KAC's+Tool+Review

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=1) [|750words.com]=


 * Age Appropriateness:** 3rd Grade+ (generally), Middle school+ (functionally).


 * How it could be used:** 750words is a great way to get students writing. To help them practice their keyboarding skills, and to give them a chance to exercise their expressive writing through ongoing stream-of-consciousness writing exercises.


 * Why it is worth using:** One of the benefits of the site is that the student doesn’t have to share what they are thinking about with the teacher in order to show that they have done their work. Therefore they do not need to edit what is streaming out of their consciousness, for their audience. Everything they write is private, unless they choose otherwise. Privacy is the default.

When a writer is done writing for the day they can get a automated analysis of what they wrote, how many words, how long it took, words per minute, the number of distractions, the approximate rating of what they wrote (i.e. G, PG, R), What they were mostly feeling, most concerned about, etc. There is a lot of information in the report.


 * Any other comments:** 750words.com is intended to be used as a place to do daily free form stream of consciousness brain dumps. The point is to unload your mind, to loosen up your brain, and to get yourself started just writing. The automated feedback is also helpful and interesting. The site uses a system of points and badges to encourage its user to write daily. The goal is 750 words, but you can type less if you have less to say. This is useful for more than just our students.

Students could prove that they have done the work by either snapping a screenshot of the top of the “Today’s Stats” page and sending it to the teacher (email, drop.io, some other predefined method), or by showing the teacher the “Today’s Stats” page (I am fairly certain this would need to be done on the same day the writing was done) so their progress can be logged.


 * Screen Shots:**

Proof that I wrote on a certain day…

The top of the “Today’s Stats” page…

A little more of the “Today’s Stats” page…

=**2) [|drop.io]**=


 * Age Appropriateness:** Any.


 * How it could be used:** drop.io is a site which can be used to facilitate the submission of digital assignments without cluttering up email inboxes or putting an undue load on the system through the attachment of numerous large files.


 * Why it is worth using:** All a user needs to access the drop.io page is a web browser and its URL – your students don’t need to have access to their email accounts to submit work or files. They just need to know the URL for the drop, have access to the web, and have their files available. Additionally, drops could be created so groups of students could share documents, notes, comment on each others work, and chat in real time on their projects.


 * Any other comments:** drop.io can be secured with a guest password for added privacy. All the files uploaded to the drop are available to anyone with access, so it shouldn’t be used to transfer sensitive or private information within a classroom. There are some additional guest user controls that may be useful to a teacher, for example restricting guests to uploading files, but not deleting them.

media type="custom" key="6523477" = = =**3) [|Project Gutenberg]**=
 * iFrame for [|drop.io/DailyReports] :**


 * Age Appropriateness:** Varies, by ebook; Middle school+ (generally).


 * How it could be used:** Project Gutenberg can be used like any traditional library can be used – as a source of literature. Schools do not need to maintain collections of physical books which have past out of copyright in the U.S. if those books are available on Project Gutenberg. Students with internet access can access thousands of classic works (no longer subject to copyright protection). The books can be printed off, or downloaded to some form of portable media and read on an electronic device.


 * Why it is worth using:** Because it reduces the cost of acquiring the literature drastically. Every student who has access to the necessary technology (whether they own it or it is lent to them) can be provided with a free copy; while every student who does not have access to the necessary technology, can be provided with a traditional print copy.


 * Any other comments:** Alternatively, teachers can use Project Gutenberg to vastly increase the choice of literature students have available to them for open reading time.

Teachers should monitor what the students are choosing to read – it probably would not go over particularly well with most parents and/or administrators if the students where reading “The Kama Sutra” for reading class.


 * Four book entries selected from** top 10 entries on the **July 10, 2010 "Top 100 EBooks yesterday" list:**
 * 1) [|Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain]
 * 2) [|Dracula, by Bram Stoker]
 * 3) [|The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]
 * 4) [|Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen]

=**4) [|LibriVox]**=


 * Age Appropriateness:** Varies, by ebook; Middle school+ (generally).


 * How it could be used:** Much like Project Gutenberg, LibriVox can be used like any traditional library can be used – as a source of literature, the difference is that in the case of LibriVox the books are audio books. All the audio books provided by LibriVox are readings of public domain works for which the recordings have also been placed in the public domain. These audio books could be used with individual students with learning disabilities to help differentiate the curriculum. They could be used in the classroom setting as assistive/read along resources.

As with Project Gutenberg students with internet access can access these classic works (no longer subject to copyright protection). The audio books can be downloaded to computers and/or placed on MP3 players (or similar devices).
 * Why it is worth using:** Not all students learn best through reading. Not all students can read at the same level, and some students need the assistance of audio content to either keep up or, in the case of students with learning difficulties, just be able to understand and/or process the material. Additionally, as with Project Gutenberg, the use of free and freely available resources can dramatically reduce the cost of acquiring and using this media.

LibriVox is a sister project of Project Gutenberg. They have different websites, organizational structures, and search tools, but the projects are very similar.
 * Any other comments:** As with Project Gutenberg, teachers should monitor what the students are choosing to listen to under the auspices of their classroom and control.


 * The Four LibriVox book entries which match the titles listed for Project Gutenberg (above):**
 * 1) [|Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain]
 * 2) [|Dracula, by Bram Stoker]
 * 3) [|The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]
 * 4) [|Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen]

5) [|Jing]


 * Age Appropriateness:** All (with assistance/training)


 * How it could be used:** Instead of guiding your students through how to use an online tool live, you can use Jing to create screen captures, complete with audio recordings, guiding them through the process. Make one long video (up to 5 minutes) or multiple short ones guiding them through each step or phase. Students could then progress at their own pace, freeing you up to assist students who need additional attention, and not holding up the whole class for a few students.


 * Why it is worth using:** If you make the videos available online which Jing says it makes easy for you to do, your students can watch the videos as many times as they need to, saving you the time it would take to repeat instructions a student may have missed. Instead of answering the same question over and over again, for each time a student missed something you could simply let them re-watch the instructional screen cast as needed. Jing is a tool which allows you to maximize the precious resource which is class time. Also, any student who missed class and has access to a computer at home, could access the instructional videos from home, thereby minimizing the likelihood that they will get too far behind.


 * Any other comments:** Additionally, any part of a lesson that could be done on a computer screen can be recorded. So conceivably a lesson given on a SMART Board could be recorded as well, I couldn’t test this, because I did not have one handy.

Jing is free, but it is basically a handicapped version of one of the creator’s paid programs – Jing Pro ($14.95/year). I haven’t tried the pro version.

media type="custom" key="6524459"
 * Sample:**

=**6) [|ReadTheWords.com]**=


 * Age Appropriateness:** Middle school+ (see "Any other comments" below).


 * How it could be used:** This is an “it could have been product.” I wouldn’t recommend it for use in the classroom unless several things change first (see “Any other comments”). If those problems are fixed it could be a great way to create audio files of instructions, public domain texts which aren’t available in audio, and just general text-to-speech services to those who may need it. It just isn’t there yet.


 * Why it is worth using:** See “Any other comments” (below). This service could be extremely useful for students with learning disabilities or vision impairments. It could be a great tool for helping teachers to differentiate their instruction.


 * Any other comments:** This site has a lot of potential, but it isn’t ready for primetime yet, and there are some issues with the way they are conducting their business that I find distasteful. The site implies to a careful reader that the service isn’t free, but you cannot find out what the plan options are unless you signup for the service first – giving them an email address. The free account is severely limited – No recording longer than 30 seconds, and you can only have three recordings on the site at once. You are supposed to be able to delete recordings you have made, but every time I tried I got a server error message from the site. The first paid tier costs $19.99/year. I was excited about the existence of this site, more for others than myself (I have text to speech programs on all of my devices already), but this service is just rubbing me the wrong way. They should be transparent about their pricing plans and the limitations of the free account before you give them any information.


 * Verdict:** Fail.

=**7) [|Google Wave]**=


 * Age Appropriateness:** 4th Grade+ (Training will be required, regardless of age).


 * How it could be used:** Google Wave is predominately a collaboration engine. Any assignment, project, or endeavor which requires a group to work together to create something can and may benefit from its use, for example collaborative note taking, report creation, presentation preparation, discussions, taking in-class polls, voting, signing up for things, etc.


 * Why it is worth using:** Google Wave uses a centralized architecture to facilitate collaboration. Instead of having multiple versions of a document being passed from person to person within a group, there is one document on a central server that everyone can access simultaneously. Participants can actually see each other typing in real time.


 * Any other comments:** Google Wave is a very useful tool, but the fact that it was designed by Google engineers shows. It is not intuitive, though it has gotten better. I have participated in waves with over 400 participants – Google’s servers haven’t even hiccupped - hundreds of people sharing comments, links, maps, polls, etc. all on one centralized document, over time.


 * Drawbacks:**
 * 1) It isn’t intuitive.
 * 2) There is a learning curve.
 * 3) Everyone who is going to use it needs to be wired (though not necessarily at the same time).

=**8) [|Makezine.com]**=


 * Age Appropriateness:** Middle school+ (generally).


 * How it could be used:** I think of Makezine.com as an idea factory for things that could be used in a science and/or Industrial Tech classroom to get students interested in engineering.


 * Why it is worth using:** Any site that promotes a greater appreciation for science and engineering is worth exposing both our students and ourselves to – if we want them to be interested in learning we need to get them curious first. This site is all about exploring what you are curious about.


 * Any other comments:** Makezine.com is the blog for MAKE Magazine. I chronicles various projects which are fueled by people with insatiable curiosity and creativity.

Here are two sample projects currently on the site:

POSC handheld audio oscillator media type="custom" key="6524747"

Arduino Nerf sentry gun build: Quick test media type="custom" key="6524749"

=**9) [|bubbl.us]**=


 * Age Appropriateness:** 4th Grade+


 * How it could be used:** This tool could be used to help students map out the relationships between related concepts, characters within a story, plot and theme, a paper they are writing, etc.


 * Why it is worth using:** In short because it is simple, effective, and intuitive.


 * Any other comments:** It is also kind of fun to use, and it is a free tool.

You may have to move the bubbl.us map to see it all... media type="custom" key="6525189"

=10) [|ToonDoo]=


 * Age Appropriateness:** K-12.


 * How it could be used:** ToonDoo can be used as part of a story telling assignment, to create student interpretations of what the class is reading, to demonstrate that the student is capable of formulating a short idea into a story line format, or even to convey an idea or thought in a single image. All without having to rely on more traditional artistic skills, which unfortunately we do not all have in abundance.


 * Why it is worth using:** It is both a fun and challenging exercise in creativity. Students will likely enjoy the process of making the cartoon, while having to find a way to clearly articulate in a semi-visual medium the point they wish to convey or the story they are trying to tell.


 * Any other comments:** It is a lot harder than I expected it to be to come up with a story or theme that can be conveyed completely in 1, 2, or 3 boxes.

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