The applications (apps) you find below are only summarized to keep this list as short as possible.  As with any app, you’ll undoubtedly find that it contains more features than you first read about.  You are encouraged to spend time with each of these apps and delve deeper into their features and find what works for you, as a personal/professional and as a classroom leader.

Google  Accounts
Your Google Account will grant you access to the entire suite of Google Tools all through one account.  One username, one password.  Pretty sweet, right?

Google Alerts
Subscribe to email or feed alerts related to your content or interests.  Google Alerts does your research for you so you can focus on more important things.

Wordpress
Using a district hosted blog, we will share information and engage in discussions around learning through technology.  Through the use of this blog you may find it is a solution that adds value to the learning for your students as well as yourself as a reflective learner.

Blog Search
Use Google Blog Search to find new feeds to subscribe to related to your search terms.  Get connected to more educators by visiting their blogs/posts related to your interests.

Fairport Start Page
Google’s start page app allows you to customize you web browser’s homepage with themes and “gadgets”.  Add additional tabs to organize your start page as you add more content, gadgets and tools.

Google Reader
Reader gives you one location for all things RSS.  Use Reader to access up-to-date information all in once place.  No need to check your favorite sites for new information… let it come to you.

Gmail
Google’s Mail is a spam-busting, account-combining, searchable, storage machine!  With an ever increasing amount of space you won’t need to delete any emails.  GMail works on a mobile device just as well as on your desktop or laptop.

Google Talk
Google Talk combines chat, email and voice calling in one tool.  Gtalk is available on-line within your Gmail, as a gadget in iGoogle or as a download/install on your machine.  You can also take Google Talk mobile on your cellphone. Now with Video Chat!

Google Calendar
Coordinating and planning around schedules could be the second biggest timesuck.  Sharing public calendar’s via Google’s Calendar app can add significantly to what you really want to do.  Hey, don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.

Google Sites
Need a quick webpage?  With your Google Account you don’t need to wait any longer.  Easily create web pages for any project, collect all your content in one place and control who can edit your pages.

Google Docs
Managing files from various classes and meetings have you down and confused? Put all your files (documents, spreadsheets & presentations) in one location accessible from anywhere, at anytime.  Google Docs also allows the best (to date) tool for collaborating on-line with any number of participants.

Wikispaces
Collaborative spaces shouldn’t be this easy.  Use a wiki to collect information from a group of collaborators, share your curriculum or allow students to write/re-write their textbook.

Google Earth
Explore your world with this satellite-image based 3D mapping application.  The possibilities are endless from finding and exploring locations to sharing user (student) created content to flying around Earth in a flight simulator.

Del.icio.us
Gone are the days of saving bookmarks/favorites in your web browser.  Using online bookmark sharing you can store, access, tag, and share quality web sites with colleagues.  Follow your colleagues or favorite author and read what they are reading online.  Create a list of sites for a particular project or area of study with just one tag and share the web address with others.  You’ll be amazed.  Seriously.

YouTube
View, collect, favorite and share your favorite videos.  Learn a new skill or technique by searching YouTube’s colossal library of useful videos.  Start your own channel to share your videos related to your content area or particular area of interest.

RM Podium
Record, Edit, and Publish podcasts with ease!  Podium is an all-in-one podcast application that makes it simple to create and share content with the world.

iTunes
Browse Apple’s iTunes podcast directories for a humongous library of audio and video media that fits your needs for personal/professional or classroom learning experiences. Use it as your podcast aggregator (subscribe via RSS) and enjoy free content to your hearts content. Not sure where to begin? Check out the K12Online Conference!

Skype
Combining IM chat, VOIP (voice calling) and video conferencing, Skype brings folks together from all around the globe.  Whether you are meeting one to one or for a group meeting, Skype makes you accessible, your only barrier is time.  That is, unless you know something we don’t.

Ustream
Ustream is a video and audio broadcasting tool that allows you to broadcast yourself, or your event, to an unlimited audience, live via the web.  Built-in chat functionality allows your audience to communicate with you while they watch.  It is not intended as a video-conferencing tool, but as a tool for broadcasting live events.

Adobe Connect
Connect is the operative word here.  While this is not readily accessible for you to use at this time, we will be using Adobe Connect for virtual meetings when we can’t all be in the same place at the same time.

Facebook
Being the third most visited web site on the Internet you shouldn’t take FB at face value.  This space, now with over 90 million users is robust in it’s ability to connect, organize and share information.

Twitter
Tweet, tweet.  A little birdie may have whispered this to you at one time, but like Facebook, you may have taken it at face value.  Well, something’s just take time.  Follow updates from those around you, organizations or news services disseminating important (or not so) updates.