Diigo

Diigo V5: Collect and Highlight, Then Remember! from diigobuzz on Vimeo.

What is ... Diigo? Diigo is a social bookmarking site. This allows users to bookmark websites/articles/etc. and then share that information with the world. A user can follow other Diigo users who might be interested in the same kinds of information.

Uses in education. Diigo is a great resource for teachers and students. Here are a few ways Diigo may be used in schools:

1. Teachers can set up a group for class (each student would have to set up a Diigo account) and the entire class can share bookmarks. This is a great way for students to collaborate when researching information. The teacher can also keep an eye on the types of information and sources students are using and help lead them in the right direction.

2. Teachers can use Diigo to continue to build their personal learning network. PLN's are extremely important for teachers as they continue on a journey as a lifelong learner. Diigo, in conjunction with others sites like Twitter, Facebook, Ning and others, teachers can accumulate more information and ideas than they ever could alone.

3. Teachers and students can join a group, create a group, or just gather information from groups already created in Diigo. (See this example of a Diigo group of History Teachers)

Why Diigo? Diigo is one of two major social bookmarking sites (Delicious being the other) and it has a number of great features. Aside from accumulating, sharing and viewing bookmarks, users can also take screen captures, highlight information (and then export just highlighted information), share links, mark something to read it later and more. Diigo has a plethora of options and features that users can choose from that are very useful.

Link: www.diigo.com

Google Tips and Tricks

What is ... Google Tips and Tricks? This is a collection of great tips for using Google and many of Google's applications.

Uses in education. Here are a couple of reasons this might be useful:

1. This is great for teachers as a way to build skills using Google to find information, understand how to use Google Docs, and many other Google tools. It offers a ton of information just as a way to build our own personal learning.

2. You can offer the site to students so they can enhance their ability to use Google.

3. And, possibly most useful, teachers could use different parts of this site to actually teach students better searching strategies, or other tools that Google offers that can benefit the students in their learning.

Why Google Tips and Tricks? Again, as is the case with many of the items shared on this blog, the work of gathering up these ideas has been done for us. It is a great resource to have on hand without having to spend hours finding all of the pieces on our own.

Link: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/32gFq7/www.eternalcode.com/100-google-tricks-that-will-save-you-time-in-school

100 Best Youtube Videos for Science Teachers

What is ... 100 Best Youtube Videos for Science Teachers? Pretty self explanatory. This site offers a collection of Youtube videos that science teachers might use in class.

Uses in education. There are videos on this site that would be applicable to just about any science class we may offer students. Many of the videos not only informational, but also entertaining. These videos would be great starters in the entice phase of a block schedule lesson. They could also be used to extend the learning past just lecture or teacher-led discussion.

Why use 100 Best Youtube Videos for Science Teachers? Well, because instead of the teacher having to sift through the almost infinite number of videos on Youtube, this site has done the work for us. Plus, it is a really great collection of videos, and a way for teachers to show an appropriate way to use Youtube and to show that there really is a wealth of useful information on Youtube.

Link: http://www.bachelorofscience.com/100-best-youtube-videos-for-science-teachers

Poll Everywhere

What is ... Poll Everywhere? Poll Everywhere is an engaging tool used to attain data, typically formative assessment data, to help guide instruction. Poll Everywhere allows respondents to answer a question via their cell phone, Twitter or online. The poll can be easily embedded into a PowerPoint and the results show up in real time.

Uses in education. Poll Everywhere is a great way to infuse technology into your classroom and to engage students by allowing them to use their cell phones in an appropriate way in the classroom.

One way to use Poll Everywhere is during a 'Do It Now' activity or 'Bell Work.' The students may enter the classroom and the Poll can be up on the screen using the projector. The students would then respond to the poll question at the beginning of class which may either review previously covered material or preview what is coming up that day.

Poll Everywhere could also be used during a lesson as a check for understanding. The results show broad group understanding, and do not show individual responses.

Why Poll Everywhere? Poll Everywhere allows students to respond in a number of different ways, including their cell phones. This is a great way for schools and teachers to allow for appropriate use of cell phones in the classroom.

The results from using Poll Everywhere can aid a teacher in planning and for use in guiding instruction. This is really no different than using something like 'Thumbs up/thumbs down' except for the use of technology to engage the students, and the ability for students to answer anonymously.

Link: www.polleverywhere.com

Wallwisher

What is ....Wallwisher? Wallwisher is a Web 2.0 tool that acts like a big bulletin board. Users are able to double click on the canvas and add a sticky note which could include a thought, an image a link and more.

Uses in education. There are many possible uses in education for Wallwisher. Here are just a few that you might be able to use:

1. Brainstorming. The teacher can pose a question or a discussion point and students can respond via Wallwisher. This is a great way to gather a number of different ideas and viewpoints on any topic.

2. Timelines. This can be done in a number of ways. The teacher can create a timeline on the Wallwisher canvas, along with a jumbled list of events. The student can go to the Wallwisher and arrange the events on the proper place on the Wall. Once the page is refreshed the items get jumbled up again.

The teacher can also have the student create the timeline.

3. The Wall can also be used as a place to gather resources. Maybe a class is doing some research, and the students can collaborate on the possible resources. Students can place links to resources directly on the wall and everyone can have access.

Why Wallwisher. Wallwisher is a very easy tool to use. The steps to set up a wall are straight forward and simple to follow. Students do not have to use the wall in class. This is something that could be required to complete outside of class, or you can use it in a lab or in the classroom.

Link: www.wallwisher.com