Haugen’s Tech Tips Blog

Every now and then, a new product comes along that takes nothing for granted and comes up with a whole fresh new way of doing things …that actually really works. Enter Scribbles… a delightful new paint program for Mac OS X. Gone are the busy tool bars and obnoxious sound effects. Instead you’ll access 12 beautiful brush styles, infinite colors, multiple layers and quick easy tools for resizing your art. Getting your art where you want it to go is also easy, with menu option to export in a variety of formats, send to email or post to Scribble’s free gallery
Better yet, the individual price is only $20, just $14 for educators, and AteBits has a generous site license agreement for schools in the works. Download it, make a nice cup of tea, and have some fun… Your inner artist will thank you.

Screen shots, left to right: drawing screen, layer chooser, color picker…

TRUCE (Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment) has released its 2008 Toy Action Guide, just in time for the holidays.

In their own words,

This guide is intended to help adults promote children’s creative and constructive play by making informed choices about toys, and by working with others at home, school, and in the community to promote positive play and toys.

The guide includes indispensable  tips for  how to shop for toys, what to look out for in terms of toys that promote violence or stereotyping, and ideas for toy alternatives, including their wonderful “shoebox gift” ideas.  The guide may be freely downloaded and shared.  While on the site, be sure to check out their other resources.

FossWeb offers three sites with interactive inquiry-based science activities.

• The K-2 site
• The 3-6 site
• The Middle School

Draw like Jackson Pollock!

This is a place for FUN… simply move your pointer and the virtual paint splatters. Click the heart to change colors. Then when you’re done, learn more about Jackson Pollock at The WebMuseum, Paris.
Image uploaded with Skitch!

Just in from the MadATer…
Make your own comic at makebeliefcomix.com. What a great way for kids (or adults) to dip into creating comic strips - for fun, for social stories, and more. I especially like the tips that pop up on the bottom.