Skype is a free communications and collaboration tool to be downloaded and installed on your computer. You can use it to have text and voice message conversations with others who have Skype for free.
Slideshare is a site where you can host your presentations and share them with others. Presentations can be linked to at the site itself or else embedded in a web page. You can also synchronise an MP3 audio file (podcast) with the slideset to create a slidecast - a more powerful way of distributing presentations/tutorials.
Google Docs is a hosted service where you can create, store and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations and online forms. You can work on your own or collaboratively. You can also import docs from MS Office and Open Office.
Some Interesting Uses:
- Using GoogleForms for synchronous polling in the classroom, quizzes, surveys and grading rubrics
- Using GoogleDocs and GooglePresentations for Group Assignments, i.e. outlining readings and group presentations
- Hosting Your Class Handouts in GoogleDocs and linking to them in your course blog or
website
Keep in touch with colleagues and friends in less than 140 characters. Good for keeping track of current trends, publicizing events and polling (in and out of the classroom).
Edublogs is "the largest education community on the Internet" where you can sign up for a free WordPress-powered blog. The site provides lots of useful information, e.g. how to use your blog with your students and how start a conversation using your blog. An ideal site for educators who want to blog with support.
Bubbl.us is a simple and free web application that lets you brainstorm online. You can:
* Create colourful mind maps online
* Share and work with friends
* Embed your mind map in your blog or website
* Email and print your mind map
* Save your mind map as an image
Delicious is a free social bookmarking tool. Store your bookmarks online, tag them and share them with your colleagues and students. Easy to use to search for other bookmarked resources.
Flickr is a place where you can store your photos, tag them and share them with others either through a link to the site or by embedding them in your blog or web page.
SMART Notebook software is used with the SMART Interactive Whiteboard for creating, delivering and managing interactive lessons within a single application.