More Tools
bit.ly-- quick and easy url shortening tool
When using social media (especially Twitter), you will find that shortening long urls makes them easier to share. I recommend bit.ly, as it's quick, free, and easy. An account is not necessary but if you create an account, you can link it to your Twitter and/or Facebook account so the updates you post in bit.ly are shared immediately with your other networks.
A quick way to search for Creative Commons licensed images, which provide more flexibility for use than traditional copyright.
Create html pages, copy the code, and paste it into any webpage.
Want to share an image online but need it to be hosted first? Try this out.
Jing-- free screencasting and imagecapture tool
Make your online communications visual with Jing. Not only will it save you time but you'll be amazed at how much more clearly complicated technical answers are to convey through a video screencast, rather than a text-based email. Aside from increased productivity, your students will be able to hear answer their questions, increasing your social presence and motivating them to stay engaged with your class.
Cost: Free or Pro ($15/year: includes direct upload of videos to YouTube, MP4 file formats, and other goodies)
Create an open or closed social network around any topic. Ning is no longer "free" to the public but includes free 30-day trial. Through a sponsorship by Pearson, Ning Mini networks are available at no cost to educators in North America.
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To apply for Pearson sponsorship:
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create your Ning Mini network using the 30-day free trial
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then complete this form
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Free online image editor: easily crop, resize, title, turn color to B&W, add effects, etc. then download new image to your computer.
Fun tool that generates a photographic image for each letter in the word you provide. Take screenshot of it and use it as an online banner in your online class. Here is an "example."
Microblog tool. Send brief updates in 140 words or less. Find and follow interesting people, gather valuable relevant resources, create your own global network. Voted #1 tool for learning by educators in 2010.
Create conversations using text, voice or video around media (images, video, presentations, music, etc.).
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Free account allows you to create three free VoiceThreads and provides unlimiting text and audio commenting (web cam limited to 30 minutes total and phone limited to 3 minutes total).
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Annual PRO account: $59.95. Includes unlimited creation of VoiceThreads, one hour of phone commenting, unlimited web cam commenting, 30 archival file exports, and more
Wordle -- beautiful word clouds with intriguing meanings.
"Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends."