Disclaimer The websites that we are about to discuss may be considered by some to be radical and too forward thinking. If we are truly going to prepare our students for the future, we have to adapt to the ways that they learn and access information. We need to step outside our comfort zone and try new things. If we never fail, we don’t ever learn anything new.

Keep Moving Forward

Wordle What it is: a tool for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. How to Use: Introduce a topic, Share what they know

Glogster What It Is: A ‘glog’ is basically an online poster web page. Students can combine text, pictures, graphics, video, and audio to create an interactive online poster. How To Use It: Students can create these online posters to display any knowledge or learning. You really have to see this site, the creativity that it allows for will get your wheels spinning.

Blabberize What it is: A website to create talking pictures. Simply upload a picture, select the mouth and either record using a microphone, an audio file on your computer, or call in. Similar to Elf Yourself. How to Use: Have students create a blabber of a historical figure, a scientist, explain how to solve a math problem, or even themselves reading a piece of writing.

Animoto What it is: This freebie can't be simpler. Upload images, select music, and Bingo! You've got an MTV-style video! Wow! You can post or embed videos on your class web site, or download for in-class presentations. How to use: Animoto can be used in just about any curriculum area - a daily weather report, steps in solving a Math problem, an interesting way to present a biography, a book report, or a digital story. As a teacher, try creating a daily Animoto to use as a 'teaser' at the beginning of the day to show what students can look forward to learning.

Google Docs What it is: You'll need a Google account to use this great tool. When you open Google Docs, choose New > Form. The rest is pretty Google-intuitive. Write in your question, select what kind of question you want to display: (you can choose more than one item), choose from a text (essay), multiple choice, checkboxlist, or a rating scale. Click Done to or embed. When respondents answer all questions and click Submit, the answers are automatically placed in a Google Spreadsheet in your Google Docs. How to use: Easily collect data from students and parents. Collect the info via Google Forms & or have a computer available at Open House. Set up a Form as a pre- test or end-of-unit test, and you can check the answers at home or school or at Starbucks - it's web-based!

Wallwisher What it is: an online bulletin board How to Use: Hold a discussion, collaborate, running record of ideas

Stixy What it is: Stixy is a fun and easy way for students and educators to collaborate online. Similar to Wallwisher, but has many more options for sharing. Users can add notes, photos, documents, or to-do items. How to Use: Create a classroom board where you post homework, resources, to-do items, etc. for your students. Students can, in turn, submit assignments via the document upload, add notes asking questions of the class, and participate in online discussions. When working on group projects, students can create a Stixy board where they can collaborate virtually. Stixy can also be used as a virtual portfolio for students.Stixy

Classtools What it is: allows you to create free educational games, activities and diagrams in a Flash! Host them on your own blog or website or intranet! How to Use: Hold a discussion,

My Studiyo What it is: A website to create interactive quizzes that can be embedded into any website How to Use:

MakeBeliefsComix What it is: Create your own comic strips with this free interactive web site. Decide how many panels you want (2, 3, or 4), choose two characters. From there, you can choose the characters' emotions, resize them in the panels, add a talk or thought balloon and start writing. How to use: Individuals can make up a 4 panel story dialog between two characters, or partners can collaborate by taking over one of the two characters in each panel. Have the two characters discuss facts that have been researched about an animal, or a person, or an event. Give a book report via the comic strip. Have the two characters discuss how to solve a math problem, or to present a story problem to be solved. Use as an evaluation on a class activity or as an assessment following a science experiment. The sky is the limit! When finished, you can print and/or the comic to yourself to save.

Prezi What it is: Move over PowerPoint! Prezi is a zooming How to Use:

ShareTabs Add a list of links to the form and submit it to get a single link to them all, conveniently displayed in tabs.

SignAppNow What it is: A website to create a signup sheet for just about anything. Simply name the sheet, give a date to sign up by and it will generate a webpage you can send out to parents. How to Use It: Create a signup sheet for volunteers for a field trip (if we ever take them again) or volunteers for the classroom.

AudioPal What it is: A website to create an embeddable audio file on your website, blog, or wiki. How to use it: Add a prerecorded message on your website. Give your students a voice by recording a work that they have created and add it to your website for parents and peers to listen to.

Cell Phone Surveys What it is: A website to collect responses through cell phones. Create your questions on their website and send it out to students How to Use: Alternative assignment (differentiated instruction). Are we ready for this? District approval?

StudyStack What it is: A website to create flashcards or other activities. Students can access these from home or school. How to use it: Create flashcards for a review, let students create their own, etc…

99 Polls What it is: A website to create customized surveys and polls for your website or blog. How to use it: Create a Pre or Post assessment.

I Learn Technology What it is: A technology teacher’s blog that has an amazing collection of different website to use in your classroom. How to use it: Keep up-to-date on different websites for different subjects.