- Authors: Reglio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 - Tool Name: Starfall - Tool URL: http://starfall.com - Category: educational reading site -Tags: education, reading, phonics - Grade level use: pre-school - 3rd grade - Topics/Discipline: pre-literacy through early literacy practice, supplement - Tutorial information: none found, user learns through practice - Possible uses: small group, individual phonics practice - Basics: The user accesses a range of phonics skills on the homepage. After selecting a skill, the user selects an activity to practice the skill. -Positives: This site is visually appealing, easy for young children to navigate, provides auditory cues for sounds/symbols, is not too busy to the eye. -Negatives: The songs/rhymes do not change often enough. For a frequent user, this may become monotonous and steer them away from the phonics lessons or activities.

- Authors: Reglio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 - Tool Name: CoolMath4kids - Tool URL: http://coolmath4kids.com - Category: Math games/puzzles -Tags: education, math, puzzles - Grade level use: elementary - Topics/Discipline: Math practice, remediation or acceleration - Tutorial information: At the top of the page is a tab to practice before selecting a category - Possible uses: To introduce Math concepts, small group or individual practice - Basics: The user selects a Math skill set ranging from puzzles, flash cards, to geometry. A few of the skills are timed while others allow for opened responses. -Positives: All skill areas can be accessed via the homepage, it is visually reinforcing to the user, has an adequate amount of problems to practice before a saturation effect takes place. -Negatives: The site is very busy, has lots of movement, and is distracting to the eye.

- Authors: Reglio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 - Tool Name: I Know That - Tool URL: http://iknowthat.com - Category: On-line multi-media -Tags: education, science, math, history - Grade level use: pre-school-5th grade - Topics/Discipline: research, skill practice, educational games - Tutorial information: There is not a tutorial, user learns as they attempt - Possible uses: Research across curriculum, remediation, acceleration - Basics: If the user is not a member, he can choose areas available. If he is a member, via the teacher/school, he can login in and go directly to his grade/class login content. -Positives: This site would be a nice tool to have as a favorite for a child who is a researcher, or needs either acceleration or remediation. With the student login, it is easy to navigate through the site. -Negatives: Difficult to access which resources are available to non-members vs. members.

- Authors: Reglio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 - Tool Name: Watchknow - Tool URL: http://watchknow.org - Category: Educational media site -Tags: media, science, social studies, math, language arts - Grade level use: Pre-k - high school - Topics/Discipline: free on-line educational videos - Tutorial information: Found on the homepage is a button that provides a video demonstration on usage - Possible uses: cross-curricular, small group, individual, whole class, at home - Basics: The user can either type in a topic into the search box or choose from a variety of subject areas. After narrowing the subject, the user chooses a skill, from there the user selects a video to play. -Positives: It contains over 15,000 video clips which are cross-curricular and multi-aged. The site is easy, for an adult to navigate. -Negatives: An adult is needed to edit for content and age appropriate video selections.

- Authors: Reglio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 - Tool Name: Smarttutor - Tool URL: http://smarttutor.com - Category: Educational site - Tags: Education, reading, math - Grade level use: k- 5th grade - Topic/Discipline: Can be used to supplement a phonics based reading program - Tutorial information: Provides tabs for appropriate reading grade level. Also provide both visual and auditory cues for where to place the cursor. - Possible uses: to supplement a reading program, provide remediation, home-school use - Basics: The first step is to click on an appropriate grade level, choose a skill set, follow both the verbal/visual cues to proceed through reading tasks. - Positives: This tool is both visually and auditorally engaging. It provides immediate feedback for both correct response and error correction. Its use is child friendly. -Negatives: To the side of the homepage are options for information on purchasing a reading software program.

-Authors: Regilio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 -Tool Name: Congoo -Tool URL: www.congoo.com -Category: Information Portal -Tags: -Authors: Regilio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 -Tool Name: Congoo -Tool URL: www.congoo.com -Category: Information Portal -Tags: Comprehensive, Real-Time News And Information, Including Access To Top Subscription Sites, Congoo News -Grade level use: All levels -Topic/Discipline: US, World, Business, Finance, Industry, Technology, Science, Media & Advertising, Politics/Law, Entertainment, Internet, Health, Sports, Culture -Tutorial Information: Need Help? Button is located at the bottom of the home page. There was not a formal tutorial to teach someone how to use the website. -Possible Use: Keeping up on latest news, build your own new portal, able to comment on stories, social networking -Basic Explanation: Website is broken down into categories listed above and there are related news stories in each category to read and comment on. There are news clips in each category to watch as well. -Positives: Website is easy to navigate, wide range of information on website that can appeal to a wide range of ages -Negatives: Advertising is sold on this website, encourages you to download netpass which gives you access to other websites -Grade level use: All levels -Topic/Discipline: US, World, Business, Finance, Industry, Technology, Science, Media & Advertising, Politics/Law, Entertainment, Internet, Health, Sports, Culture -Tutorial Information: Need Help? Button is located at the bottom of the home page. There was not a formal tutorial to teach someone how to use the website. -Possible Use: Keeping up on latest news, build your own new portal, able to comment on stories, social networking -Basic Explanation: Website is broken down into categories listed above and there are related news stories in each category to read and comment on. There are news clips in each category to watch as well. -Positives: Website is easy to navi

-Authors: Regilio, Saal, Costello, Stroh - Group #5 -Tool Name: Lulu - Tool URL: www.lulu.com -Category: Publishing website -Tags: on demand publishing, self publishing, on demand publisher, self publisher, self-publish, book printing, book printer, free publishing, print-on-demand, POD, print on demand, eBook publish, ebook publisher, on demand books, sell ebooks, independent publisher, book publishing company, getting published, out of print books, on-demand books, online bookstore -Grade level use: Elementary school and up -Topic / discipline: Literature, English, Publishing, Photography, Culinary, Art, Poetry, Video Production -Tutorial Information: There is a help button at the top of the home page on the website. There is also a support tab on the home page of the website. -Possible uses: Publish books, , publish photography books, publish cook books, publish calendars, publish CD's and DVD's, buy all of the products listed previously, publishing packages available, retail listings available, and marketing packages available. -Basic Explanation: Be able to publish your own book or independent work. People are also able to buy your work. -Positives: Anyone can publish their work professionally! Website is easy to use and navigate. Forums, blogs, and newsletters available -Negatives: EXPENSIVE!!

-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.

-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: 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.