CI401Su2010

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.

Group 2: Wenzel, Getchius, McKane, & Hafermann Tool Name: Skimble URL: http://www.skimble.com/ Category: Fitness tracker Tags: Tracking physical activity Grade Level Use: All levels Topic/discipline: Physical Education Tutorial Information: The site allows you to track you fitness and gives you tips for staying healthy. Possible Uses: To teach students to track their physical activity and motivate students. Basics: The site allows you to track your physical activity, get tips on staying healthy. You can plan active trips using the site, track your personal progress, and learn new ways to stay active. Positives: Can track your physical activity and win prizes by competing with others. This site can be useful and fun for physical educators and their students. Negatives: There is a lot of information on staying active, but no information on incorporating healthy eating patterns. Also, there is no calorie tracker which is important for tracking activities.

- 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.

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: 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

Tiffany, I'm not sure why, but the URL by your picture is wrong - it says prexi. Go in and edit it so it's accurate. Thanks, Dr. T

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.

Group 3: Sarah Vaughn & Sara Reich Category: Audio/Video making Topic/discipline: Any Tutorial Information: The site walks you through the process Possible uses: Mini-presentations, listening activities, journaling Basic explanation: Once you choose a picture and outline its mouth, the picture will be made to look like it's talking. Students can record their own voice or use an audio clip Positives: Easy use, silly, fun Negatives: You need a microphone or cell phone to make the recording

-Authors: Regilio, Saal, Costello, Stroch - Group #5 -Tool Name: Delicious -Tool URL: www.delicious.com -Category: bookmarks, social bookmarking -Tags: Favorites, -Grade Level Use: K-12 educators, 7-12 students -Topic/discipline: Would be useful for all subjects. -Tutorial information: There is a blog tab. There is also a support tab at the bottom with a tutorial/FAQs -Possible Uses: For classes to build a favorites that they can have access to from the web. -Positives: Keep, share, and discover the best of the web for sharing with the entire class. -Negatives: I really couldn't come up with a negative for this one because you can use it anywhere there is web access.

Authors: (Group 1)Tim Sennett, Bulfer, Carl, Gourley Category: tutoring website Grade level use: junior high, high school Topic/discipline: math Tutorial information: help students find videos and games to review class lessons Possible uses: If a student needs more practice on a topic or lesson, they can watch a tutorial video or do practice problems at their own pace. Basic explanation: The tutorials, video, and lessons can be demonstrated by a math teacher and a shown paper, or through games. Positives: Many times will show lessons at a slower pace for the student. Has math from Algebra to Calculus. Negative: The tutoring questions sent in by the student will take about a half a day, at times, to get a response.

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: (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

Authors: (Group 1)Sennett , Bulfer, Carl, Gourley Category: blog Grade level use: all levels Topic/discipline: all classes Tutorial information: Help teachers and parents stay connected and promote their childs education. Possible uses: networking, journals, blogs Basic explanation: Give some ideas and discussion topics to help the teacher and parent work together to better the students education. Discuss how the teacher should instruct each level of student. Positives: It has some good ideas for the teacher to better handle and improve parent involvement in the classroom. Negatives: None. It is a good site for discussion about the classroom atmosphere itself instead of what lessons are taught.

Authors: Kaufman, Belcher, Knowles, Duffy (Group 4) Tool Name: Technorati Tool URL: http://technorati.com Category: Social Bookmarking Tags: Technorati, Social Bookmarking, Technology, Science, Business, High School, News, Research Grade level use: High School Topic/discipline: Technology, Business Tutorial Information: Help Links located at top of page for all users Possible uses: Social bookmarking, research, news Basic explanation: Searchable index of user generated and/or submitted content including blogs, focus on technology, business, entertainment and lifestyles Positives: Easy use, content separated by categories Negatives: May be blocked by some districts, may have to search through a lot of information to find what you really want

Costello, Regilio, Saal, Stroh; Group 5 Tool name: ReadWriteThink Note takers http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/readwritethink-notetaker-30055.html Category: organizing, summarizing Tags: Outline, Notes, Summary, Graphic Organizer, Research Grade level use: 3-12 Topic/discipline: Literacy, writing Tutorial information: One the main page students click "Get Started" to begin a new outline. Before beginning the outline there is an option for a tutorial on how to use the outline. Possible uses for students, teachers, and/or administrators: Students can use to take organized notes while reading. It can also be used to help students develop ideas as a prewriting activity. Teacher could use to quickly create notes for students. There is also an option to have an HTML assigned to your outline for Internet access so teacher can make it available to students anywhere. Basics: You begin by entering your name and the topic of you outline. The first time using it watch the tutorial. There are only a few buttons to use while creating your outline so it is very simple. Positives: It would be helpful to a student who gets bogged down by handwriting and outline format when trying to take notes. It is easier to use than formatting bullets on Word. Can be accessed on any computer with Internet connection. Negatives: The help section within the actual outline is not very helpful. It only explained what the tutorial demonstrated.

Authors:(Group 1) Sennett, Bulfer, Carl, Gourley Category: blog Grade level use: all levels Topic/discipline: math and technology Tutorial information: find books, topics, lesson plans for teaching math; blogs for connecting with other math teachers Possible uses: finding a creative lesson plan for a given math topic Basic explanation: A math teacher can connect with other teachers, or their ideas put on this website, to use in their classroom. Positives: Easily move throughout the website to find information. Negatives: There is a lot of information on this website. You need to be specific on the topics you want to use.

Group 3: Sarah Vaughn & Sara Reich Category: comic strips Grade level use: junior high, secondary Topic/discipline: any Tutorial Information: How to videos included Possible uses: use for mock-up before doing a video, pictures for learning vocabulary, Basic Explanation: Allows students to create comic strips Positives: Great for visual learners and students who like to tell stories creatively Negatives: Education accounts available but schools still have to pay

Group 3: Sarah Vaughn & Sara Reich Category: Audio editing/recording Topic/discipline: Any Tutorial Information: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/ Possible uses: Journaling, critiques, summations, mini-presentations, editing music or other audio clips Basic explanation: Record live audio, convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs, edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files, cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together, change the speed or pitch of a recording. Positives: Very functional, works with many different operating systems, free Negatives: Difficult for younger students to use, need some practice with the editing part