Wiki Spaces Tool Kit - Great for Teachers and Students

While browsing around this website, I actually got majorly sidetracked in the section titled "Multi-Media and Digital Storytelling".  It had some great links to books on tape but even more interesting for me were some of the pre-selected speeches and videos.  I got hooked into a series of lectures by Joann Freeman through Yale's Open Course titled The American Revolution.   I am currently listening to her third lecture (usually when I am cooking dinner :)

This was relevant to me, as this fall I taught about the founding of our nation to 11th graders.  Over 50% of the students had an IEP or 504 plan and I was always seeking engaging ways to hook them into the class and make it accessible.  I recall that great stories often caught their attention.  In a similar fashion, I got engrossed by Joann's scholarly account of the American Revolution as she examined the political thinking of the day as well as the actual fighting.  I hope to incorporate some of her insights and maybe even a little of the video into my classroom.  http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video/Politics/Political-Philosophy/The-American-Revolution/43888

In terms of how this site can relate to my classes beyond my own gathering of information and transferring it to my students; it also had marvelous links to "Free text to speech" apps and programs.  I know some of my 11th graders struggled with reading not only due to learning differences but also as they were ESL students from Europe and the Middle East.  Finding this site, gave me yet another free and easy resource to bring to their attention.  This will "open" alternative ways to help them learn.

http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/