Targeted for K-12, “MakeBeliefsComix” is a wonderfully interactive, easy to use Web site that can serve varying constituents, from Education majors learning to teach in K-12 to those teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Basic Educational Skills courses. In fact Google and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) selected MakeBeliefsComix as among the world’s most innovative sites to encourage literacy and reading. It is now being used by educators in 180 countries to teach English and other languages.

Here is a video of City College instructor Tamara Kirson (named The New York Times 2009 ESOL Teacher of the Year) discussing how she uses MakeBeliefsComix to help her students learn.

Thousands (25,000+) of iPhone / iPod Touch Applications have been developed, some good some bad, some free some not free, and many for education. Two recent free apps: Blackboard Learn & Skype.

The new Blackboard Learn app is being panned by users, and from my experience with it, rightfully so. For me, there are too many timeouts and not enough utility. However, I believe and hope that this will get Blackboard, Inc. to quickly come out with versions 2, 3, 4, etc. i.e. it has great potential, and constructive feedback may turn the tide.

Skype is very interesting! Imagine free calls from any WiFi location on either the iPhone or iPod Touch? I will be fully testing this one. BTW, I do not have an iPhone, but I do have the required iPod Touch 2^nd Generation, so to fully test Skype I will have to purchase its optional microphone. Meanwhile I can Skype-chat. To make it sing, however, future iDevices will need a built-in video camera.