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FREE online resources and downloadable programs for learners.

Christmas evokes all sorts of marvelous childhood memories for me. One of them is the Etch A Sketch toy with which we could make weird and wonderful designs. I’ve been meaning to write a post about the online version for a long time, and another Christmas has prompted me to act on that intention.

Online Etch A Sketch is a faithful digital replication of its namesake. It looks and behaves very much like the original toy. Instead of turning knobs, the “artist” uses an arrow key, or combination of arrow keys, to “draw” in a desired direction. Hitting or holding down the ‘U’ key helpfully undoes the unintended. When you want to start over, you click the ‘C’ key, to shake the Etch A Sketch and clear everything away.

The online version of Etch A Sketch is definitely Web 2.0. You are encouraged to save and share your artwork. There are literally thousands of artists who have added their work to the gallery. Some of it is quite striking. It is, of course, easy to email your creations to someone else who would enjoy seeing them.

Since Online Etch A Sketch is operated with keyboard commands, it can be used by individuals who are unable to operate a mouse. This is a big advantage for children (of all ages) with disabilities. Speaking of children of all ages, I must confess that I spent considerable time test driving Online Etch A Sketch. It took me more time than I care to admit to complete “My Lines” which I’ve shown below.