Zamzar

Zamzar is a free resource that allows you to convert your files to different formats. You can convert documents, images, audio, and video files. Zamzar also allows you to convert and download video files from online hosting services such as YouTube. Once a file has been converted you will recieve an email with a link to your file. These files can then be downloaded onto your computer.

Scriblink

Scriblink is a free online digital whiteboard where users can collaborate in real-time.

"Sorta like pen and paper, minus the dead trees, plastic, and the inconvenience of being at the same place at the same time."  - Scriblink About page

When you go to the Scriblink homepage, you will see a blank Scriblink board.  This board is private and only people that you invite can view your board.  Collaborators can be invited by email or by sending them a link to your whiteboard.  No registration is required for this site.

Users can choose from a variety of tools to write on their digital whiteboard.  These tools include a pen, line tool, shapes, text boxes, a grid, and an eraser.  Users can also change the size of the pen/tools and the color. 

There is an on-screen chat window that can be used to communicate with other users.  Collaborators can also communicate with one another using the VOIP conferencing tool. 

Once you are finished with your project you can print, email, send, or save the file.

Graphic Organizers

Need a graphic organizer?  Check out these sites for downloadable organizers and interactive web tools.

• Houghton Mifflin English: Graphic Organizers - This site includes several graphic organizers that can be downloaded as PDF files and printed out.  Graphic organizers include Persuasion Map, Inverted Triangle, and Sense Chart.
• Scholastic Graphic Organizers for Reading Comprehension
• Freeology: Printable Graphic Organizers - Over 60 different graphic organizers that can be downloaded as PDF files and printed out.
• Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers - These graphic organizers can be printed out or downloaded as fillable PDF files.
• teAchnology Graphic Organizers
• Think Technology: Graphic Organizers - Users can download and print these graphic organizers in three different formats (HTML, PDF, or Word).  If the file is dowloaded as a Word document, users can type their ideas into the graphic organizer.
• ReadWriteThink Student Interactives: Organizing and Summarizing - 18 different interactive tools for organizing information including a Circle Plot Diagram, Essay Map, Story Map, and Venn Diagrams.

Related post: Bubbl.us Brainstorming Tool

National Park Service - Webrangers

The National Park Service Webrangers site has interactive activities about the US National Parks.  Users can search for activities by category, keyword, or difficulty level.  Activity categories include people, animals, history, parks, nature, science, and puzzles.  Users can sign up to be a webranger or view activities as a guest.  Here are a few activities from the site.

• Photo Explore - View old photographs to learn more about people and places from the past.
• Railroad Connections - Learn about how trains connect to the national parks by solving mysteries.
• Yesterday and Today - Compare tools from the past to tools we use now.

Exploratorium Snacks

Exploratorium Science Snacks are different science experiments that are similar to exhibits at the Exploratorium Museum.  They can be used to explore many different science topics such as convection currents, momentum, circuits, and molecules. 

 

The Exploratorium Museum website also has over 500 online activities, exhibits, photo essays, and videos to explore.  These resources are divided into different categories - astronomy and space, culture, earth, everyday science, human body, listening, living things, material world, mind, and seeing. 

Storybird

Storybird is a free website where users can create their own stories or read stories that other authors create.  Users can start a Storybird by looking through the gallery of artwork or by themes.  If you choose to begin a story based on artwork, you choose which gallery to begin with and add selected images to your book.  Themes are keywords associated with the different artwork.  Adding artwork to your story is easy with the drag and drop tool.  Images can be placed in various positions on the page.  Text can be added by clicking on the textbox.  Users can also collaborate with others to create a story.

Click on the video below for more information about how to set up a Storybird account and how to begin a story.


Storybird Quick Tour from Storybird on Vimeo.

Free Web 2.0 Projects eBook

Terry Freedman's Amazing Web 2.0 Project Book is a compilation of lesson ideas and projects from 94 contributors.  The projects use a variety of web applications including Animoto, GoogleDocs, GoAnimate, Skype, VoiceThread, and Glogster.  Each project idea includes a description, challenges that had to be overcome, recommendations, and reactions/outcomes.  This is a great resource for educators learning more about using Web 2.0 applications in their classrooms.  Click here to download the free Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book.

Prezi

Prezi is a free web-based of presentation tool.  Unlike PowerPoint, Prezi does not use slides.  There is one large canvas that the user has the freedom to organize in any way.  Users can include text, bullets, embed pictures, pdf files, and video.  Users can also create paths for viewers to follow or allow viewers to move around the canvas freely.  Prezi can be accessed online from any computer or users can download their presentation to show offline.  The presentation embedded below from the Prezi website shows some of the features that can be used when creating a prezi. 

Prezi Tips and Tricks on Prezi

Teachers can sign up for free accounts with 500 MB of storage or opt for a paid subscription if they need more storage space.  There are also several reusable prezis that can be used as templates.  For more information about how to get started with Prezi, check out this How to Use Prezi guide. 

Prezis can be used in several different ways in the classroom.  It is a good way to present or review information in any subject area and is much more interesting than a standard presentation.

Ideas to Inspire

Ideas to Inspire



This site has many presentations with ideas for lessons including uses for web tools such as Wordle, Twitter, and GoogleEarth. There are also lesson ideas for different curricular areas including math, science, writing, music, and geography.