Group items tagged

Authors: Ruth Getchius, April Wenzel, Patricia McKane, Tera Hafermann (Group 2) Category: test preparation Discipline: English, Writing, grades 10-12 Tutorial information: Help option in upper right corner offers explanations on how to complete any functions and activities of the program. Each section has a view option, to watch the action done for you. Possible Uses: Students can use this to see exactly how their ACT essay was graded. They can then work on improving for a re-take. Teachers and administrators can search score ranges and use the information to see where most students are achieving and also where the overall weaknesses are. Then, they can adapt their curriculum to strengthen that weaker area. Basics: This site is a collection of all the ACT writing exams. To log on, you must have your school's ACT code. Once inside, you can search for any combination of results to see how the students did on the ACT writing exam. The site shows the exact written exam the student wrote. They are scanned into the webpage. It also shows the comments of the graders to the essay and the English score and the overall ACT composite score. There is some personal information available too, like students names, addresses, and social security numbers. This is why you have to have the school code to access it. Positives: You see the exact essay the student wrote. It is online pretty quickly after the students take the exam. It provides good feedback for students wanting to re-take the ACT. You also have access to the writing prompts, and can then use them for practice prompts in the classroom. Negatives: The comments are fairly vague and similar. More specific feedback would be more helpful to students and teachers alike. Must have access code to enter.

Group 2: Tera Hafermann, Ruth Getchius, April Wenzel, Trish McKane Category: online poster maker Grade Level Use: all levels Topic/Discipline: reading, language arts, social studies, science, math Tutorial Information: On the homepage of the website you can choose to create a glog for free. This allows the user to play with the different features of making a glog without committing to signing up for an account. Possible Uses: Students can use this to create posters for any subject as the culminating project for a unit. Basic Explanation: Glogster is a site that allows teachers and students to create posters and lessons online. Posters contain photos, videos, links to other sites, and audio explanations. It is an interactive way to get students more involved and engaged in learning. Positives: Glogster is engaging. It is beneficial to students who struggle with reading and writing because it allows them to show what they have learned through a multimedia presentation with less writing required. Negatives: Does require an account, however a basic educator account is free.

Group 3: Sarah Vaughn & Sara Reich Category: interactive poster Grade level use: junior high, secondary Topic/discipline: any Tutorial Information: Very intuitive- a little bit of playing around and students can figure out most everything you can do with a glog Possible uses: posters for presentations, summative assignments Basic Explanation: Glogster takes the idea of the old posterboard assignment and allows students the opportunity to "paste" in pictures, add information, add video and music, include podcasts Positives: Easy to use, students enjoy presenting this "posters" Negatives: Some difficulty saving and finding glogs, students may need to convert files to add to glog

-Authors: Regilio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 -Tool Name: Yedda - Tool URL: http://yedda.com -Category: Ask questions, search and ask questions -Tags: actively finding the best answers from the most relevant people. Just for you -Grade level use: Middle school and older -Topic / discipline: Arts, Humanities, Science, Math, Auto, Health, Social Science, Society and Culture, Money, Finance, Sports, Computers, Internet, Education, Reference, News and Events, Music, Technology, Environment, Politics, Government, Religion -Tutorial Information: There is no formal tuitoral. There is a link at the bottom of the home webpage for "FAQ's" and "About" which answers some questions on how to use the site -Possible uses: Have students submit questions about topics that they are currently learning about and compare the answer to the information they already know. When a teacher wants to make a student find their own answer, the student can use this site as a resource or starting point. -Basics: Anyone can create an account. Type your question into the main question bar and wait for a response back. -Positives: Yedda is going to be releasing a new version of the site soon. Site is easy to use and navigate. Shows affiliation with AOL. -Negatives: Don't know how reliable the resources or people answering the questions are.

Group 2-Tera Hafermann, Ruth Getchius, April Wenzel, Trish McKane Category: online presentation maker Grade Level Use: all levels Topic/Discipline: all topics and disciplines can use this tool Tutorial Information: On the Prezi homepage click on the Learn tab at the top of the page. This will direct you to a variety of how-to topics. Click on the Prezi in 3 Minutes lesson to read about creating a Prezi and to see an embedded YouTube video on creating a Prezi. Possible Uses: A Prezi can be used by the teacher to introduce and then guide students through a unit of study. Students can create a Prezi as a culminating project for a topic of study. Basic Explanation: A Prezi is an online presentation tool. Unlike a PowerPoint presentation, which is linear in nature, a Prezi allows the presenter to go wherever they need to in the presentation quickly and easily. A Prezi allows the presenter to zoom in on a topic to highlight an important point. It is a more dynamic way to present information. Positives: This is a very dynamic way to present information and keeps the audience engaged. It allows for zooming in and out, layering of information, and grouping of information. Negatives: Presentations can cause motion sickness and feel chaotic if not done well. Time would need to be spent on teaching students how to make their presentations less chaotic. There is a tutorial on the Prezi site that addresses this issue.

Group 2-Tera Hafermann, Ruth Getchius, April Wenzel, Trish McKane Category: online flashcard maker Grade Level Use: grades 5 and up (though could be used for whole class on IWB for younger grades) Topic/Discipline: any discipline where vocabulary is involved Tutorial Information: A tutorial video is available on YouTube. The URL is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Diqf0P5dbNQ. Possible Uses: This is a flashcard generator and is used to create or download vocabulary flashcards for studying purposes. Basic Explanation: This site allows students and teachers to create or search for vocabulary flashcards and share them with a study group or class. Flashcards can be downloaded and printed, they can be exported, and they can be shared on Facebook as well as with specific individuals. The site also included games as a way to study vocabulary. Positives: This site allows otherwise disorganized students to organize their vocabulary lists neatly. It allows them to share with a study group and to seek out already created lists and export them to their account. It is free. It is also user friendly. The site was created by a high school student to help him/her study vocabulary. Negatives: The site is not really kid-friendly in the sense that students younger than 5th grade cannot use it easily. The teacher must do most of the work with students in the lower grades.

Authors: Group 2 (Hafermann, Getchius, Wenzel, McKane) Category: Social network for book lovers Grade level use: All levels Topic/discipline: Language Arts, Literature and Composition Tutorial Information: "Help and Questions" link located at the bottom of the page once you log into your account. Help page has a drop down box that provides several different features for the user. In addition, you can ask the "shelfari community" questions. Possible uses: Journaling, book reviews, independent reading, reader's workshop, literature circles, social networking Basic explanation: Shelfari has the same concept of facebook, where as you are social networking with friends, however, you are able to keep track of books you have read, books you want to read and books you are currently reading. Another feature is that you are able to send e-mails, or look at your friends' bookshelf to see what they are currently reading or written reviews on. Positives: User friendly, provides a visual of all book covers, appeals to the younger crowd. Negatives: Users are able to post on other user's shelves, which could present a problem if the messages are inappropriate.

Group Members: (Group 4 Belcher, Kaufman, Knowles, Duffy) Category: Social networking site for book lovers Grade level: All levels Topic/discipline: Language Arts focus with cross-curricular potential Tutorial information: There are tabs on the homepage for Shelfari discussion groups which include FAQ's and a forum for asking questions. Possible uses: Teachers and students can create virtual bookshelves, join groups and invite friends. Book suggestions can be made, discussions, and networking. Basics: Users are able to create virtual bookshelves by searching for books or get ideas on what to read next through automatic suggestions or by joining a group. Positives: Ease of navigation, free, blog, media widget for both Facebook and MySpace Negatives: interaction with strangers, potential for misuse

Authors: Ruth Getchius, April Wenzel, Patricia McKane, Tera Hafermann (Group 2) Category: practice, games, lessons Discipline: English, Language Arts, Writing, grades 9-12 Tutorial information: There is no tutorial or help. The website has highlighted links and gives directions as you work through the site. Possible Uses: grammar and mechanics practice, learning grammar and mechanics rules Basics: Grammar and mechanics tutorials and practice games are set up for students or classes to work through. There are pictures, noises, and sometimes fake prizes. Positives: Engaging to students, good information on English grammar and mechanics, game format is appealing, lots and lots of content Negatives: Some of the prizes or consequences for a wrong answer are iffy on appropriateness. It is loud.

Group 2: Wenzel, Gretchius, McKane, & Hafermann Tool Name: Quizinator URL: http://www.go2web20.net/site/?a=Quizinator Category: Create, store, and print worksheets, study guides, tests, and quizzes online . Tags: All subject areas Grade Level Use: All levels Topic/discipline: Any Tutorial Information: There is a contact us link at the top of the page. You must sign up for Quizinator, which is free to do. Possible Uses: To create and edit quizzes, worksheets, and tests. You can also create different versions of tests and quizzes easily. Basics: The site allows you to store tests, quizzes, worksheets all in one online area. You can edit any of those items easily. They are all arranged in a specific order and grouped by categories. Positives: Can easily edit or rearrange items on worksheets or exams as well as create different versions of quizzes and exams. Negatives: Not able to have students view the quizzes, worksheets, and tests online.

Authors: (Group 1)Tim Sennett, Bulfer, Carl, Gourley Category: teacher forums and activity links Grade level use: all levels Topic/discipline: science Tutorial information: Help link science teachers together to find classroom and field trip activities. Possible uses: Find and share classroom activities as well as staying current on upcoming conference and meeting. Basic explanation: A science teacher could use this site to find different presentations and conferences that they could use to aid in their classroom material. Other website links are also given to connect to other classroom activities. Positives: The state conferences and presentations are provided for teachers as well as websites for classroom activities. Negatives: Many of the connecting websites are not useful for classroom activities and are more for the teacher and conferences

Group Members: (Group 4) Belcher, Kaufman, Knowles, Duffy Category: Sharing and rating content on the web. Grade level: Upper elementary, middle school, high school Topic/discipline: All Tutorial information: A "take a tour" link is provided on the homepage that walks you through the five main aspects of digg and then asks you to join. An FAQ link is also provided at the homepage. Possible uses: Teachers and studetents can find web-based information and have an online discussion about the information/content. Students may also communicate with other students from other schools. Basics: Individuals post information or links to information on the web. Other users are able to comment on the information and rate the value of the information through comments. Positives: Very visual, easy to post information, ability to communicate with other students and teacher, exposure to vast amount of information. Negatives: Some information shared at digg.com will be blocked by schools' filters. Students may be distracted by other less relevant posted information.

Group Members: (Group 4) Belcher, Kaufman, Knowles, Duffy Category: Evaluation of student writing samples Grade level: Middle school, high school Topic/discipline: Language arts, social studies, science Tutorial information: A "project overview" link is provided on the homepage that outlines the three main phases of the evaluation process along with important details. Possible uses: Online objective-based evaluation of student writing samples provided by other educators. Basics: Teachers submit student writing samples. Other teachers, students, and professionals read and evaluate the work. EdSteps then will publish continuums ("emerging" to "accomplished" work samples) in different skill areas.The continuums are available online for teachers, students and families to view. Positives: Provides objective-based evaluation and feedback of students' writing. Evaluations provided by a variety of individuals of various ages, specializations, and affiliations. Results are made available online to students and families. Negatives: Time - the evaluation process takes time to provide feedback.

Group 2: Wenzel, Gretchius, McKane, & Hafermann Tool Name: SuperKids URL: http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/ Category: Online educational tools Tags: Worksheets, iPhone apps., games Grade Level Use: K-12 Topic/discipline: Reading, vocabulary, music, math, language arts Tutorial Information: This site has all of the navigation information located on the left side. There is a link to about Superkids and contact us. Possible Uses: Use fun educational games in class. Use the PSAT and SAT flashcards for test reviews. This site can also be used from home for student practice. Basics: Superkids allows teachers and students to access practice assignments and educational games for almost every subject area. The site also reviews and rates educational software. There are articles on important educational issues listed on the site. The site also has PSAT and SAT review information. It has iPhone apps that can be downloaded for use on the go. Positives: Easy to use and easy to navigate through. The site uses games to create a more interesting learning environment for the student. Negatives: There are not that many games or tools to use so the site may only be able to be used for so long before a student has played all the games in a particular subject area. Also, there is no way for the teacher to grade the work the student does on the computer.

Authors: (Group 1)Tim Sennett, Bulfer, Carl, Gourley Category: publish games and lesson plans Grade level use: all levels, but mostly jr. high and high school Topic/discipline: math and some science Tutorial information: links to many websites in math, and many games using math lessons. Possible uses: To introduce or review a topic or lesson in math through the use of games and activities. Basic explanation: A student, parent, or teacher can use this site to find lessons in math for better understanding. This can be done with games, puzzles, or activities. The student or teacher can also create their own game or activity and post on this site. Positives: Some games are good for reviewing lessons. Negative: Many games are difficult to use and don't have much mathematical concepts. Hard to relate to specific math topics.

-Authors: Regilio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 -Tool Name: Ning - Tool URL: http://education.ning.com/ -Category: Educational Social Networking -Tags: Education, Ning -Grade level use: Students 13 years and older -Topic / Discipline: Can be used for any school topic -Tutorial Information: There is a ning help tab on the main page of the website. Click on that link and it answers commonly asked questions, how to get started on the website, popular articles, and more -Possible uses: Create a social networking opportunity for the classroom to interact with each other or with other classrooms and schools across the world. -Basics: Individuals or groups are able to create accounts. Once logged in, people can blog with other members, classrooms can blog or chat with each other, teachers can create groups with their students and have them complete work or discussions within the site. -Positives: Very comprehensive and detailed site. People have joined this site from all over the world which creates great social networking opportunities -Negatives: Site is kind of confusing to me. In July, only paying members will be able to join. Students 13 and older can only join due to legal issues.

Costello, Regilio, Saal, Stroh; Group 5 Tool name: Book Builder http://bookbuilder.cast.org/ Category: digital books Tags: diverse learners, individual needs, Universal Design for Learning UDL, digital books Grade level use: All Grade Levels Topic/discipline: Literacy, special education Tutorial information: On the home page there is a button labeled "Learn About Universal Design for Learning." After clicking on this link you have the choice to watch videos or read about the site. Possible uses for students, teachers, and/or administrators: Teachers can use this tool to create books for their students to read and listen to online. They also have a large library of "model" books for students to view and read. Basics: This website provides tools for teachers to create books their students can listen to and read. Teachers are able to attach images, text and sound to create their book. Teacher can also search the model books for topics that are relevant to the class. Positives: Struggling reads can use the listening option to help them with unfamiliar words when the teacher is unavailable. Because the teacher can create books they can be on any topic and at whatever level students need. You can also access books created by other who are willing to share them. Negatives: Some of the books already on the site where being read word by word. It was very choppy reading and could have a negative effect for a student who struggles with fluency.

Group Members: (Group 4) Belcher, Kaufman, Knowles, Duffy Category: Online communication and collaboration Grade level: All levels Topic/discipline: All Tutorial information: Overview link available for members of groups that create accounts with gaggle Possible uses: Communication and collagoration between students, parents, and teachers (blogging, message boards, mobile texting, digital lockers, homework drop boxes, integrated calendar) Basics: Gaggle provides applications that allow students and teachers to communicate and collaborate online. Positives: Multiple applications/services: blogging, message boards, mobile texting, digital lockers, homework drop boxes, integrated calendar Negatives: $$ - gaggle is not a free online tool

Group 1 (Bulfer, Sennett, Gourley, Carl) Category: Creative Art Grade level use: 3-8 Topic/discipline: Art, English, Reading, Spelling Tutorial Information: Click on "How to Play" Walks you through making a movie and picture. Tutorials, Top 10 Questions, Tips and Tricks, Kids FAQ, Teacher FAQ, Contact Us. There are also YouTube videos available. Possible uses: Create a storybook, spell a picture, make a picture, make a movie, make a card, make a story, doodle pad, make a drawing. Basic explanation: Kerpoof Studio lets a student create the above mentioned. They can also save their creations, share their creations, vote on shared scenes, create an avatar, and earn Kerpoof Koins. The Koins can be used to buy more features to use when creating things. There are more benefits if you buy a membership (1 month is $4.39, 6 months is $24.79, and 1 year is $44.79) the benefits are that you can chat with friends, create with friends, and share Kerpoof Koins. Positives: Has a separate section for teachers with lesson plans and other ideas. The website offers many creative channels for students. The registration goes through the parents email. Negatives: A solid program, but I wish it had more for older students.

Authors: Group 1 (Bulfer, Sennett, Gourley, Carl) Category: Word clouds Grade level use: All levels Topic/discipline: Any subject Tutorial information: FAQ section Possible uses: Presentations, to analyze, projects Basic explanation: Wordle develops word clouds based on the frequency of use of each word; words that are used more often are bigger. Users can copy and paste data from different sources to create a word cloud. Positives: Do not have to register to use, not copyrighted, can use your wordles however you want. Negatives: Wordle is not moderated or filtered, students might find obscene language.

Costello, Regilio, Saal, Stroh; Group 5 Tool name: Wordle http://www.wordle.net/ Category: "word cloud" generator Tags: word cloud, vocabulary Grade level use: All grade levels Topic/discipline: Most areas involving vocabulary Tutorial information: There is not tutorial on how to use Wordle though it is pretty simple. There is a significant section of FAQ. Possible uses for students, teachers, and/or administrators: Can be used to create word banks as well as show students which vocabulary words may be more significant about a certain topic. Basics: Enter a group of words you want to appear in your Wordle. Click "go" and the site generates your "word cloud." Then you can change the format, language, font and colors. You can also print your Wordle or save it in a public gallery. Positives: It's very simple and takes very little time at all. You can also put in a URL and Wordle.net will create your word cloud using the words on the site. Negatives: The only thing you can do on this wed site is create word clouds.