rubbish for an easier read or possibly you need to print and not waste a ton of paper with all the rubbish?  

Try the InstaWeb, an iPad/iPhone app to turn a website into a PDF and holy moly, is it easy. It is a simple app hat does only one thing!

For example, I need a page from my website for a Professional Development Workshop like this one, The app allows me to turn that page into a PDF and use as a Handout.  Open InstaWeb and paste in the URL of the website or you can even search for the site.  

Tap the button in the lower right and you make your PDF. Give it a name and save it to iBooks, or Notability, or Dropbox or Google Drive your favorite reader app. Email it to your self and you can even print the PDF.

The InstaWeb app is normally $2.99, but is available for FREE for a short time right now. If you need to make a PDF out of a website, this app is an excellent solution. Grab it now while it is free.

Eliminate Junk Mail with Unroll.Me


I learned about Unroll.Me from David A. Cox,  of PC Class Online, a weekly podcast I subscribe to and this week, it is a great episode.  Only a minute and a half video about Unroll.Me.  But very useful!

Tired of junk mail? Check out Unroll.Me It's a free service that scans your e-mails and automatically unsubscribes from e-mail services. Links below! Let us know how you made out in the comments. Unroll.me only works on certain e-mail services like Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, AOL, and Hotmail. 

Youtube tutorials 1:35: 

Website: https://unroll.me 

Description: Decluttering your inbox has never been so easy, or looked so good. With Unroll.Me, you can unsubscribe from unwanted emails, consolidate sales/newsletters/listserv emails into a convenient daily digest called the Rollup, and keep the rest in your inbox. Stop stressing over your inbox and get back to spending time on what matters to you. Download Unroll.Me and get back the “you time” you’ve been missing.

App Store, FREE:  (it is actually an iPhone app, but works on your iPad too)

LiquidText PDF and Document Reader - For Annotating, Researching, Highlighting and Markups

LiquidText, an App Store Editors’ Choice, improves the way you read, annotate, and research on the iPad.

Price: FREE

LiquidText PDF and Document Reader - For Annotating, Researching, Highlighting and Markups 

LiquidText is a free App for researching, annotating, and highlighting your documents, websites, and PDF’s.  Read in ways not possible on paper. LiquidText gives you the tools to focus on what matters, compare distant sections, take notes, build upon thoughts, and pull out key facts from the text. Improve the way you read on the iPad with LiquidText. 

Retire the Printer.
We read to understand the world around us. But both paper documents and computer screens compromise this mission. LiquidText gives users a personalized reading experience, ideal for comprehensive reading, through intuitive interactions that allow the user to compare sections by squeezing a document, pull out key passages, organize ideas, find context, and more. 

Reimagine the reading experience
 

View
  • Read and interact with text in a flexible environment
  • Compatible with PDF, Word, and PowerPoint documents and web pages
  • Import from Dropbox, iCloud Drive, Box, email, and more
  • Import content from webpage or send to LiquidText directly from Safari
Interact
  • Workspace area for writing notes and pulling out excerpts
  • Organize and group excerpts and notes
  • Tap comments and excerpts to find original source
  • Pinch document to compare different sections
  • Collapse text to see annotated parts side-by-side
  • Collapse text to view search term(s) side-by-side
  • Scroll to navigate through pages 
  • Scrollbar shows where highlights, comments, excerpts, and search results are located
Annotate
  • Highlight text, images, comments, excerpts, and notes
  • Add margin notes/comments to text, images, notes, and excerpts
  • Comment on two or more selections simultaneously
Share
  • Export file as notes only, highlights only, notes and highlights, or entire document with annotations
  • Export as LiquidText file, PDF, or RTF (supported by most word processors)
  • Send files by email or to Dropbox, iCloud, Box, and more
LiquidText App Tutorial: 
 


My MLA & APA

As a new semester begins, here are 2 resources that should prove useful.  I know most of you carry your iPad most of the time, now you can leave those MLA and APA reference books at on the shelf.   You’ll invest about $5.00 if you want both both, but that is much cheaper than one  actual book and it is updated frequently and no extra money involved.


Price: $2.29

Description:
My MLA is the ultimate guide and companion for students, researchers and scholars who need to utilize the style (6th Ed.). MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th ed.) offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

The cost of the app is subsidized substantially in order to become affordable for most users, practitioners and students (Compare to $280 if each app purchased separately and retail price). For your convenience you can easily copy and paste any part of the texts and save, email or text the captured information. (No restrictions whatsoever). This app is tested and optimized to work with all versions of iOS including new features of iOS 4.0.




Price: $2.99

Description
Based on the newest version of the American Psychological Association (APA) publication style manual (6th Edition, 2009), this application provides you with the only complete APA reference tool available. Designed for both students and faculty, the app is an absolute must-have for anyone who has to write using the APA style. It is the most complete APA style guide app available for both iPhones and iPads. 

There are 17 sections in the app and each section covers the most important elements and style examples. It’s like having the complete style manual in your hand, organized in an easy to use, menu-driven intuitive format. If writing in the proper style is important to you and your college, university, or journal papers, then this is the right app for you.  

The app includes both a short written description and examples related to all of the elements associated with the APA writing style including:
• Manuscript Layout, Writing Style, Grammar, and the Scholarly Writing method 
• Punctuation, Capitalization, use of Italics, and Abbreviations
• Headings and Series Formats
• Quotations, Numbers, Metrication, and Statistical and Mathematical Copy
• Tables and Figures
• Reference Citations in Text, the Reference List Format, and Referencing Electronic Media

Mastering the APA style and trying to use the APA Style Manual for every paper is challenging. With this app and its easy to use and apply format, you can focus instead on content rather wondering if you have the paper in the correct style.

Paper by 53 iPad App


Paper - Notes, Photo Annotation, and Sketches by FiftyThree

Learn more at the Website: https://www.fiftythree.com
Paper 53 App: https://hec.su/b1fB 

DESCRIPTION
When inspiration happens, put it on Paper. Paper is the best way to capture and connect your notes, photos, and sketches. Create checklists, spotlight details in photos, and sketch diagrams with unbeatable speed and ease — Paper is like a wall of sticky notes for everything that inspires you.

CAPTURE
Paper’s swipe-to-style formatting makes creating checklists and notes faster and more fun than any other app. The photo spotlight tool helps you quickly clarify essential details. 

CONNECT
Bring text, photos, and sketches together. Keep your ideas organized, and see everything in one place to make connections you can’t see in siloed lists. 

COMMUNICATE
Paper’s unique visual notes are designed to help you get your point across quickly and precisely. Paper also lets you share your ideas any way you want to, including as professionally-formatted PDFs, Keynote and Powerpoint presentations. 

I learned about Paper by fifty three back in 2012. I sketch or diagram frequently. Paper 53 makes it so simple., it's magic!  I also use the app to draw.    Paper can transform any simple sketch I make into something amazing.  Now I am using it for my not taking...Sketchnotes.   I have also included some resources about Sketchnotes.

The tools give tons of opportunity for creativity.  Save Images to your camera roll or share online. Save images as JPG or as PNG. The PNG option is awesome because it means that the white background is transparent. 

In the classroom, Paper is good for:

• taking notes
• practising handwriting
• practising cursive writing
• sketching
• drawing
• technical drawing
• watercolours
• learning about colour
• blending
…and much more!

Resource: http://sketcho-frenzy.weebly.com 

Don’t take my word for it. Have a go yourself.


A wonderful video introduction to visual note-taking
 


BitGym: Super Charge Your Workout!

Alright, something a little different today.  BitGym.  After your Walking Steps challenge recently, maybe we all need to step it up a bit more.  

Are you ready to enjoy a unique cardio experience? Take your cardio machine, bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, steppers and Ergs,  through the most beautiful locations on Earth with your iPhone®, iPad® or Android. Try it free!

Fuel your workout with speed-interactive exercise tours from around the world.  About 25 FREE tours, so it would be quite a while before your are bored and wanted to upgrade for the Premium account.  The Premium Account is $7.99 a month or $79 for a year. 

Dr. Stoney shared BitGym with me, she has been using only the FREE version for quite some time now.  


Apple Devices: 



BitGym's breakthrough software will track every step you take by using just the front-facing camera on your tablet or smartphone.

BitGym upgrades your cardio machine with stunning interactive trails from around the world. Each tour can be streamed instantly or downloaded locally for use at the gym. 

Note: Please make sure to allow camera access to the app once it asks!

NEW Workout with world class trainers in the Coached tours section. Many are FREE!

- No hardware required - BitGym tracks your exercise speed by using the front-facing camera on your device.
- Works on any bike, elliptical, stepper, erg or treadmill - just place your iPhone or iPad down so you're in view and start exercising. 
- Our library of 80+ tours is available via streaming or local download. 
- View the tours to your TV using an Apple TV or an HDMI cable. 
- Constantly growing - With new tours added regularly, BitGym will keep surprising you.
- Track all your workouts and calories burned using the new Health App! (iOS 8 / iPhone only)
- Connected your Bluetooth Smart (LE/4.0) heart rate monitor for heart rate monitoring and increased accuracy in calorie counting. 

Instant Streaming: Or local download for offline use at the gym.
Universal: Works on bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, steppers and Ergs.
Interactive: Tours play at the speed of your exercise, pulling you into your workout.

BitGym Promo
 

Slate-Take documents and bring them to life!

I wrote about this App last spring when it came out, but now it is more than just an iPad app, your can also use it from your computer. Yippee!!


Adobe released Slate  for the iPad last spring and it is FREE.  

Take documents and bring them to life!

It is my new favorite too, both iPad and website for sure.  Slate is very easy to use, just add text, photos, choose a design and apply style & motion.  Scrolling transitions make words and images move for an engaging & compelling read.  If you’ve used Adobe Voice,  also Free,  you’ll find similarities.   A big difference in Voice and Slate is sound!!

Adobe Slate is a fun and easy way to turn any document – a lesson, newsletter, book report or presentation – into a stunning visual story, in just minutes.  Clearly, an exciting way to present information!!  This is a great alternative to a traditional report or paper.

Just type or talk to add text and use your favorite photos. Yes you can dictate to your Mac too.  (System Preference > Spec/Dictation > turn on dictation/enhanced dictation. . The to activate in any program, hit the fn key twice, a mic icon will come up and just start talking, it will begin typing. 

Choose a theme and gorgeous fonts will match, magazine-style designs and motion automatically transforms your story – guaranteeing a marvelous read on any device.  

Each Slate story you publish is simply a link.  No unrelated content, no random ads — just your story. You can share it via text message, email, social media or embed it where you want on your own website.  Anyone can view your Slate and it will look great, whether they're using a phone, and iPad, a tablet, or computer.

Find out more on the Slate website.

Learn more about Slate:  

A few stunning EXAMPLES

Find more examples at Tweets #madewithSlate https://twitter.com/hashtag/madewithSlate?src=hash 

Slate, is an extremely powerful communication tool that can be invaluable in the classroom — An easy way to share your knowledge and express creativity in visual essays, reports, journal entries, portfolios, book reports, science projects and more.  Ditch that Powerpoint! Through a simple link to the web, you can share your ideas and knowledge with the world.

Slate is free, which is kinda of unusual for Adobe, it makes me wonder if it will eventually be a paid. So, install it on your iPad now, while it is free and give creation a try using the website. 

Check Slate out, you will not be disappointed.  

By the way, we just did a Slate project in DED 318 class last week. 

New Padlet iPad App and it is FREE

Padlet iPad app: https://hec.su/bQSA FREE

I am always looking for ways I can use technology to help enhance learning in my classroom and I’ve been a fan of the Padlet website  for some time now, but lately had been wishing there was an iPad app, 

Wish granted….. Padlet has released an iPad App.  Yippy Skippy!!!!  It functions the same way as the website, so not much of a learning curve, but with an additional very cool feature that teachers will no doubt love.  When you want students to join your Padlet wall, they can scan a QR code with the Padlet app to instantly join.  No need for a separate QR code scanner app.  So one less thing to worry about.

What is Padlet exactly.  It is a blank slate or wall where you can collaborate.  But very different from Google Docs collaboration!  Padlet takes the concept of a blank piece of paper, and lets you put whatever you want on it and share. When you are done adding and putting things onto your wall, you can share it with others in a variety of ways.  By things, I mean, text, links, videos, images, and even attachments.  

In my opinion, the best feature of Padlet is the ability to collaborate with others easily. When you share your wall with someone or a group of people, they can contribute to your wall with the same features that you have.  It really is a great way to join forces easily and looks very nice when completed. Hold a discussion, collect resources, share information and more.  

My one suggestion, is to choose the Grid layout, otherwise you have to organize the “tiles.”  I did an App Smackdown a while back, where students added their favorite apps, http://padlet.com/ded318/26sjklf5uerd.  We did this in class in about 15 minutes!!

A few more resources and examples for Padlet:
How to Use Padlet
 

Tech Edge, iPads In The Classroom - Episode 150, Padlet on the iPad