Virtual math manipulatives

I found this website that I thought was pretty interesting.  You all have probably heard of it but just in case you haven't here it is.

http://www.misterteacher.com/index.html

This website seemed to be designed just for smartboards.

YouTube demo of the Kineo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lT4cobjH7s

Kineo

This must be the "new kid on the block".
 http://androidcommunity.com/brainchild-kineo-android-tablet-for-schools-debuts-20110202/

Manipulatives

I am not in the classroom right now so I am not using manipulatives.  I use things around the house to help my kindergartener and 3 year old learn one-to-one correspondence, and how to count up or add on, but nothing formal.  When I was in the classroom I used fraction tiles, unifix cubes, geoboards, etc.  All the basic stuff.  Now I am hearing about the virtual manipulative online and I would like to learn more about that before I go back into the teaching world.

2nd Abstract

For my second abstract I would like to investigate the different types of e-readers, Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc.  I would also like to see how these new gadgets are going to play out in the future of the textbook industry and eventually classrooms.  I have found a plethora of information.  There has even been a prelimenary study going on at one school due to an ambitious principal who persuaded the folks at Kindle to give each of the students at his high school one of these devices and they will volunteer to give feedback.  To be honest, I am sort of "geeking" out on the subject and I am contemplating going to the store just to "play" with one!  Again, there is a ton of information out there and I am sorting through it.  The more I read the more questions I come up with.  It's very interesting.

ELMO Ideas

I found this on the ELMO website for any of you that would be interested in seeing how other teachers use thier ELMO's.

http://www.elmousa.com/files/ShowMeGreatLessons!.pdf

There are pictures provided at the end of each section so you can just scroll down to the pictures instead of reading the article.

Burning Question

What I am most interested in learning about is really broad.  I don't want to know about any one thing I just want to learn the best way to make technology work for me and how it will help my students.  I don't know of any one program or object that I am most interested in.  I need to learn about all of them!  I have been out of the classroom for 5 years and I don't know anything about Smartboards or Elmo's or even what new programs are out there.  I don't know what AIMS web is or how to use the technology out there to interpret IDMS test scores.   I just have too many questions at this point to narrow it down.