Store and Share Files

Another storage spot, but this one also syncs and gives you 2 gig of FREE space.  (You can pay for more if you need it.) It's called DropBox.  When you join there is a small app to download to your computer.

Here is an invitation to Join: http://db.tt/nFFfum4

 DropBox can share with anyone, even if they are not a drop box member.  Here is a folder of Catherine (my cat) viewing several photos from my friend Ann when she was in Hawaii.  Don't worry it will NOT automatically download anything, but will let you view the pictures in the gallery and download if you wish. 

https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/31338366/1/Catherine%26AnnHawaii?h=1ff847

Real time collaboration

iEtherPad allows users to word process in real time. Great for brainstorming! CAN also use asynchronously. Users need the URL. Creating an account allows you to have your own iEtherPad url as well as designate yourself and selected others as administrators.

Good points

REAL, real time brainstorming
No advertising
Easy to use
Membership is free
Public pads do not need membership
Administrator can add a password to a public pad
Only Administrators has access to security and can change pad to public and add a password.
Public AND password protected allow anyone with the url AND password to write, so students do not need to join or have email.

Collaborate synchronously or asynchronously

Edistorm - stickies on a wall with collaboration.
Perhaps we should just let them "speak" for themselves:



Best of all it's FREE!

Google Wonder Wheel

It's been around for over a year now, but you may not have ever tried it out.  Why should you? Because it presents your results in a graphically relevant way.  Not all students (or teachers) find it easy to scan down a page to choose which link to follow.  While this is still text, it's organize in a mind map type of format ... and clicking on one of the subcategories will expand out with another wheel... an so on.

For illustrated directions: http://www.googlewonderwheel.com/google-wonder-wheel-step-by-step

Awesome Highlighter

Helping students research and take notes is often a difficult task. Awesome Highlighter can help with allowing them to highlight text and then save a SMALL link to that page. The short url can be saved, or emailed to self or research partners.

Best of all, there is a Bookmarklet or FireFix add-on, so once you install it, all you have to do is click on the AH on your browser page to start highlighting. Ah, how simple!

Sometimes paper is best

Many of us are familiar with digital graphic organizers - sometimes called mind maps, but sometimes paper is the way to go, especially with small groups physically in the same spot! For just some times Holt McDougal Online has published, free of charge, downloadable PDF files for various organizers. They also come with teaching notes on how to use them in the classroom.

Visual Organizers

Early in the 2009 school year, a post was done about Webspiration. This is still a great collaborative visual organizer! For some, however, it may have too many choices and unfortunately, in the Fall of 2010 the public beta will be over and they will move to Classroom subscriptions. That means money. Fabulous tool if your district can get it.

Another visual organizer tool that is very basic, but can still be collaborative is Bubbl.us [http://bubbl.us] Partners can be given rights to edit or only read. Registration is required, but is free. Here is a very simple bubbl.us mind map.