Group items tagged

-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.

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: Group 2 (Hafermann, Wenzel, McKane, Getchius) Category: Online library Grade level use: All levels Topic/discipline: Social sciences, language arts, math, science, technology, history, primary sources (as tags) Tutorial Information: "Ask a Librarian" link is located at the top of the main page of the website. Once clicked, the next page is separated into 5 sections: 1) General Collections, 2)International Collections, 3) Digital Collections, 4)Special Formats and Genres, 5)Other Programs and Services Possible uses: Research projects, daily historical trivia, use of primary sources for lessons in Language Arts, Literature and Composition, and Social Studies. Basic explanation: The Library of Congress provides a vast amount of primary sources for teachers to use in the classroom. The site has five main features which can be found at the top of the main website. For example, the American Memory link provides free access to maps, audio, video, and pictures. Positives: Unlimited amount of resources to be used in the classroom. Free! Negatives: Too much information, students may not know where to begin.

Group Members' Names (Group Number 4: Belcher, Kaufman, Knowles, Duffy) Category- Presentation Grade level- All Topic/discipline -All Tutorial information - Users may click on "Learn" to read about the basics of Empressr. For additional support, users may click on "Support" to find answers to frequently asked questions. Possible uses- Empressr may be used as a way for students to share their PowerPoint presentations with others. Teachers and students may view other Empressr presentations. Basics - Empressr is an online storytelling database. Users can easily create presentations on Empressr or upload a PowerPoint. These can easily be shared through email or social networking sites. Positives - Empressr does all the animations for your presentation so you do not have to spend a lot of time doing that on your own. It also allows others to view your presentation easily online so file sharing is a cinch. Negatives - Teachers should be careful using this in the classroom, since it is open to the public. It might not be a good idea to let students use the sight independently.

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.

Authors: Ruth Getchius, April Wenzel, Particia McKane, Tera Hafermann (Group 2) Category: practice, games Discipline: most school subjects are represented, grade 7-12 Tutorial information: tutorial center, frequently asked questions, and help options all available at bottom of the page. When clicking on the tutorial, there are many categories available, with quality answers and help. Possible Uses: lesson review, practice games, student competitions Basics: database of educational games organized by subject and then content of game Positives: Engaging to students, many choices, games are involved, have to spell correctly, a lot of free content that does not involve log in Negatives: Some things you must log in and create and account to do

-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.

Tool URL: Authors: Regilio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 -Tool Name: Go Animate -Tool URL: http://goanimate.com/ -Category: Creative Art -Tags: Animation, eCard, flash free, web 2.0, cartoon, comics, create animations -Grade level use: (Jr/Sr High School) -Topic / discipline: Can be used for any school topic -Tutorial Information: There is a help tab on the main page of the website. Click on that link and it answers commonly asked questions, video tutorials, and a blog. -Possible uses: Animate stories that are written by students. -Positives: Very interesting, and it allows students the opportunity to be creative and bring their stories to life. Do not have to download software. The best part is it is free.Very comprehensive and detailed site. People have joined this site from all over the world which creates great social networking opportunities -Negatives: Site is fun, but some of the characters are probably not appropriate. Blogs can be seen and may not have appropriate material.

-Authors: Regilio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 -Tool Name: Gcast - Tool URL: www.gcast.com -Category: Podcasting -Tags: podcast, podcasting, blogging, FREE, mp3, download, broadcasting, RSS, mp3, radio, independent media -Grade level use: Elementary School and older -Topic / discipline: Any subject that it would be useful to do podcasting for. Example: music, radio and broadcasting, speech class or speeches -Tutorial Information: There is a box on the left side of the main website page that says "podcasting 101." This has commonly asked questions on how to use the website and how to create a podcast. There is also a podcast describing the site above the "podcasting 101" box -Possible uses: Free hosting, record voice messages, mix music playlists / music, record music, record speeches -Basics: Create an account and log in. Anyone can record their messages or podcasts. People can listen on the website to other people's podcasts. The site also allows you to mix your own music. -Positives: Services are free, website easy to use -Negatives: Site is very plain, almost too plain. Context of website looks amateur.