InternetResources

**Starting Out**
There are a number of free tools out there that are available to us to use in education that sometimes it can leave your head spinning. Below are some tools I have found particularly useful, engaging, or just fun. These tools are often called "web 2.0" tools, which means they are dynamic, constantly changing, and that their content is based on user input. This means you can interact with these sites and often see immediate change in the sites based on what you have done on the site. This "real time" interaction is great and can be quite impactful for both students and teachers alike. There are some things you need to keep in mind when using these tools though.
 * 1) If you plan to use these tools in school, you will want to check their functionality inside your district's network several days and several times before you use them in class. Sometimes it takes a few times for sites to be "caught" by the filter and they may become blocked when you least want them to be.
 * 2) Always preview and explore the sites before using them at school (both teachers AND students.) Any content that comes up on a site in the classroom is ultimately your responsibility, so just be careful and cautious.
 * 3) Because they are free tools, there is always the chance that a company will start charging for their services of the sight may one day just go away. Remember that these are simply tools, and should be used to enhance learning and researching, not actually be the focus so if something does go awry, you should have an alternate plan that will allow you to complete your tasks.

Resources
Below are a number of internet resources that I have found useful and engaging in one way or another. If the name of the resource is a link, it will take you to a page within this wiki for additional ideas and resources for that tool. Click the web address to be taken to the website for that tool.

**Glogster** - http://edu.glogster.com- "Poster creator", upload images, videos, or add text (can create student accounts w/o email address)
 * AudioPal -** http://www.audiopal.com - Create audio for your blog, wiki, or website // (email account required) //
 * Blogger -** @http://www.blogger.com - Free blogging tool // (email account required ) // (students can comment w/teacher moderation)
 * Diigo -** [|http://www.diigo.com] - Social bookmarking tool // (email account required) // (can be used as search reference for students)
 * Edublogs** - @http://www.edublogs.org - Blogging tool created specifically with educators in mind // (email account required) // (students can comment w/teacher moderation)
 * PicLits** - @http://piclits.com - Proving that a picture is worth a thousand words // (email account required to save to gallery) // (no email required to create)
 * Pixenate** - @http://pixenate.com - Online image editing tool; download final product to computer, good for elementary (no email required)
 * Pixlr** - @http://pixlr.com - Online image editing tool; download final product to computer; better for secondary (no account required)
 * Prezi** - www.prezi.com - Nonlinear presentation tool; example - http://prezi.com/92576/ (email account required)
 * Text 2 Mindmap** - @http://www.text2mindmap.com - Online mind mapping tool; download completed maps to computer (no account requried)
 * VoiceThread** - @http://voicethread.com - (account required but can create student identities)
 * Voki** - @http://www.voki.com - Create a speaking avatar to embed (email account required)
 * Wallwisher ** - http://www.wallwisher.com - Online post its. Great for student share-out or parking lot questions. Tom Barrett has a collection of ways to use Wallwisher in the classroom HERE.
 * Wikispaces** - http://www.wikispaces.com (can create student accounts w/o email address)
 * Wordle** - @http://www.wordle.net/create - Create word clouds by typing or copying and pasting text into the text window (no email required)
 * WriteMaps** - @http://writemaps.com - Website planning tool (email account required)
 * XtraNormal ** - http://www.xtranormal.com - Online video creation made easy (email account required)


 * For a more resources, visit my Mile a Minute wiki.**