I like how this webpage lists step-by-step instructions on how to create your own website. Each step is even broken down so there's no confusion. This site also allows the younger children to make decisions as well. They can pick the title, what colors they want their website to be, and what pictures they want on their page. This is a great way for children to express their interests and creativity...and it's free!

The technology tool that I used is the Word Mosaic from ImageChef.com. This is an excellent tool to use for brainstorming or if you are trying to make a class list about a topic. First you pick a shape (peace sign, heart, smiley face, sun, clover, etc), then you pick a color that you want the shape to be. Then you pick a font style for the text and a color for the text. Then you type in words and the words that you type in position themselves randomly in the shape (you can re-position the words if you don't like how they're originally positioned).

The strengths of this tool are that you can be creative and design any Word Mosaic that you want to and the appearance. Also, it's very easy to design and use this tool. There are instructions included on the site. The finished product is easily emailed, copied, pasted, or posted onto another website easily. Some weaknesses of this tool are that the child has to know how to type and spell in order to design a Word Mosaic. Also, the child has to have developed motor skills to use the computer in general, so a younger child will need help and guidance. For older children, however, they will be able to navigate this tool independently. I think that older children would really enjoy creating a Word Mosaic, but the younger children may have a hard time staying focused on what to do, especially if they can't navigate it by themselves.

To ensure that all children in a group have access to this tool, you could split the class into groups and complete a Word Mosaic for whatever the topic is for the week. Each week a child could be in charge of typing the words into the spaces, pick the shape that the mosaic will be, and the color that the background and text is.

This tool promotes a creative process because it allows the child to basically "start from scratch" and develop a very attractive and appealing finished product without putting a lot of effort and work into designing it. It allows the children to pick what words go into the mosaic, what colors are in the mosaic, and the font that the words are written in. The children are able to choose how they want it to look and where the words are positioned.

Overall this tool is a great way to list words in a certain topic or brainstorm. This tool encourages creativity and allows children to express how they want their mosaic to look. I think the Word Mosaic would be a great tool to use in third through fifth grade since most children at that age can spell and type on their own.