Diigo

Diigo

http://www.diigo.com

Diigo is an Internet based application for bookmarking and annotation. More than just a social bookmarking site it allows you to highlight parts of a webpage and share that annotated link with those who are signed up for Diigo and even those who aren't signed up. You can share your links with a group of users or keep your links private. Alternatively you can keep your bookmarks and annotations public.

Diigo works best when used with it's optional toolbar or extension (depending on which browser you are using). This optional software is available for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Diigo also allows you to comment on your links or others links that have been shared to you or your groups that you are in.

This tool can be invaluable in the classroom. It is a great way to keep track of links in an online course. If you use the same group students can search through older semesters links and research. They can also view their comments and annotations on these links. It can also be helpful in writing intensive traditional courses that require a lot of links that need to be kept track of.

EtherPad

EtherPad

http://www.ietherpad.com

EtherPad is a real-time collaborative online based word processing program. EtherPad allows multiple people to edit the same document simultaneously. They can also communicate via the chat feature which is tied to each individual "pad". Much like any word processor you are given formatting tools (bold, italicize, underline, font, font size, etc.). You also have the ability to save documents. Public "pads" are available without signing up and private "pads" are available with a simple sign up.

This tool also has revisioning and a timeline feature that allows you to track changes in the document and go to different versions of the document in its history. You can also view who was the author of a particular part by the color coding in the document.

This tool is easy to use and requires no signup to get started. Anyone familiar with the basics of a word processor will have no problem using EtherPad.

The potential for this tool in the classroom is vast. An online class can easily use this tool to collaborate on their work in real time. It could also be used in the traditional classroom for group work in a computer laboratory setting. This tool is definitely worth learning due to its ease and potential application.

Blog #2: Qwiki and Animoto

1. For my lesson plan, I am going to learn two new tools. The first one is Qwiki, and the second one is animoto. Here are the links:

www.qwiki.com

www.animoto.com


2. The main feature for qwiki.com is fairly simple. Remember in the Disney/Pixar movie "Wall-e", the chubby captain asked the computer "what is Earth?", and the answer he got was not definitions nor texts, but a combination of voice and graphics presented in a multimedia manner. Qwiki.com wants to make the technology available to the 21st century. Use it like a search engine, type in anything, and qwiki will automatically search the Internet sources, compile the information with proprietary algorithm, and then come up with a presentation of texts, voice, photos, videos, and graphics. Animoto is a Web 2.0 tool that allows users to easily create animation by simply adding texts and photos. Very intuitive, and the products can easily impress the audience.

3. Level of difficulty is low for qwiki, since all you need to do is to type in keywords, the same way that you do search via Google. It may be a bit more difficult for Animoto, since it requires the skill to locate your photos, type in texts, and edit your photos if needed. The creation of storyline, however, is fairly straightforward.

4. I plan to use both tools in a media literacy course. The Qwiki will be used as a designated website for them to explore, so that the scope of their exploration can be within reasonable boundary. Students should get a feel of how the qwiki works and its limitations. Students will be asked to take a careful and critical stance on the information coming out of the qwiki. The animoto will be used to give students the chance to become an active authoring agent in the Internet Web 2.0 era. They will be asked to find a topic or subject that's deficient in qwiki (they need to explain), and then to create an alternative multimedia presentation by using animoto. I see great potential in using both tools for classroom.

5. Qwiki is being quickly and constantly updated and developed. Its distinctive way of presenting search results makes it worthwhile to get acquainted with it. There are alternative Web 2.0 services other than Animoto, however, as far as I know, it's the most user friendly and easiest one to use. So I'd say it's worth learning too.

Text-to-Movie, Free Movie Maker

http://www.xtranormal.com/

Xtranormal is a free-to-use website that allows users to create simple motion pictures using little technological skill and the user's creativity.

The level of difficulty is intermediate. Users of this cool website must be able to catalog their sentences and ideas in separate parts, in order for the movie to make sense. The additional features are fun and cool to use, but require just a bit more understanding. I was completely new to this website and I saw a commercial for it online, and it looked so cool that I decided to just play with it. It took me less than 1 hour to become a "pro" at it.

With the "New Participatory Culture" allowing users to create edit and interpret information in various ways, Xtranormal opens hundreds of possibilities for ANY subject area. Teachers could assign students to create a movie that exhibits a "pro vs con" debate between two fictional charaters. This app can be used by students in a very engaging way to illustrate their knowledge of word definitions, theorems, principles or any key concept.

On top of it all, it is addicting to use, fun, and allows users to be creative while using knowledge to produce a movie that makes coherent sense in light of the assignment.

Just one click away and "Xtranormal for education" will install a cookie in your browser that will enable the education-safe version of xtranormal.com. Once it is installed the browser will always be moderated for educational use. This was the cherry on top for this VERY fun, and educational technological piece.

I created a Quick 32 second movie for you all to check out how it works!
Enjoy!
Click Here

TI Smart View

TI Smartview is a texas instruments computer program intended for use in the classroom. I do not get to use this much with my students, as they do not use a graphing calculator at the middle school level, but I have seen another teacher use it with the accelerated integrated algebra students. TI Smartview is an interactive, smart board calculator. In this program, the students can see you using the same calculator (for these students the TI-84) and can follow your key strokes. You can choose what screens are displayed on the board at one time. The main, and basic options I am aware of, are to have the calculator alone, which is handy when you are working with simultaneous programs such as smart notebook or internet explorer. There are also the options to use the entire smart board and keep several other screens, such as the plot screen along side the graphing screen, or the table screen along with the graphing screen. This way you can discuss the different screens at the same time, and students can see both together. There is another option to record key strokes, here the students can view all of the key strokes done by the teacher, that way they do not need to keep up, or if they make a mistake they can get back to where the teacher was. The screen capture is another nice feature, where the teacher can capture a screen and save it as a picture, this can later be used as notes, in quizzes and can be printed.
This software does not take much time to learn at all. In a single hour session, I feel that a teacher could get a very good handle on using it. This is a technology where usage is the key to making it more efficient and useful. I have seen this technology used in the classroom often, it works! Every student in the room can see what the teacher is doing, and the multiple screen views are helpful in making sure all students are in the same place, for instance they have their window set up correctly and are looking at the same graph as the teacher. I wish they made one of these for our more basic calculator, the TI30XIIS so that students could more easily follow along.

Optimal Resume

Optimal Resume is an online resume, portfolio and job search tool that also offers interviewing practice and several templates for the job search. Several colleges and universities across the country have Optimal Resume accounts for their students, including a few SUNY schools (unfortunately, not SUNY Albany).

Main features of Optimal Resume include: a resume builder, which works like a wizard to help students build their resume; a letter builder, for cover letters and thank-you letters, a portfolio builder; so students can upload and store examples of their work for potential employers to review; a website builder, so students can create websites to showcase their technical skills and abilities; interview prep, which allows students to practice answering interview questions – and can record their answers via web cam if their computer is enabled; and resume GPS, which is a job search tool.

Most students who are comfortable using the internet and navigating through a computer will have no problem getting used to Optimal Resume fairly quickly. I have only used it a few times and I feel like I understand its functionality fairly well.

Optimal Resume would be a good addition to any class that builds skills that will be used professionally. Instructors should encourage students to place at least one project or paper in their portfolio from every class so they have a comprehensive view of their skills. In my Public Speaking class, I plan to integrate Optimal Resume into my unit on Speaking for Professional Advancement.

This tool is fairly easy to use and takes a little of the guess work out of the resume building process. As job hunts and employee searches continue to become more and more digitized, it would be nice to have a digital portfolio or website that interested employers could look at if they are interested in learning more about a prospective employee. However, since this is not a free service, I would say that the tools can be found elsewhere for free if a particular school is not a subscriber.

Blog 2- www.breakingnewsenglish.com- H. Banek

1. The new tool I found and explored is called Breaking News English at www.breakingnewsenglish.com

2. This is site where the user can go to get current event articles that may be applicable to the classroom. Each article also comes with a variety of activities to go along with the article. The activities included are quite comprehensive and include: pre-reading discussions, synonym activities, true/false, guided notes, a post discussion, and extension activities like finding other similar articles on the internet and comparing them. An answer key to all activities is also included!

3. All you have to do to navigate the site is to scroll through the current articles they have posted or type in a subject in the search bar and it will bring up corresponding articles. Therefore, this site is extremely simple to use!

4. As an English teacher, I can see this site being very useful in my classroom. One article I found was on a school that banned hugging and high fives. They did this in a effort to cut down on bullying, which is a huge issue in schools right now, and society in general. Using a current article like this helps students to connect classic literature we read, to their real lives. This would fit nicely with my unit on A Separate Peace where we discuss bullying. The activities are also varied and cover many important reading and writing skills. You could also easily extend the lesson by focusing on cyber-bullying, etc. The variety of articles to choose from was also great. Just to name a couple of others I would use, there was one on the internet changing our memory and the Pope sending his first "tweet." Both good lead-ins to lessons about media use in general in our society. Because of the variety, I think this tool would be useful for any subject area, especially Social Studies.

5. I felt this tool was definitely worth learning about. It is a great tool for enhancing lessons and making connections to our students lives. Also, because each lesson is so complete, it can also be a time-saver for busy teachers maybe looking for a quick, but meaningful lesson plan.

Prezi - The Sooming Presenation Editor

Prezi - The Zooming Presentation Editor

http://prezi.com

Prezi is an application similar to Microsoft PowerPoint. Prezi is an online tool that allows you to create presentations either from the Internet browser or can be downloaded to you desktop and be used with out Internet access. With Prezi's being an Internet side, you can share your Prezi's, send your Prezi's, and access them from anywhere by logging in to your account.

Prezi presentations are better than Microsoft PowerPoint in the manner that they provide more options for your presentation. You can import you PowerPoint slides or start from scratch. You can move, rotate, scale, and zoom different parts of you presentations. In addition, you can group different parts f your presenation like a concept map and click onto each part. Also, you can send slides forward or backwards. Prezi presentations are more interesting and keep attention better due to the different action you provide to you slides. It would not take that ling to learn how to use and create a Prezi presentation. The website provides great how to videos and indicates what aspects of a Prezi presentation you will learn. A person with basic computer skills would pick up the skill pretty quickly and as you become more comfortable with the program, you will create better Prezi presentations.

A Prezi presentation could be used in the classroom to present your lesson instead of using a PowerPoint presentation. As this will most likely be a new program to students, students will be more apt to pay attention to the lesson being delivered. Also, the different movements will attract the student's attention more often and they will stay focused on the lesson. Therefore, this would be a great tool to learn. Prezi presentations will give you the ability to diversify how you deliver you lessons and could be part of a project for students to learn to deliver their own presentations.

-Celeste Sisson

QuizStar

QuizStar

by Adam Girard

http://quizstar.4teachers.org/help/quickTourNewUser.jsp

QuizStar is an online portal to create quizzes which can include multimedia. The instructor can create multiple choice, true/false and short answer assessments. Once the quiz has been administered, the instructor can analyze the results of the students and the effectiveness of each question on the quiz with stats and graphs.

This is an extremely easy tool to learn. Even if one has never created a quiz before, there is hardly any learning curve with this tool. All one must do is type in the question and the possible answers, upload an image, if applicable, and you are basically done.

The classroom application is most obvious for online classes but potential uses for traditional classes would include open book quizzes that can be taken at home or quick nightly homework quizzes and homework checks via this tool.

I believe it is beneficial to learn this tool. It is free and easy to use and the information gathered is a valuable way to assess students and the instructors teaching styles, especially in online-only classes.

TeacherTube

1) TeacherTube (Teach the world) http://www1.teachertube.com

2) Extraordinarily similar to YouTube, TeacherTube includes many similar features, including the ability to search for an educational video based on your needs. Videos range in length of time and from introductions to near full length lessons. Aside from videos, you can also search for documents, audio files, and pictures. There is also a channels feature which allows the user to search in a specific field such as math or physical education and to limit searches in any grade range from K – 12.

3) As long as you can navigate YouTube, you can navigate TeacherTube. However, any practice would not go amiss and would further encourage proficiency and ease of use of the website. Therefore, the level of difficulty is easy. Either students or teachers could use it to either learn or teach.

4) The application of this program is extensive. Videos can be used to engage students or as an introduction or conclusion of a lesson. A video can be used as a supplement if a plan is not going as predicted. There are plenty of worksheets in various formats to meet your educational needs. However, there are a few drawbacks. Searches may need to be refined multiple times to find what you are looking for. Videos may buffer slowly and certain documents may fail to load.

5) The tool is worth learning simply because of the resources it provides. An educational form of YouTube is beneficial to any classroom and provides the safety of teacher created work and comments versus the occasional crudeness of YouTube.

School Tube

School Tube: http://www.schooltube.com/

• School Tube provides educators with professional development and resources for instructional technology, and classroom teaching and learning tools for best practices of video and digital story production. Much like You Tube, but School Tube focuses on tools for teaching and learning.
• Very easy to use and navigate around the site. School Tube includes tutorials and how-to videos on uploading, moderating and embedding videos. There are resources for video production or Window and Macs.
• Teachers can search video library for videos that can be integrated into lesson plans, and the lesson plans for Videomaker Magazine, Windows Moviemaker, Photostory, iMovie and other video making tools. Lesson plans are related from beginner to advances, and use a variety of topics, such as newscasts, writing, audio, editing, vocabulary and music videos.
• This tool is well worth learning about, because it includes many other tools and opportunities for students of all ages, levels and learning abilities, and for teachers to use web-based technologies for both delivering content and lesson plans. I will use this tool for the online Moodle classes I design and teach for Cornell, and have my adult students produce a video or digital story board for their final presentation project. These videos will be used to teach through our community outreach programs.

Audacity

1Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Audacity is an audio editing and recording program that is available as a free download through the above link. It is similar to the Macintosh program Garageband, and can be used to capture voice and sound recordings and develop them into an audio presentation such as a song, recorded speech, or podcast. Besides being able to record sound and convert it into a file, Audacity offers the option to compile and layer recorded audio with music files.

Though Audacity is not necessarily a difficult program to use, it does take a relative amount of practice, and is best learned through having some direct instruction. I learned the beginning steps on how to use it at a recent workshop, and now I am playing with it more on my own to learn the more complicated functions. I would recommend setting aside a 1-2 periods of classroom time as a minimum to teach students how to learn the basic steps in using the program.

This program offers exciting options for classroom application in the creation of podcasts and other forms of audio presentation. For my field specifically (ELA), having students create an audio presentation, rather than simply writing an essay urges them to focus on new levels of composition, such as audience, pacing, tone, and the addition of music or sound effects. Podcasts also offer students the ability to broadcast their work and display it publicly, which allows another layer of ownership and meaning.

Overall, Audacity is a program that is worth teachers taking the time to learn. Because it is a free download, it is highly accessible to schools because there is no cost barrier. Even if only the most basic functions of the program are used, it would be sure to add important learning opportunities into any curricula.

GeoGebra

1. GeoGebra: http://www.geogebra.org/cms/

2. GeoGebra has similarities to Geometer’s Sketchpad. It is a FREE geometry software that allows students to plot points, lines and curves on a graph. It accepts commands to create parallel and perpendicular lines as well as measuring angles and segment length. The fact that it is free and downloadable on the web makes it a great tool that students can use both in and out of the classroom.

3. The difficulty level of this program is relatively low. Basic features can be learned in a 10 – 15 minute lesson. An entire 120 minute class period would allow students to be exposed to all of the features the program has to offer as well as practice some of those skills.

4. There are a variety of applications for this software to be used in the classroom. Its best applications would be in Algebra and Geometry. It is a great tool for solving systems of equations graphically and it’s excellent at showing spacial features of different geometric shapes.

5. This software is definitely worth learning. The multiple uses in the classroom combined with the ease of learning and use make it a very valuable math tool.

Evernote

1. Evernote
http://www.evernote.com/

2. Evernote is a free online notebook. You can type a text note, clip a web page, snap a photo, or grab a screenshot. You can then organize all these materials in one place. Everything you include is searchable so you can pull it up at a later time. It even will let you search for words that you wrote in hand then put on Evernote.

3. I have not used this program extensively but it seems user friendly. The basics are uploading whatever you want to Evernote and then being able to organize it for later. Better organization will lead to easier use of the program later on.

4. In the classroom the students could use this for taking pictures of notes for reference later. They could also use this to take clips from different websites for research papers or assignments. The possibilities are endless since they can put just about everything in one place.

5. At the high school level I do not think the tool is worth learning. Many students do not have or are not allowed to use laptops in the classroom. Many students would just see this as a shortcut and would not pay attention in class but just upload the notes to Evernote. Where I do see great application is at the college level. Since professors use many types of media and laptops are used more often this is a great way to stay organized.

Speek conference calling

Speek by CommuniClique

http://www.communiclique.com/

This free website allows users to make conferences calls from any computer (that has a mic) for free to other phones (cell and landline) and Voice-Over-Internet (Skype, iChat, Google Talk) applications without having to use a phone; it uses the computer's mic and calls the other people via their phones.  You can have conferences calls with up to 4 total people total form your computer. This allows for viewing documents, presentations or whatever information is needed for the call on your computer while you talk.

While this may not sound like a big deal or new development, there are significant advantages. One is that there is nothing to download whatsoever; it is all contained within the site. The other is that there a huge amount of app-like add ons that can really enhance the experience. One translates text messages into audio for dissemination during the call, another can play audio files right into the call, another lets you mute a person secretly, and still another will record the entire call for you and email it back.  There are many more and the site is always encouraging users to create more.

The site interface is super easy and so are the explanation. CommuniClique provides simple yet complex phone (and video) conference call options in a easy to use platform. Good for distance learning, group projects, emergencies and mobile users.

Tumblr

Tumblr is a social networking site where users can blog and post pictures, audio, and video. Before I even discuss the features of the site I want to say that I realize that using this in an educational setting may be unrealistic in many districts at this point. I am using the site for my final project and was on the fence about using Tumblr or just a blogging group. Then I happened upon this article which made me realize that social (educational) networking can be a great tool and probably eventually will be utilized in most schools. Of course there are privacy issues; probably tumblr would not be safe in anything but high school level. An important thing to note if planning to use tumblr in a school setting is that the user is not allowed to make the primary blog private--however you can make everything else private and you can add as many secondary private blogs as you want. Still, the names are out there. You could get around this by using "handle" names or if you were using it for a class project, just using the name of the school.

With that said, I think there are a lot of things you can do with this! It is similar to facebook in the functions it provides: sharing text, photos, video, chatting, or audio. Rather than the snippets of text you can post in a facebook status update, it's more of a blog format-you have space for a title and then paragraphs of text below. Another difference between tumbler and facebook is ease of use. When you go to the site, your dashboard has seven labeled icons with the users choices. There is no learning curve at all. And the most important thing differentiating tumblr from facebook is perception. Facebook has a (maybe deserved) reputation for being only for fun and kind of a time-waster. Tumblr doesn't have the name recognition but still allows you to do the same things.

There are several different things you could do with this. You could use it to document a group project--building a garden or making something together. After you're done you also have this link to show everyone how cool your school/class is. You could create "tumblogs" with people around the world who are learning the same things as your students. Maybe classes who are reading the same book in England, or even in a history class to gain a broader perspective.

Microsoft Office OneNote

Title: Microsoft Office OneNote

Product website: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote/

Wikipedia summary (product website is mostly ordering information): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_OneNote

Main Features: This is one of the platforms of the general Microsoft Office software package that allows for the collection of many different forms of data into "notebooks". These notebooks can be shared between users. This feature is particularly useful for a teacher who wants to present multiple lessons' worth of notes in one document to an entire class. Other convenient features include the option to insert text anywhere in the document (there is no invisible grid that forces text boxes into certain locations- just click and type exactly where you want the text! Although the grid option is available if you need to center something or align it a certain way). This software also has an auto-save feature.

Level of difficulty: Logistically, since OneNote is a Microsoft Office software, it can only be used on devices compatible with Microsoft Office, which in most cases means a Windows computer is necessary. Concerning actual use of the product, I would place it at a lower difficulty level, because many tutorials are available online, including some links on the product website about the software basics. It also shows the user different actions that can be taken when first opening the program.

Classroom Application: This software has a multi-user feature, which would easily allow for created notebooks to be viewed and edited by any member of a class. It would be great for group projects or even notes that need to be delivered to a class. The only limitation to this would be the necessity for a class set of laptops.

Although it isn't very popular as of now, I think this software is definitely worth learning in case you get the opportunity to use it in your classroom, since it is part of the Office suite.

Blog, www.adirondackcsd.org

Level of Difficulty: The tool I have used is not one from Google, but it is the same idea. The Blog I use in my classroom is through our school's system that can be accessed by going to our home page, www.adirondackcsd.org, then you must click on the high school, then teacher webpages, then my name under English teacher- Heather Banek, once you get to my home page you simply click on my Blog. The way the school system for blogging that I use is this: anyone can submit a post on the blog, however it goes to my school email and will not post on the page until I approve it. This is a safeguard to make sure that no students post anything inappropriate. Clearly, this application is not difficult to use, nor was it difficult to create. I spent one period with our technology coordinator initially setting up the blog. After that, I just post whatever new question I want, which also does not take a lot of time.

Main features and Classroom Application: For my purposes as an English teacher, the Blog is a "modern" way for me to reach my students. It shows them that I value their culture, the internet, cell phones, chats, texting, etc. They can, in fact, use their cell phones to answer the Blog if they have internet access. I also relax my usual grammatical requirements and let them use some abbreviations etc. as long as they are not too excessive. The Blog questions deal with the literature we have read in class, literary elements discussed, and, most importantly, I feel, makes connections between the litertature and issues that students face in their daily lives. The use of the Blog was quite successful. Of course, it was graded, so that is why the students responded. However, I was impressed with the higher level thinking that went into a lot of the posts. I also think the open, more relaxed format, encouraged them to respond with more detail than they do on traditional, in class essays.

Worth it?: Yes! I found my Blog to be beneficial and I intend to continue using it every year with my students to help them develop writing skill, higher level thinking skills, social interaction skills, and social awareness. Next year, I plan to broaden the scope, in that I am also going to require that students extend their responses in that they will also be required to comment on other students' posts.

Wikispaces.com

Wiki – www.wikispaces.com

2. Main features

Wikispaces is a free user based website. What this website allows you to do is create your own public (or private if you choose) wiki site. A wiki site is a viewer/user edited web page, the most common would be Wikipedia. With wikispaces you can create and manage a site. You can also invite specific people to join in and use/edit the site to your liking.

3. Level of difficulty and time required for learning for people with basic/intermediate computer proficiency

On the tech-user scale of difficulty, 5 being a computer programmer and 1 being a basic 1^st time computer-user, The level of difficulty is probably a 2. The site requires users to have an email account and have basic computer proficiencies. Because the wiki is edited by the viewer/user, they must be able to copy/paste, and be able to add hyperlinks and attach videos or pictures as they please.

4. (Potential) classroom application.

Wikispaces structure can handle hundreds of students working on projects together, from 12 different countries around the world. The wikispaces project was actually initiated in 2006 JUST FOR EDUCATIONAL purposes, as a way for students and teachers to collaborate on creating a single project. For this reason, its classroom application is A+

5. Is the tool worth learning? What for?

This tool is growing in the educational gossip. It is a powerful tool for learning that allows pure online collaboration. I have used this tool for several Masters projects which have all turned out an absolute success. The most valuable asset of this tool is it’s AD-FREE infrastructure. That means, no ads, or inappropriate mediating while working within the site.

Screencast-O-Matic

Screencast-O-Matic (accessible at: http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/)

Screencast-O-Matic is a screen capture utility that you can use to create videos of your screen. It is a great choice for creating videos for your students or adding video components to your instruction. Screencast-O-Matic is a Java application that can run on Windows, Mac OS X or Linux without being installed.

This software has the largest feature set of the free screen capture utilities that are available.

• It is cross-platform
• Has a 15 minute capture limit
• You can upload videos to Youtube
• Export to a variety of formats (FLV, MP4, AVI)

Screencast-O-Matic also has the ability to record from your webcam. Other free screencasting tools will only capture the screen but you can use this one to create videos with your webcam to create a personalized touch.

Using this tool is easy as the prerequisites are basic computer skills and a Java enabled web browser.

This type of software can be used in all types of instruction at any level. It is great for online classes, mini-lectures, software tutorials and demonstrations. It can also be used by librarians or on the help desk to demonstrate how to do a specific task. Compared to a text writeup or a series of static screen shots it is a real time saver.

Goodreads

Good Reads is a website for reviewing and catagorizing books. It enables you to create and maintain digital bookshelves for the books you have read, are reading, or plan on reading. You can tag books for easy searching or create a new bookshelf for a separate category like for school books or books that relate to a specific interest. Once you have your shelves you can write reviews for books you've read or read reviews by others for books you plan on reading.

There is also a social aspect to the site. You can "friend" people you know or who interest you in order to have access to their shelves. There is an app to link it to your facebook page, giving you access to the shelves of those of your facebook friends who also use good reads. If you are interested in discussing a specific book, there are discussion boards or you can create an online book club to read and discuss a book as a group.

There are many practical benefits for goodreads in both the classroom or school library setting. A school or branch librarian could use it for a school or city-wide summer reading program since it allows students to review and discuss on their own time and remotely, if needed. The social aspects promote engagement, especially since it links to facebook, where a lot of kids spend hours daily. The facebook connection also is positive since it blurs the lines between the students home and school life, and homework and leisure time. The review writing process allows the student to generate content on the web for school work, something that he has almost certainly done before for personal projects.

Geometer's Sketchpad

http://www.dynamicgeometry.com/

Geometer’s Sketchpad is a dynamic software program used primarily in a commercial setting. Similar to a CAD (computer aided design) program, it is a digital version of what can be accomplished with a compass, straight edge and a pencil. Sketchpad is very popular among Geometry teachers and students as it allows a visual representation of what students are trying to “see” in their minds. Objects created can be moved, colored, adjusted and sent into motion.

The basics of Sketchpad are very easy to learn and can usually be relayed to students within 15 – 20 minutes, depending on what you will be using it for. Students can create points by selecting the “point” tool and then connect those using the “line” tool. There are other basic commands such as selecting a line and creating a parallel line x units away, or perpendicular line through a point on a selected line.

A couple of good uses of this software can be seen in Geometry. Understanding coordinate geometry proofs can be hard for students at first but using Sketchpad can drastically ease their minds. Students can measure sides, angles and diagonal segments to learn what exactly makes a square a square or a rectangle different from a parallelogram. Once conjectures are made, students can manipulate the shape to see if their theories always hold true. Since the tool is basically a computer version of a compass and straight edge, it a great leaning supplement for basic constructions seen in Geometry.

In my opinion this is a great tool to introduce in the classroom. Although, it could be used on its own to teach certain topics, it serves best as a supplement to classroom instruction. In the case of proofs, it someone of a “seeing is believing” concept for the students. The ease of start up only adds to this software’s appeal in the classroom.

Wordle

Wordle (accessible at www.wordle.net) is a unique online tool used to generate word cloud posters from text that the creator provides. The word clouds are creative collages of words in varying sizes, fonts, colors, and arrangements.

There are a few different ways to create a Wordle. One option is to copy and paste text from a particular website, blog, document, or ebook. Another is to provide a URL address for a website or blog with text that you want highlighted. A third option, which is the one I personally use most with students, is to have the students type in their own text that they want featured in their collage. The way Wordle works is that it makes the words that are repeated most the largest and most prominent (minus everyday words such as "the" and "a"), making these words stand out in importance in the collage. Once the collage is created by the Wordle generator, users have the option of changing the font, language, colors, layout, and arrangement to give it their own personal touch. There is also a "randomizer" feature, which can be used to try multiple random arrangments of fonts, layouts and colors. After the Wordle is created, there is an option to print it as a separate piece, or to post it to the public gallery.

Overall, this tool is very easy to use, and takes less than a class period (probably less than 10 minutes) to learn. All a user needs is guidance on how to navigate the website and demonstration of the tools, and then the rest is generally just learning personal preferences for the different options. The website is free to use, and there is no software required as the tool is completely contained within the website. It does not even require a log-on, though you can create one if you choose to.

This tool is useful for classrooms in a variety of different ways. I have used it in my English classes to demonstrate the function and effect of repetition in poetry and prose writing (both with professional work and student work), because the words that are repeated most are the largest and most prominent. My students also enjoy using it to make collages using the themes, symbols, and motifs that they found most important or interesting in the literature we have read. It could be also be used to creatively display important quotations for literature. I can see it being useful for other subjects besides English in creating vocabulary word walls, and categorizing different words surrounding a theme or unit in the subject. Lastly, it is a great tool for the students to use for self-expression.

Overall, the tool is worth learning for teachers because it has a variety of possibilities for use in the classroom. My students enjoyed using Wordle, and after using it in class, several of them started using it for other projects in other classes and for clubs. Another benefit is that when they are all printed out, it is a great opportunity to display student work, which is not always so easy to do in high school classrooms.

GradeQuick

GradeQuick: http://www.edline.com/docs/GQWebHelp_98546723_Home.htm

GradeQuick is an online grade book that I have been using throughout the school year with my school district. GradeQuick allows choosing the way you calculate your grades, point system or percentage. From GradeQuick, you can print out your grades; you can choose which semesters and which assignments. Also, you are able to set guidelines for the quarter and you could print out which students met the criteria. For example, my team used this for the pizza party we offer students at the end of the quarter for having either a 90 percent average or having all assignments completed. Also, you can create seating charts with pictures that the school district has imported (Great feature for substitutes!).
Being new to the district this year, it did not take me long to learn how to use GradeQuick. If you have basic computer skills with a little guidance you can use the program. At our school, GradeQuick is linked to Edline. With the connection, we can upload our grades to the schools web page and they can be viewed by the student and parents. Students and parents are able to see what assignments are owed, handed in late and keep track of their average for the quarter. the connection with Edline allows online quizzes to be taken and the grades are automatically imported to your grade book. This tool is worth using. Students have the responsibility of looking at their grades and they are able to keep track of missing assignments that need to be handed in. GradeQuick allows for easy comparison of assignments, student achievement and your classes.

Google Documents

documents.google.com

Google Documents is Google's answer to Microsoft Office and includes many similar features with a some huge benefits. First of all, it is completely free to use, it is available on any internet-connected computer and one can use Google Documents to collaborate with others in real time. Users can choose from word processing, spreadsheets, slideshow presentations and forms.

Google Documents is very easy to use, if one has any familiarity with Microsoft Word or any similar product, they know how to use Google Documents. The learning curve for students completely new to Google Documents would be no longer than a half hour at the most.

Because Google Documents allows for real-time collaborations, students can be split into groups or the teacher can lead a whole-class discussion and activity with word processing, spreadsheets or slide show presentations as long as each student/group has access to a computer. Since it is internet-based, groups can continue the assignment/discussion outside of the classroom.

I believe this is a worthwhile tool for learning. It includes students and gives them an active role in the discussion and assignments. It is free and easy to use and can be used anywhere in the world, even if a student is home sick from school they can take part in the discussion.

Ed-Line

Ed-Line (http://www.edline.net/) is an online interface for teachers, parents and students. This online program is comparative to blackboard, but is a little more user friendly, being that it is intended for middle school and high school students. On this website teachers, parents and students are given individual user names and passwords. The site is linked to each person's person e-mail account as well. Working much like blackboard, ed-line provides the student with a site for each course in which they are enrolled. Each teacher then maintains their own ed-line page where they can post a variety of things.

In my own teaching experience, I use ed-line most frequently to inform students and parents about the night's homework. I can not only post the assignment to the calendar (along with reminders about quizzes and tests), but I can also upload the worksheet onto the page so that it is available for download. This provides a great way to inform absent students, and maybe our less responsible students, of upcoming homework assignments, quizzes, tests and a way for them to digitally download any notes or worksheets they may be missing.

Ed-Line is also the way that we digitally send our student's grades to not only them, but their parents as well. Every 3,6, and 9 weeks, teachers update their grade books for parents and students to see. This has its positives and negatives of course; keeping parents informed is excellent however sometimes too much information can create overzealous parents and therefore students. Parents, students, and teachers can exchange e-mail via ed-line to help facilitate communication between the teachers and the home.

Some very cool applications of ed-line include graded online assignments, links to teacher suggested websites, and in class interactive learning (using smart response technology!). All of which can be directly transferred to the teachers digital grade book. The training for the use of this interactive interfaces comes in phases. The basic training is offered in a two day, 6 hour training course. Through which, each step is broken down to the basics and is quite easily done. There are more advanced and specific trainings available, which are usually conducted in a single 3 hours course. I feel that this technology is absolutely worth learning and can easily be applied to the classroom environment.

VoiceThread

VoiceThread is a collaborative tool that allows users to create and house online conversations based around an image, set of images, document, video, or even PowerPoint presentation. The creator and users can view the content and listen to or read comments on the slides within the VoiceThread and then add their own. This way, a conversation around a specific artifact or subject can grow asynchronously and stay housed for users to add to or refer back to as they wish over time.

In my opinion, VoiceThread is extremely easy to use. Anyone who can attach a document to an email will be able to upload media to the VoiceThread to create a thread. There is no software to purchase or download; everything is contained on the VoiceThread website. As a commenter, VoiceThread is even easier to use. If your computer has a microphone, you can easily record comments just by speaking or if you are not comfortable recording your voice you can type a comment. There is also a drawing feature of the commenting function that allows the specific comment to draw attention to part of an image or a slide, which is very handy when discussing a specific detail of an artifact.

VoiceThread is helpful for organizing thoughts around a specific idea or artifact and replicating a classroom conversation without actually having to be in the classroom all at one time – which is useful for distance education students. As a teacher, VoiceThread can provide an opportunity to continue thinking about or discussing a topic after it’s been covered in class, or to introduce a topic, idea, or assignment using multimedia and providing students an opportunity to ask questions, brainstorm and collaborate.

I think that this is a tool that is worth learning. It’s ease of use and versatility along with its design toward aiding collaboration make it very flexible, engaging and applicable in the classroom.

Here is a link to a VoiceThread I created for ETAP 520 on Persuasive Communication: https://voicethread.com/?#u1748158

Blogger

Google Blogger

There are two blogs I created to use with students; one was created to be used with a project-based weekend enrichment program, where ELL and Special education students practice reading and writing skills while using the school garden as the focus of learning. My role with these students was as the gardening ‘expert’ who they could ask questions and gather information from: http://schoolyardgardener.blogspot.com/
This second blog I created was for use with my adult audience, “Master Gardener Volunteers” who attend a 10-week training course in horticulture and gardening education: http://2011mastergardener.blogspot.com/. The blog was created to add another layer of learning and student-student interaction, to an otherwise traditional course offering, where student sit in 5 hours of lectures each week, with much interaction with one another.

Blogs allow bloggers to post, respond, and have access to text, pictures, hyperlinks and other web 2.0 technologies.

Blogs are easy to use, although I found that security features in public schools have issues with allowing students to use privatized blogs that I created.

In the classroom, students can produce a blog that is a learning-centered platform where students can post researched information, engage in thoughtful discussion, and formulate solutions to problem-based lessons. Students can create and maintain a blog using Blogger to publish this information for their peers and school community.

Conclusion: Blogger is worth learning, because it allows students to create, express and interact with one another, while utilizing a tool that links to additional web resources.

Jing

1. I came across this digital tool last summer and have used it quite extensively for various purposes. It's a free software that can capture PC screen as images and as video clips, and share them instantly over the Internet. Here's a link to its official site:

http://www.techsmith.com/jing/

2. It's main features include:

a.) Taking a screenshot is nothing special; PrintScreen on keyboard, or SnagIt can do it. Jing lets you take still images of screenshot, and perform basic editing in just a few clicks. For instance, I created the following picture.

b.) Video Tutorial made simple. As online instructors, providing tutorials is essential for making student's learning as effortlessly as possible. Some simple task, such as creating a macro in MS-Word can take several steps to describe in text format, but can be fairly straightforward in video. The Youtube makes it easy to host videos, but how do you create tutorial videos? Jing does this brilliantly. You can select part of your screen to capture video, and then store it in its server on screencast for sharing. that's it. Here's an example I just created.

http://screencast.com/t/Vf3vi6JHXeF

c.) It's free. For basic operation, it's free. There's a paid pro version for more space and easier format to upload to youtube.

3. It's very easy to use and capture. It might be a little bit complicated to access the files on their server.

4. Its potential for classroom use is huge. Like I said, online instructors can easily create tutorials when explaining the tasks and answering technological questions. It's easier to do, and much easier for learners to follow.

5. It's worth learning, if your teaching profession requires a lot of technology use and support.