Tools

Some Tools to Consider

(Ease Scale: 1=Super Simple; 2=Easy; 3=Easy, but requires a bit of time; 4=Take on a great project; 5=A bit of a challenge There are thousands of Web2.0 tools. Here is a small collection of some of our favorite Web2.0 tools. They are on this list for TWO reasons:

1. Each has the THREE attributes of a Web2.0 tool: (a) it's free to use; (b) it's easy to use; (c) it is collaborative in nature.

2. Each one, if used correctly in a classroom will CHANGE THE LEARNING and TEACHING ENVIRONMENT to improve the educational experience for both the students and the teacher.

Here's the deal with Web2.0 tools:

1. They are always free

2. They are always easy to use (although some take a bit more time to set up, such as a wiki)

3. They all require you to "create an account". This is NOT a scam. You do this by creating a user name, a password, and providing your email address. The site will NOT spam you--this is NOT how they make money. The only time you will receive email from a Web2.0 tool is when they have improved their product (and even then, you can choose not to receive updates). I PROMISE!!


 * TOOL || WEBSITE || BRIEF DESCRIPTION || McGregor Scale of Ease ||
 * Animoto || [|http://animoto.com] || Turn pictures into a video || 4 ||
 * Dipity || http://www.dipity.com/ || Create a fabulous timeline! || 3 ||
 * KidsGraph || http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/default.aspx || Wonderful graph maker || 2 ||
 * Gliffy || http://www.gliffy.com/examples/flow-charts/ || Make any and all types of graphic organizers || 2 ||
 * Wiki || http://www.wikispaces.com || Make a simple, easy webpage || 4 ||
 * Podcast || http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/ || Let's go back to radio days--make an audio file || 2 ||
 * Blog || https://www.blogger.com/start || Collaborate a discussion online || 1 ||
 * BigUniverse || http://www.biguniverse.com/ || Mostly for younger students, great templates to make FREE online books || 1 ||
 * SlideShare || http://www.slideshare.net/ || Great place to upload and share powerpoints (and you can add audio easily) || 1 ||
 * ToonDoo || [|Toon Doo] || Fabulous online comic strip maker (satire and irony require very high levels of thinking and creativity) || 3 ||
 * FlashCards || [|IQFuse] || Yes, they are great for rote memorization, but why can't higher level questions by used?? || 2 ||
 * Tikatok || http://tikatok.com/ || Students and teachers can write their own original story, add your own images and artwork as illustration, and read you published books in interactive, online form. || 2 ||
 * Trade Card Maker || http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/deck.php || Create photo trading cards using images you create or store on Flickr. || 1 ||
 * Teacher Tube || http://www.teachertube.com/ || Teacher Tube is NOT blocked and has similar videos as YouTube. || 1 ||
 * 10 free music sites || [|Last 100] || Looking for music to use in your project? ||  ||
 * Slide Rocket || http://www.sliderocket.com/ || Similar to Slideshare and Voicethread, this program provides aesthetically pleasing templates and a smooth presentation style. || 3 ||
 * Wordle || [|www.wordle.net] || Beautiful word clouds that are able to be tweaked with different fonts, layouts and color schemes. || 2 ||

Ease of Use || Highlights of Tool || Slideroll is an online slideshow creator. Upload your photos and create moving slideshows that you can publish to the net wide range of text effects- note that each one is relatively large sized (may not fit in blog page). Be sure to see [|Glogster/edu] for education related resources and services ||
 * Tool || McGregor
 * PhotoPeach || 1 || A very easy to use slide show maker tool. Import photos from flickr, picasa, Facebook (or upload), arrange, select music from library (or find from YouTube videos). Creates Ken Burns like pan and zoom effects. Add captions. ||
 * Animoto || 4 || This tool analyzes an uploaded set of images and creates a "professional" music video based on a secret artificial intelligence logic. Very easy to create elegant picture shows. ||
 * Vocaroo || 1 || Simple recording tool. ||
 * SimpleBooklet || 2 || Create page flip Brochures, Flyers, and Product Guides you can email, post, and share across the web and mobile devices. ||
 * MyBrainShark || 2 || Free presentation creation, hosting. Add audio to PPT slides, docs, photos to create online videos. ||
 * Slideroll || 1 || Slideroll is an online slideshow creator. Upload your photos and create moving slideshows that you can publish to the net ||
 * Mixbook || 2 || Easily create Photo Books, Scrapbooks, Photo Cards, Yearbooks and Calendars in minutes with our simple online scrapbooking software. ||
 * VoiceThread || 2 || Weave uploaded or flickr imported images into a media presentation with multiple voices. Record audio, video, or add text or drawn annotations. Others can add video, audio, and text comments as well. ||
 * Glogster || 2 || Create posters with images, video, audio (uploaded or recorded) and apply a
 * MapWing || 3 || A tool really designed for created linked tours or annotated drawings/maps- generate a base map by importing or drawing, add nodes, each with a view looking in 4 directions, captions, link together. ||
 * Blabbberize || 1 || Upload a picture of a frontal view of a face, mark the key points of the mouth, and record the audio. It creates a simple animation of the mount moving to the sound of the voice. ||
 * Yodio || 2 || Use Yodio to add your stories to your photos or presentations, and share these narrated photos ||
 * Empressr || 2 || Full featured tool with uploads for images, audio, slide controls for transitions, timing. Has built in tools to record audio or video to add to slides. ||
 * Vcasmo || 3 || Sychronize your presentation with photos ||
 * ZooBurst || 2 || Creates a pop-up book ||
 * TimeToast || 2 || Write a 'story' which is what happened on a date in time, add pictures, video, and OurSotry creates a timeline. Imports flickr photos. ||
 * FotoBabble || 1 || Add your voice to any photo. ||
 * StoryBird || 2 || Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories you make to share, read, and print. Read them like books ||