Tools+of+the+Trade

Ever feel like you are learning or teaching a topic that is impossible to incorporate technology into? There are infinate tools and sites that teachers use everyday in their teaching, and that students use to help remember or learn knew knowledge.

[|www.quizlet.com] This site can make flashcards for any information that you choose to enter. Students can collaborate on developing quizzes, and there is a fun game to help reinforce the material into knowledge.

[|www.ning.com] This is a site that I have used with my history and english classes. It is a social network, but is very effective to use in an educational environment. A very good way to introduce proper use of a social network in a controlled situation.

[|www.mixbook.com] Have a certain activity or topic in your class that you want to remember? A great way to organize the events or wrap up a subject that you are currently teaching, mixbook allows you to actually design a book and recieve a firm copy.

[|www.ourstory.com] This sets up each student with a personal timeline of events in their lives. Entries can be like journal writing, or done like my teacher did, give writing assignments about a time in our life, and grade through the easy comments that users can leave on each story.

[|www.sparknotes.com] Has in depth notes on many novels, and also has other topics, but I have only used it for literature. It covers each chapter and character thoroughly, and has many more titles than cliff notes.

[|www.voki.com] This site allows you to create a virtual avatar that you can personalize to look just like you! They also speak a personal message, so they are a great accessory to a homepage, to let students, parents, or teachers learn more about you.

[|www.blabberize.com] Alot like voki, but you can upload a picture of anything you like, choose a mouth, and record sound, and the mouth will move with the words, this is really neat!!