Simplebooklet.com

Simplebooklet.com is an online resource with countless educational possibilities. This web tool allows users to create a myriad of different publications including flyers, brochures, postcards, newsletters, and portfolios. By opening a free online account, users can use text, images, backgrounds, sounds, web sites, and much more to produce “booklets”. Elements can be edited and added with a few clicks of the mouse. Simplebooklet.com provides templates for beginners and those looking for quick inspiration and professionalism. Each creation is saved in the cloud and accessible anywhere there is internet access. Easy sharing to social networking sites and email is paired with a short URL for linking and embedding projects.

This tool has extensive educational potential for a wide range of subjects and grade levels. The site is straightforward and easy to use. Projects can be quick and uncomplicated or difficult and in depth.  A third grade student could be assigned a project to publish a brochure on rainforest animals, or a high school geography student could be asked to produce a hypothetical postcard to a friend describing his experiences in another country.  Producing booklets encourages students to create and use higher level thinking skills to display and communicate what they learn.

Because of the online access of the projects students can easily deliver their work to their teacher. For an interactive twist on the assignment, though, an instructor could require that students share their creation on a class Facebook page. They would be encouraged to watch others’ booklets and give input on what they find.

It could also be used for group learning and collaboration. By taking different roles, students could each produce a booklet describing one aspect of a topic. They would be given the chance to take ownership of the information and feel invested in their learning.

This tool was reviewed on the blog Technology Bits, Bytes,and Nibbles on October 22, 2011.

Fab Vocab Lab

Vocabulary skills are part of language arts curriculum throughout grades K-12.  Unfortunately for students, rote memorization of definitions is not only a menial task, but also requires very low level thinking. Therefore it is not likely the words learned will be remembered or used in their future academic or social interactions. Using the words in a fun, interactive, yet challenging way could help increase vocabulary retention. Vocabulary.co.il does just that. With “Brain Training Games” in categories such as intelligence, memory, attention, focus, speed, and language, students are encouraged to apply and integrate their understanding of the vocabulary. The site also includes analogy, context, compound word, homophone, and phonics games and the list goes on. Vocabulary.co.il engages students as they explore new and exciting aspects of vocabulary while playing “games.” Learning doesn’t have to be boring. Vocabulary.co.il meets students where they are to provide a more valuable vocabulary learning experience.

The blog “TechnologyBits, Bytes, and Nibblets” also reviewed the site on October 19, 2011. 

An Experiment in Digital Literacy Education

Because of the near near-ubiquity of the internet, an increasing number of people are subscribing to social networking sites, and the age of introduction to these sites is becoming younger and younger. With the advantages of these sites such as cooperative learning and conferencing come dangers like cyber bullying or digital predators.  Students that have not already will inevitably be exposed to Facebook, Twitter, and Skype on some level.

Researchers and teachers at Columbia University understand this and have prepared a course and created a corresponding online private social network to teach middle school students “digital literacy.” The class provides opportunities for students to learn and experience the possibilities of online drama, cut-and-paste gossip, and cumulative data collection in a safe environment. They are taught how their posts could potentially be misinterpreted or skewed to harm their own or someone else’s reputation permanently. At the end of the year, all of the information from the site is archived and eliminated from the internet. Digital literacy is becoming a necessary skill in our society and, while there may be many ways to approach it, teaching this skill needs to become a part of general public education as soon as possible.

Forbes recently reported on this innovative teaching technique in their article, “How To Teach Kids 'Digital Literacy'? Build APrivate Social Network Playground For Them.”

The blog “Technology Bits, Bytes, and Nibblets” also remarked about the article on October 17, 2011.

Hoot.me- a distraction deterrent

Youth and adults are constantly using Facebook to post, chat, and “creep” to stay informed on everything happening in their friend’s lives.  Whether you “like” it or not, Facebook is one of the greatest distractions on the internet today, often detracting from students’ academic obligations. Recognizing this problem, the creators of Hoot.me have developed a Facebook app that allows students to collaborate more efficiently and in their element of interest.

By simply going to hoot.me and installing the app, students can join discussions and create their own forums. When in study mode, the homepage will prompt with “I’m working on…” rather than the traditional Facebook “What’s on your mind?” As you scroll down the page, you can see what friends are online and what they are working on.

For example, a student struggling with an English paper could log on and open a discussion about the assignment. She could either invite friends to join or wait for a spontaneous reply. Maybe one of them is already deliberating over the subject; in that case, she would be able to jump in and learn from their input.

Also, teachers can add to the experience by allowing evening “office hours” from the comfort of their home. This allows the instructor to engage the students on non-threatening, mutual grounds. Conveniently, specific privacy settings allow for isolated conversation or open forum.

Hoot.me utilizes Facebook video conference capacities to connect collaborative users. Much like Skype, Facebook will open a “face-to-face” page for friends to converse and collaborate via video streams for up to eight people. In the future, screen sharing will enable users to view projects and papers directly from another computer.

The app is also conducive to math equations. Hoot.me reads “spreadsheet notation” and displays it in a more formal and visually accurate format.  The combination of chat, math notation conversion, and video abilities make hoot.me a virtual distraction management collaboration miracle.

Hoot.me is a productive remedy for the homework distraction and digital default that is Facebook.

*The blog Technology Bits, Bytes & Nibbles also reviewed the app on 9/24/2011.