Web+Tools+SU2011

=Use this page to post links to web tools and your annotations of them. In your annotations, please address the class developed evaluation criteria.=

Here is the Outline that was created from the Diagram that I shared with everyone on Monday 6/20. It helps to organize the types of tools and titles that we have compiled below...
=Tools to Support Community Development=

**Title**: Ning
Contributor: Victoria Source: http://www.ning.com/ **Recommended age for using the tool**: Middle/High SchoolTeacher resource / learning tool: Learning tool **What it does (short description of the tool)**: Ning has the following features--blog, photos, forum, birthdays, video imbeds and uploads, music, chats, events, groups, facebook and twitter integration, notes and pages, and several more costomization/support features. It seems like a pretty all-inclusive tool that has all the features of facebook but is a closed off environment in which teachers must approve the posting of content. **Skills it might target (e.g. content, technology)**: Internet "Etiquette", writing, collaboration, digital literacy, self-expression, reflection, discussion, etc. **Possible application in the classroom:** I see this tool as being best in an advisory-type setting. I think it has potential to work in an English classroom, but I think enabling all the features would potentially make it more of a distraction than a tool. I read several online discussions between teachers and all of them agreed that it takes a solid amount of prep to get kids using it appropriately. They really have to understand that it isn't a place to upload pictures of their families or discuss the weekend. I like that it allows kids to create a profile page that is similar to facebook. I think this would really invest them. It just seems like in an advisory setting kids could have more freedom to use it as an actual social network and get really close with one another/collaborate on creative projects. I'm probably thinking this way because I'll have an advisory next year, not discounting its potential uses in ELA though! **Technology requirements/skill level:** I think students who have used facebook could pick this tool up on a pretty basic level very easily. It only requires computers and maybe a projector to aid student learning. **Cost:** FREE with a Pearson sponsorship, $2.95/month for the most basic version (recommended for classrooms) and $49.95/month for the more advanced version that more bandwidth and storage **Why you like it/why you don’t:**Likes--> Interesting and engaging Potentially makes collaboration BETTER than if it isn't used (just because kids can continue collaborating from home if they have access.) Relevant-I think it's important that we begin to teach kids how to digitally market themselves well and create/navigate online spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and demonstrate knowledge/social awareness. Could be a GREAT way to connect with parents. Dislikes--> Hard to learn how to navigate unless you start the 30-day trial unless I missed something. Instructions/website were not incredibly clear or informative General recommendation based on the below criteria: thumbs up, thumbs down  ...just because I haven't really tried navigating it myself. It seems cool!

=Tools to Support Content Knowledge=

**Title: Inspiration (Grades 6 and up) OR Kidspiration (Grades K-12)** (This will focus mostly on Inspiration, as this is more relevant to my teaching)
Contributor: Feder
 * Source:** [|www.inspiration.com]
 * Recommended Age for Using Tool:** Kidspiration - Elementary School; Inspiration - Middle and High School
 * What it does:** This site functions as both a teacher resource and a learning tool for students. As a teacher resource, this site has educator resources including practical examples/models of activities, organized by grade level and subject, lesson plans, and models for how teachers have implemented the lesson plans into their classrooms. On this site, students and teachers can develop diagrams, maps (graphic organizers included), and outlines to organize information. There is a Presentation Manager tool to help the user navigate the site and to aid in the planning, organization and communication of the visual information. There are many cross-curricular templates available that can be easily modified, or users can create their own organizers to present information. While the user creates the visual organizer, the program outlines, in a traditional outline format, the information that is imbedded in the visual representation. The outline can also be modified by the user.
 * Skills it Might Target:** This tool can be extremely helpful to students in understanding how to organize information and present it to classmates or to study from (and the tool itself could be a helpful way of reviewing information, in and of itself!). It would be a great study tool to synthesize work in this very interactive format, which presents the content in a visual, engaging, easy to use site.
 * Possible Application in the Classroom:** Teachers can use the lesson plans and there is a tool for helping teachers to make the most of the site, if they have a Smartboard available to them. On the student end, students can work on projects, make outlines, and review or present information to each other through the diagrams, maps and outlines that they can make.
 * Technology Requirements/Skill Level:** The site is easy to use and offers many tutorials. It is very user-friendly for both teachers and students.
 * Cost:** There is a cost and you must subscribe to use this tool. The price tag varies, but an individual subscription for 1 year is $39.00. For a whole classroom subscription, the cost is $300 for 30 accounts. The price also varies depending on how many accounts you need, but I assume 30 students would be about the average for a classroom subscription as the next group number down is for 10 classroom subscribers.
 * Why I like it:** I like that there are a ton of images to represent the ideas that go into the visual portion. I LOVE that the visual portion is paired with a traditional outline, to suit different types of learners and to pair a more traditional form of work with a new, interactive, engaging and visual format for note-taking, organizing and communicating information.
 * Concerns I have:** I am disappointed about the cost of subscribing to the site, as it makes it less accessible to all students. It seems; however, easy to use and navigate once you have access to it.
 * Overall Recommendation:** Thumb side-ways, mostly due to cost (accessibility). Otherwise, I think that it seems like an engaging way to teach students to organize and engage interactively with the course material. I also like that it is helpful to students and teachers. I am not sure that I would make use of their lesson plans frequently, but I think that their templates and the ability to create new templates to present to my students would be a great new way to communicate information and present lessons.

** MyFake Wall, [|www.myfakewall.com] **
Contributor: Vaynblat What is convenient about this site is that students get to create an online life by not only creating a profile but using the profile to communicate with friends that they have also created. = =
 * Recommended age: ** Middle or High School
 * Learning Tool: ** This site has been set up for students to create imaginary facebook walls for characters, important figures, etc. This site is more convenient to use than facebook because it allows students to also create the friends their profiler would have. It also gives them the freedom to create posts by those friends and to make comments, etc. If you are trying to engage students to work with characterization this is an assignment that is engaging and easy to navigate. It took me minutes to create a profile for Emily Dickinson and to have Walt Whitman comment on her status update and for Ralph Waldo Emerson to like Walt’s comment.
 * Skills it might target: ** content skills, particularly in students’ ability to understand characterization and to apply it. It could also help students with inferences, as students will have to make educated guesses about how their character would act. It also shows their ability to use a social networking site, to participate in an online community.
 * Possible application in the classroom: ** a brief assignment or a longer project where students must make daily status updates and must comment on each others’ walls.
 * Technology requirements/skill level: ** Must know how to use facebook, must have access to the internet ** Cost: ** FreeI like this tool because it is so simple to use and is very engaging. This assignment allows students to work within a platform that, for many, is a staple in their daily lives.
 * General recommendation: ** thumbs up

**Comic Life**
[] Contributor: Jones Comic Life is a great way to storyboard a digital story. We talk about stories that can cross media - this is a great bridge between a more traditional prose story and a video of the same story. You could also use it to explore essential questions, themes in classroom text, identity issues, classroom rules and culture, and so on. A great way to build a creative culture in your classroom. (see skills it might target). Computer with Windows XP, Vista 7 or Mac OS 10+. Very user friendly. Prices vary depending on our package: $9.95 (individual) - $1700+ (campus wide). I really like this program. The price however scares me away a little. Thumbs UP!
 * Recommended grades:** 5 -12
 * Teacher Tool or Learning Tool:** Learning tool
 * What does it do (description):** Comic Life allows students and teachers to create engaging digital comics quickly. By inputing pictures, graphics and texts, students and teachers can create comic strips. You can also create flashcards, storyboards for other digital pieces and stories.
 * Skills it might target: **
 * Possible application in the classroom: **
 * Technology requirements/skill level: **
 * Cost: **
 * Do you like this program: **

Lightning Bug
[]
 * Contributor:** Victoria
 * Target Age:** Middle School or low-level High School
 * Learning Tool AND Teacher tool: ** This website is focused around helping kids construct an original story in a process-based way. It provides lots of brainstorming resources as well as information on where to submit short stories for publication/recognition after the writing process is over (as well as resources and tools for all of the in between steps!) I think it would be really useful in a high school creative writing class where kids are at all different levels because they could kind of work at their own pace or in a middle school ELA classroom. There are some really nice printable worksheets on the site that could be helpful to teachers in planning a creating writing unit. The site is really user-friendly and links to so many useful other sites. There are clear descriptions of each link which keeps things organized.
 * Skills it might target: ** Brainstorming, Drafting, Organization, Grammar, Editing, Publishing, Revising, Reflection, etc.
 * Possible application in the classroom: ** Use the site on a daily basis to aid a creative writing unit, share the site with students and allow them to use it to craft creative stories for extra credit or as an at-home project. There is so much help provided to them here that it would be easier for them to work on a process-based piece at home!
 * Technology requirements/skill level: ** Internet navigation, word processing skills
 * Cost: FREE!**
 * Why you like it/don't like it:** I actually really like this site as a creative writing tool. I also like that there is an emphasis on turning stories into Digital Narratives. I think kids would enjoy seeing these models and that the site would allow them to really see the process of story writing visually (a great investment tool) and aid with goal settting. I also like this tool because it gives kids some CHOICE. They can decide which suggestion/link they want to use during each step of the writing process. We get to show them tools, they get to decide what to use.
 * General recommendation: ** Thumbs up!

EduBlogs
[] (Education Blog)
 * Contributor: ** Emilie
 * Target Age: ** K - 12+ (For the younger grades, you might use it to communicate more with parents.)
 * Learning Tool / Teacher tool: ** Edublog can function both as a learning tool and teacher tool. As a learning tool, you can have students blog together, create, peer edit, review, etc. As a teacher tool, you can use it to communicate students and parents.
 * Skills it might target: ** Collaborative writing, revising, editing, organizing, communicating.
 * Possible application in the classroom: ** My classes are set up so that I spend most of my class time conferencing with reading and writing groups. I would love to use edublog to create reading and writing group blogs while I’m conferencing. Then use what they wrote / read and discussed to guide reading and writing conferencing groups. One benefit to using edublog is that the students don’t need to link their accounts to email addresses. Another way I could use Edublog in my classroom is to communicate with students and parents.
 * Technology requirements/skill level: ** Internet access, navigating blogs, username and password required - but it doesn’t have to be linked to an email address. Teachers can control the content of the blog (administrative control). Private and secure website.
 * Cost: ** Free for the version that is probably best in our classrooms.
 * Why you like it/don't like it: ** I really like the idea of using a blog in my conferences groups. I think that it would build a sense of community in my groups and also track their work digitally throughout the year. Each conference group could have their own password to access their group’s blog. I also really like that Edublog seems pretty secure / private and is targeted specifically for education purposes. One of the really cool features of EduBlog is that running along the bottom of each page are links to other popular social networking sites. This way Edublog isn’t this “other” blogging site for my students but is connected to Facebook, twitter, etc.
 * General recommendation: ** Thumbs up! (I really want my conference group to use this tool - or a comparable one - next year.)

** Masher **
Contributor: Vaynblat
 * [|www.masher.com] **
 * Recommended age for using the tool: ** Middle or High School
 * Teacher resource / learning tool: ** This is both.
 * What it does: ** Masher is free program that lets the user create mashups by combining photos, text, videos, music, etc. Basically, masher is like imovie but free and housed on-line. The only major difference is that the user MUST use the videos and photos provided on the site which come from BBC Motion Gallery, Rip Curl, and a few more. Users can not use upload their own videos. When the video is complete, Masher lets you post the videos to youtube, facebook, and other common social networking sites.
 * Skills it might target: ** Content and Technology. Students can be assessed on skill content using this program. They could be asked to present themes of a book or characters through a mashup interpretation. It also targets students abilities to use this program and to mix sound, videos, and images using a dashboard.
 * Possible application in the classroom: ** Assessments, group projects, homework assignments
 * Technology requirements/skill level: ** Students must know how to upload and mix different media.
 * Cost: Free **
 * Why you like it/why you don’t: ** Masher is very easy to use, easier than imovie I think. It lets you complete the work online and allows you to access it anywhere. It also works well with youtube, facebook, etc. The only problem it does not provide enough freedom, as users must use content provided by the site.
 * General recommendation based on the below criteria: ** This is a thumbs in the middle only because users are required to use videos and photos from the site. Thus, this could be used as a quicker project, perhaps a homework assignment, since students are not generating the content but just mashing up found work.

Mindmeister
Contributor: Ali **Source:** http://www.mindmeister.com **Recommended age for using the tool:** Elementary, Middle, High School **Teacher resource / learning tool:** Learning tool **What it does (short description of the tool):** Mindmeister is an online mind-mapping tool. It can be used to create diagrams, webs, and other types of brainstorms. It works like a drawing program with a choice of lots of shapes and arrows. Users can share maps with each other and collaborate on them. **Skills it might target**: Brainstorming, diagramming, analyzing and documenting relationships (between anything) **Possible application in the classroom:** Students could use Mindmeister to brainstorm or to diagram arguments. **Technology requirements/skill level**: Students must be able to figure out the program, which is similar in level of difficulty to PowerPoint. **Cost**: “Basic” is free. “Business” costs $9 per user per month. “Premium” costs $59 per month. **Why you like it/why you don’t:** I like that Mindmeister provides a platform for collaboration on diagrams. Some students will be more excited to use a program that has fun icons and colors like this, rather than the less pretty, black and white programs that do essentially the same thing (like Omnigraffle). Otherwise, the tool is very similar to other diagramming programs, and I’m not convinced that sharing and color are strong enough reasons (in a classroom, at least) to pay for more than the basic version. **General recommendation based on the below criteria:**

=Tools to Support Reading=

Book Builder (E, M, H), learning tool This tool allows users to create interactive books. Readers can access text visually or through audio, and they are provided with coaching support throughout their reading. A simple click will lead a reader to vocabulary definitions or additional information to support their comprehension and learning. Applications are vast, but the tool might be particularly useful for ELL readers. For teachers who do not have textbooks, this tool allows them to create guided reading that is tailored to their content, curriculum, and students. Creating a usable book will require an up front investment of time. The site provides a library of books that have been created by other users. This tool makes reading more accessible; it allows for students to access their tailored texts via any networked device; it provides space for the students to write within the reading, which allows for easy assessment. Overall, the learning curve for creating a book is worth the investment. Thumbs up! COST: free

**Contributor:** Natalie
**Title:** Glogster

**Source:** []
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Recommended age for using the tool**: Middle/High School Student or Teacher <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Resource/Learning tool:** Learning tool

=
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**What it does (short description of the tool):** Glogster allows you to create "glogs" or interactive posters. Glogs can incorporate images, video, audio, and text. Students can add links to other sites. Students can provide feedback on the work of their classmates. It is a great platform for projects and it allows students to further their digital literacy.===== <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Skills it might target (e.g. content, technology):** Students can demonstrate content knowledge, share information, express creativity, give and receive feedback, and increase their comfort level with technology. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Possible application in the classroom:**This application could be used to create a differentiated summative assessment. I was planning to use this for students who complete independent reading books. I think this would be great way for students to reflect on the book they read and provide a meaningful review of the book. I constantly have students asking me what to read and this would help students make recommendations to each other. Also, the glogs can be posted to the class wiki page so they are always available. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Technology requirements/skill level:** The interface is easy to use (drag and drop style) and there are online tutorials to explain each portion. Students would need some time to play with this but it will help them to work on their individual problem solving skills.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cost: **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> There are three package options. Premium Teacher ($99/year): gives you full access to everything the site has to offer. Premium School ($2/student/year): gives you to everything that the Premium Teacher package does plus the ability to share projects with other teachers (great for if your doing a cross-circular project). Basic Teacher (free): This package gives you limited access and only allows you to log in 50 students.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why you like it/Why you don’t: **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I like it because it gives students the opportunity to express themselves and what they know in a creative and meaningful way. Also, I love that kids can share their work and receive feedback from classmates. I do not like the price. I have way more that 50 students so the free package would not work for me. However, maybe I could get my Principal on board for the school package or use my teacher's choice money to buy the teacher package.
 * Informative <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> General recommendation: **[[image:thumbsup_000.jpg]]

Figment
Contributor: Ali Figment seems potentially too girly to appeal to some students. I can see the design of the site (lots of curliques) and a lot of the content appealing to many of my students that enjoy books with female protagonists and a lot of teen angst, but turning off my students that tend more towards sports or video games.
 * Source:** http://figment.com/
 * Recommended age for using the tool:** Middle, High School
 * Teacher resource / learning tool:** Mostly a learning tool, but teachers can pull mentor texts from it
 * What it does:** " Figment is a community where you can share your writing, connect with other readers, and discover new stories and authors. Whatever you're into, from sonnets to mysteries, from sci-fi stories to cell phone novels, you can find it all here."
 * Skills it might target:** Writing (especially investment in writing), Technological social networking
 * Possible application in the classroom:** Students can upload their writing and read the writing of others.
 * Technology requirements/skill level:** If a student can use Facebook, I think s/he will be able to use this.
 * Cost:** Free
 * Why you like it/why you don’t:** Figment will engage students that enjoy YA lit (especially of the dystopian variety). Figment will especially interest students that want to write their literature. The website allows readers to find the work of other writers by genre, most active authors, most "hearted," "all the rage," and most recent. Writers and readers can comment on each other's work. For a young author, this site provides a community of other authors willing to read and comment (the forum has many discussions in which authors are "swapping" their work). Figment provides a much larger community of authors than a single classroom (or even school) could provide. A teacher could require students to read and submit comments on an author's writing, or upload their own writing, and read and comment on each other's.I found the sit easy to navigate, though I imagine less tech-savvy students will need some help.
 * General recommendation based on the below criteria:**

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Title and source: ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Whichbook <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">whichbook.net <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Recommended age for using the tool:** Definitely high school (or above...) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Learning tool (but also potentially a teacher resource):** This would probably be a good learning tool for mature students who are looking for texts to explore on their own or ways to categorize or discuss the impact of texts on a reader. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**What it does:** It gives you book recommendations according to set of criteria, which you rate on a sliding scale. One example is happy/sad, another is conventional/unusual, another is easy/difficult. There are twelve categories, but you can only use five at a time. Alternately, you can search by character, setting, and plot, but you can't use that and the book qualities in the same search. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Skills it might target:** It targets self-awareness and understanding of the qualities of books. It also allows students to read a quick excerpt to see if the book it recommends actually would work for them. I think it would be a good way to support student's use of the library too, since the books they recommend are all in libraries. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Possible application in the classroom:** It could work as tool to enhance independent reading or any kind of individual research project. Students could also read the excerpts and evaluate whether or not the criteria they chose is actually in the excerpt or not. It would be a fun way to talk about how we categorize books. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Technology requirements/skill level:** Low. You really only need to understand using a mouse to drag the bar from one side to the other. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Cost:** Free <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Why you like it/why you don’t:** It is definitely easy to use, and as far as I can tell the information and recommendations that it gives for each book are good. I think it would work to make student's consider their own taste in books, and to get them to explore more literature and read more. However, some of the categories (sex/no sex) are questionable for the classroom, and students would have to be both good readers and mature to use the program, since it doesn't differentiate between reading level in any serious way, as far as I can tell. Also, I wish that the books were able to be updated by users who would agree or disagree with the recommendations. That might help it be more interactive for students and more interesting. As a tool for some students, however, it definitely works. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**General recommendation:**
 * Contributor:** Rose



=Tools to Integrate Arts into Instruction=

Google Art Project
Contributor: Luca Google Art Project This is a really great art and history learning resource that can be used with many different ages of students. You can basically visit some of the most famous museums in the world on your computer and then zoom into their artwork at super high definition. This would be a great tool for incorporating art into any subject, whether looking at art history, movements of philosophy in art, doing a writing project about a piece of art, studying a specific artist or museum, etc. All you need to access it is a computer with internet connection. Although I believe there is nothing like seeing a piece of art in person, this is the next best thing, and the quality of the images is amazing. I would definitely use this with my students. A big thumbs up! [] Great for any applicable projects!
 * SketchUp**
 * Contributor: Rose**
 * Source:** Google and WestEd,
 * Recommended age:** Elementary through High School
 * What it does:** It is a tool for creating 3-D models of buildings (think CAD) or other structures. It could be used to link English and Math and Social Studies instruction with a course that involves more creative effort. It would also be great for some interdisciplinary course work in mltiple areas.
 * Skills it might target:** It can definitely help students visualize and improve their spatial awareness and intelligence. Multiple students can work on one project, so it emphasizes collaboration and clear conversation. It also allows students to develop a completely new skill set in terms of design and creativity.
 * Technology Requirement/Skill Level:** Medium. The program is a bit complex, but it is easy to learn if you understand the goals of what you are doing. Students can download it for free.
 * Cost**:The basic version is free, and would be adequeate for most classroom projects. There is a professional version that you have to license, and that is not free.
 * Why I like it:** I like that it allows students to access material in a way they might not usually consider. This would be really interesting for students who are into design or architecture, and it could allow for some cool collaborative projects across classes to conceptualize how characters or historical people lived, as well as a more focused understanding of geomentry and structures.
 * Concerns:** It is a little complicated, and I'm not sure it is actually appropriate for elementary school (though Google claims it is). It has some great applications, but you would probably only want to use it as part of a multidisciplinary project, not just in one class, since it is a little time consuming.
 * General Recommendation:**

=Tools to Assist with Research=

Zotero
Contributor: Feder
 * Source:** http://www.zotero.org/
 * Recommended Age for Using Tool:** High School and beyond
 * What it does:** It is a tool that helps students to collect, organize, cite and share research sources. It is used through the Firefox web browser, which is easily downloaded on any computer. It keeps an online library through the browser of all of your sources, collections and notes. Your library does not have to be open to quickly save new information to it. At its most basic, it is a citation manager that organizes your bibliographic sources, including references to books and articles. You can even keep the references organized into collections, based on the projects you are using various sources for. Notes, files and links can also be attached to the sources that are saved to the library. Zotero automatically creates the citation for any source you add to its library, and the citations can be converted into any format (MLA, APA, etc.) that you request. It has all that you would ever want to choose from. You can also very easily insert these citations (in-text or for a bibliography) into a word document that you are working in. You can also join collaborative groups, in which you can share files and sources, and through which you can manage research sources and materials based on common interest or research topics.
 * Skills it Might Target:** This is a tool for students completing more advanced research. Students need to be able to find and access source material on the internet that they plan to use for research purposes. It will tap into their research paper-writing skills and help them organize and manage their research work.
 * Possible Application in the Classroom:** Students can use this tool to help them in working on research projects. They can manage their sources for a particular project through the collections in their Zotero library and check on their sources.
 * Technology Requirements/Skill Level:** This requires a high level of skill to use. Students also probably need to have a base-level knowledge of researching, or they will need to be going through the steps for the first time, with a teacher guiding them, in order to appropriately find materials to access through their Zotero library.
 * Cost:** Free! :)
 * Why I like it:** I love that you can have all of your sources managed for you and it can be easily and clearly organized. It's also very easy to access through the web browser and you can even set it up so that you can access your zotero account with your library from any computer!
 * Concerns I have:** I wonder about setting students up with a program that puts together all of the citation information for them. Should we teach them how to do this themselves first? Or will they always be able to use programs like this, making their independent understanding of how to do it unnecessary? This also requires a high level of skill to use. Based on Monday's class discussion, I worry that most of our students would not be able to be able to navigate a site like this.
 * Overall General Recommendation:** Despite it's difficulty and my concerns about whether this does //too// much of the work for our students, I love it and think that this is a GREAT resource for any researcher to know about! Thumbs up!

Contributor: Riley <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> really good if and only if it can be pulled off correctly with the right group of students.
 * Tool:** www.Delicious.com
 * Recommended age: ** High School
 * Learning Tool: ** Delicious.com is a social bookmarking tool that allows students to save copies, organize, annotate, and share the research they find online. This program replaces old research note cards, and it allows students to work together to build a repertoire of books and interesting sites for their personal or academic use.
 * Skills it might target: **Online research, organizational skills, labeling sources based on genre or relevance to topics, social networking, group project facilitation, independent internet research, inspiring initiative for online research
 * Possible application in the classroom: ** This is a great tool for research projects or independent reading. **Research:** This is a way to get rid of annotating research on note cards that you lose or that you don't fill out fully. Students can collect research for their projects and keep a list and a copy of the relevant information they find all in one spot. They can write on the documents online, and they can organize them into different folders based on where the sources fit into their paper/project/etc. This tool could also help students write group research papers because they can share what they find with each other by "tagging" the source. **Independent Reading:** Students who struggle to find fiction novels that interest them can use the "subscriptions" tool on Delcious.com to receive internet articles and sites related to topics they pick. For example, if a student likes baseball, they could subscribe to the tag "baseball," and any site or article that has ever been tagged as "baseball" by a Delicious user will automatically be sent to your student's account. This way, they could have reading materials they like sent directly to them for free!
 * Technology requirements/skill level: ** Students need access to computers. Students need to know how to use Delicious.com and how to label internet resources based on a topic. The site itself is a bit complicated and may take a few mini-lessons to get students comfortable with the organizational tools. Students should be comfortable navigating internet sites. The nice thing about this site is that everything is stored on-line so students could access their research from any computer anywhere as long as it has the internet.
 * Cost: ** Free.
 * General recommendation: **

[|Poodwaddle]
Contributor: Luca It can be used as a **teacher resource or as a learning tool.** Poodwaddle is a website where you can download various free little flash applets that you can refer to or embed into a blog, website, etc. The applets have all kinds on interesting statistics, like the world clock that shows live statistics of population, births, deaths, consumption of different resources, and much more. There are many applets to choose from that focus on different statistics. I like this tool because of the real-time application of the statistics from the applets which I think can be interesting and fascinating information. I don't love that the site has many advertisements going on, but I guess it's the way the applets stay free. The only reservation I have is the disclaimer by poodwaddle that they cannot guarantee how accurate the statistics are. I would double check this before using it in a class. Also understanding and reading the statistics could be confusing, so students would have to be guided in understanding what's going on. It's pretty straight forward to navigate, but there is a lot of information offered in one small space. Despite questions of accuracy, I think the tool is interesting and could be used in many lessons to make general points about world resources and our effects on the environment. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
 * Source:** poodwaddle.com
 * Recommended age:** I would recommend this tool for older students, probably high school to college level.
 * Skills it might target:** One could definitely use the applets for statistical data for math or social studies activities.
 * Technology requirements/ Skill level:** You need an Internet connection to access the applets. In terms of skill level students would have to know how to navigate the page and the Internet, because there is a lot going on around the applets.
 * Cost:** Free
 * General recommendation:**

**Tool:**Mixbook http://www.mixbook.com/
Contributor: Riley Super easy to use!
 * Recommended age: ** elementary -high school
 * Learning Tool: ** Mixbook.com is a site that allows students and teachers to create on-line scrapbooks. Users can add pictures, captions, and decorations. Users can alter the style of their scrapbooks as well.
 * Skills it might target: ** This tool would target student presentation skills. It would also help students identify main ideas in books, and it could help students with summarizing, thematic understanding, or reviewing skills.
 * Possible application in the classroom: ** I imagine this tool for book shares, replacing PowerPoint presentations, or reciprocal teaching. For example, students could be given the assignment to make a scrap book to go along with __The Diary of Anne Frank__ using pictures of her childhood home, concentration camps, maps, etc.
 * Technology requirements/skill level: ** Students must know how to upload photos from computer files or the internet. They must be able to navigate easy tool bars for scrapbook formatting. Uses similar digital skills required for Facebook, so most students will feel comfortable creating a scrap book!
 * Cost: ** Free!
 * General recommendation: **

Tool: [|Career Browser]
Contributor: Harrington Recommended Age: High School Description: I found this tool under the guidance section of the webtools site. I have been thinking a lot about summer and how to best prepare my 10th graders who are moving up to 11th grade so that they are better prepared for their future than my seniors were this year. This tool provides an in depth but kid friendly look at a wide range of careers. It includes training/schooling required as well as salary. It also lists the qualities that someone who might like this career would have. Skills it might target: This tool will help kids practice web research while exploring their options for the future. This site provides links to information about colleges and programs that help prepare you for your chosen career as well as links to related careers. Kids could use this as a springboard to research careers farther so that they can start taking the steps necessary to achieve their goals. Possible Application in the Classroom: I think this would be a great start of year assignment or summer assignment for Juniors and Seniors (the earlier the better) that could be a jumping off point for journaling and discussion at the start of the school year. This will also clue the teacher into kids' interests right off the bat. I think discussions about career vs jobs are really valuable because students hear "Go to college." but they often don't understand why this is necessary. Activities like this can show kids that college is just one step to a career that you love and pays the bills. Technology requirements/skill level: A student would need access to the internet. The site could be accessed on a phone or a library computer if the student does not have access to the internet at home. The site is very easy to navigate. Kids just need to click around. Issues: My only issue with the site is that it is a lot of text. I wish it was more interactive. Videos and images illustrating different careers would be great. General Recommendation: Thumb mostly up! I like it aside from the lack of visuals. Although, perhaps that will inspire kids to research further...