Vital #3: Cool Tools

...and now, without further ado, Virtual Vital #3!

Introduction
Now that you've set up an RSS reader, you're probably aware that there are a bewildering variety of technology tools being used in education. It's important that you remember these key points:

• new sites, applications, and tools are being created daily
  
• even the "experts" don't know everything
• technology can be used to enhance knowledge acquisition, but it shouldn't drive the learning experience
  

How does this help me?

Tech integration, also referred to as "connected learning," is becoming increasingly important, as districts focus on preparing graduates for success in a digitalized world. Technology can also help to extend and enrich the services you offer to students, staff, and your community.

So browse our list, try an assortment of new things, and and add a few cool tools to your toolbox.

Stuff to check out

Saving and sharing
delicious - tag, save and share bookmarks
Diigo - bookmark, highlight, and share online resources
Dropbox - instantly save files to your computers, phone, and the Dropbox website
Flickr - online photo management and sharing
Goodreads - share book recommendations
Shelfari - create virtual bookshelves, have discussion groups online

Communicating and collaborating
Edmodo - secure social learning network for teachers and students
poll everywhere - instant audience feedback
Skype - communicate for free, anywhere in the world
Skype an Author Network - virtual author visits in your library or classroom
todaysmeet - create a "room" and interact with a group online
wallwisher - online interactive noticeboard maker

Creating and presenting
Animoto - create slideshows with photos and music
bighugelabs - make collages, posters, trading cards, and more
blabberize - create talking pictures
Glogster - online multi-media poster creator
Picnik - edit photos online

screencast-o-matic - online screen recorder
SlideShare - upload and share publicly or privately PowerPoint presentations, Word documents and Adobe PDF Portfolios
Stixy - online project bulletin board
tagxedo - turns words - famous speeches, news articles, slogans and themes - into a word cloud
toondoo - create your own cartoons (no artistic ability needed!)
voki - create speaking avatars
wordle - generate word clouds from the text you provide

Vital Task

First:
Choose a minimum of three tools. Spend some time checking them out thoroughly, including help files if you need them. Sign up if necessary, poke around, fool with the features, have fun!

Reflect:
Write a post on your blog titled Vital 3: Cool Tools. Reflect on how you think the tools might be useful to you (or not!). Could you incorporate them into a lesson plan? Share them with a teacher? An administrator? Some of the tools listed can be embedded into your blog--if you try one that can, try to embed it! Also, share any tips, tricks or other tools that you've used/discovered on your own.

Finally:
Once you've created your own blog post, check out the other participants' blogs. See what they explored and make comments!



Just for fun: Want to hear about more tools? Here are two things you can check out:
Take a look at the links to the tools shared at Tech Smackdown at the NYLA/SSL Leadership Retreat on Only2Clicks.com (itself a very cool tool!)
and/or
Watch the funny-but-informative Learning Tools Family Feud, presented by a group of librarians at this summer's ISTE convention.



"State Capitol Toolbox" by Minnesota Historical Society