Webliography

=Webliography=

Please use the following format. (As soon as you know what site you are evaluating please post it so that no one else selects that resource.)


 * Name:**
 * Date**:
 * Website Name: (MUST BE HYPERLINKED TO SOURCE)**

(1) **Summary** Type your summary here (2) **Critique** - **Possible innovation application** (A brief answer here) - **Main advantages** (A brief answer here) - **Possible concerns of the website** (A brief answer here)

Martha Ross January 17, 2011 Website Name: []

(1) Summary

This site is created by teachers and for teachers. It is a site that allows teachers to share their great ideas and not have to feel like that have to re-invent the wheel each time they need to come up with a new creative lesson. It has ideas that are easily searched and can be narrowed by grade level and subject. Also, you can become a contributor. There are blogs, news and even grant applications available.

(2) Critique

This is a great resource website for a teacher. It is not the first website to help teachers share information and lesson plans but it does seem to be comprehensive and easy to navigate.

- The main advantages would be to have all of these resources in on location. It is like a one-stop-shop for a teacher and it is not just limited to one subject or grade level.

- The possible concerns of the website would that it would create complacent teachers that have no need to venture to other sites to find resources.

Kari Holmberg 1-19-11 Website Name: @http://www.starfall.com/

(1) Summary: This website was designed by educators, artists, designers, musicians, composers, and engineers to make learning phonics and reading as a helpful resource available on the web. This website is a universal tool for all users in a public, private, and a home-school based settings. This educational website is geared towards learners from preschool to second grade as well as ESL learners and special education learners.

(2) Critique: The educational website aids in the learning process of ABC reading, writing, and recognition. It also helps in playing educational games to enhance phonic awareness and text recognition. Online games as well as printed writing handouts and worksheets are available to teachers and parents on this free website. The “ABC’s” APP is available to iPhones and iPods for mobile learning. This is a great resource site for early childhood educators.

Main Advantage: As a free educational website, all users young and old are able to benefit from the simple learning processes of the introduction to the alphabet. Free downloads and educational games allow for further learning and expanding on vocabulary, comprehension, and phonic awareness. There is also a new link to “More Starfall” were the subjects of math, colors, songs/ rhymes, vowels, and sight words are integrated into the site for more learning across the curriculum.

Possible Concerns: I was very exciting to notice a new Kindergarten Reading curriculum, but for a fee. I am aware that not all learning adventures are free and am fortunate to have such a useful innovative leaning tool for my youngsters. I am concerned that some areas of the educational website might turn to fee-based features in the future.

Heather Peacock 1-20-11 Website name: [|http://www.unitedstreaming,com]

(1) Summary: This website was created by the Discovery Channel. This site was designed to aid students in finding and using educational videos in their lessons. The site also aids schools offering resources for professional development, assessments, and curricular resources. The educational videos cover each subject and also breaks up the videos by grade levels, ranging from k-12. This is not a public site, but is set up through the schools. After your school had joined the site, you may go in and create your own personal account. This site is very user friendly and can be used across the curriculum.

(2) Critique This educational website is a wonderful resource. I have often used it to prepare myself to teach science content that I was unsure about. It is not only videos, but you can also create assessments, puzzles, and it has a section to aid students with homework. There are many ways you could use this in your classroom. You could watch a movie whold group or during centers. Also, teachers can print out puzzles and assessments to go along with the videos. I have used this site for videos, but I was unaware of all of the resources it actually gave me and my students.

Main Advantage: As a video archive, it covers each subject and range. The search engine makes it very easy for teachers to access exactly what they want quickly. Each video is age appropriate and kid-friendly.

Possible Concerns: There is a lot of content to go through. Also, some videos are not full videos, but clips. You have to check to make sure you have found a full video, unless you just want to show the clip as a mini-lesson.

Lori Wangberg 1/21/11 Website: []

Storyjumper is a website that was created for anyone who is interested in creative writing especially designed with interest in writing children's stories. It encourages anyone to write regardless of age, so it is open to both children and adults, and encourages teachers to offer it to their students. It is free to create and read stories on line. However, when your book is published there is a fee for hard copy publishing and ordering costs.
 * (1) Summary**

-Possible innovation application: I think that this site could be easily applied to any classroom. It is a great way to get students to think creatively and by using technology makes it an innovative way to get students to write more often. I can see teachers in elementary grades using the site, as well as high school. I think that many adults enjoy writing children's stories and so it should not be limited to younger ages.
 * (2) Critique**

-Main advantages: The website is attractive and colorful including many graphics. The site even separates into parent and teacher categories at the bottom. Once you delve into it, the teacher site has easy to follow steps on set up for the classroom, giving examples. The parent site offers information on privacy and the advantages for their children, as well as Frequently Asked Questions.

-Possible concerns of the website: Looking at the website initially there seems to be a lot of information even though it is organized well. For some people it might be overwhelming and on the home page it does have publishing costs that might deter some, even though it is free to create and publish on line.


 * Name:** Jane Blue
 * Date**: January 22, 2011
 * Website Name: @http://elementarytechteachers.ning.com/**

(1) **Summary** This website was shared with me by a peer in our cohort group once I switched content areas and became a tech teacher. It is a forum for technology teachers to share ideas, post pictures, blog, etc. So often as a teacher I find myself wondering if the things I do in my classroom are the same as what others are doing in their classrooms and this website helps you get a sneak peak at what other classrooms across the country look like. (2) **Critique** - **Possible innovation application** This site allows teachers to blog, chat, share photos and videos. These are all examples of innovative technology. I believe the more that we use them as teachers, the more we will become comfortable using them with our students. You can also gain insight into what innovative technologies others are using in their classroom and how. This gives ideas of what you may be able to introduce in yours. - **Main advantages** Starting as a new technology teacher in an elementary setting, I got a lot of great ideas and websites from this site. It was hard for me in the beginning trying to figure out where each grade level should start, and this answered a lot of those questions. Looking through the discussions can give you ideas even if you don't chat yourself. Next, the pictures were very helpful. They can show you how to set up a lab, bulletin board ideas, etc. The site has links to people's personal wiki's and websites to look at as examples. Lastly, it is free to sign up. - **Possible concerns of the website** Initially, it would have been helpful to have more than the discussions, and for the website to actually have lesson plans or ideas posted. At first glance, I was very overwhelmed by all of the information on the website. It seems like much of the information is on the home page, when it may have been more organized to have it on separate pages.

** Name: ** Kristy Brach ** Date: ** 1-23-11 ** Website Name: ** []

** (1) Summary ** This site is very useful for elementary and middle school math students. It incorporates videos that show how to solve certain types of math problems step-by-step. It has math word problems and logic activities to build on concepts that they may already be familiar with or need extra practice on. They let them type in their answer and then show the correct answer if they get the problem incorrect. Also to grab student interest, there are many different types of math games to play to enhance skills and understanding. Each time they get a problem correct, they get to play part of the game. Furthermore, there are virtual manipulatives and math worksheets that teachers can use to assist with lesson plans.

** (2) Critique ** ** -Possible innovation application ** This site allows teachers and students many different learning opportunities. It is innovative in the fact that teachers can utilize the videos to show a new topic they are covering in class through a step-by-step movie so all students can see and hear a complete demonstration with real life examples. Whereas for students, this site is innovative in the fact that they can learn math concepts through virtual manipulation of objects, they can race against a partner in a math computation game, and they can work on real life story problems and receive the correct answer if they get something wrong. All of these different opportunities through this site make it an exciting way for students to learn through the use of technology and new ideas.

** -Main advantages ** I enjoy this site because the students have fun learning by playing games. They enjoy going to the computer lab to test their knowledge of recently learned material to see how well they do. Also they enjoy playing against another classmate to see who can get the most points. However, not only is this site good for school, but it is also good for students to utilize at home for remediation of basic facts and skills. Many of my students who struggle with basic concepts utilize this site at home on their own time to brush up on skills. Finally, students enjoy the videos for explanations on topics as a change from listening to me or showing them a PowerPoint on a new concept. When it comes to technology you can’t lose by utilizing it within you lessons.

** -Possible concerns ** My first concern with this website is that some of the videos are no that well put together to explain a concept. You need to watch the videos first and choose only the ones which will keep the students interest and explain the concept completely. My next concern is that with some middle school students the games are too easy for them, they can always use them to brush up on skills but they will not challenge them intellectually. My last concern is that the site is a little cluttered with all of the information and ads listed, so students may get a little confused on where they need to click to get to a certain topic.

Name: Jason Smith Date: January 24, 2011 Website name: [|http://www.sweetsearch.com].

__**Summary:**__ A search engine is not all that exciting but it is very important. In 5th grade and beyond students do a lot of research projects and finding reliable information that they can understand is not always all that easy. This website is a search engine that has links that were all previewed by educators so you know that the information is safe and appropriate for students.

Any teacher who has tried a research project knows that finding a site with good information for their students is no easy task. Many teachers have to go on a search and bookmark links that the students can use. Having a website like this can really save a teacher a lot of time and possible trouble. I really like the homepage because it has options for educators, students, and librarians. I really love how students can seach by grade level and by topic to make their search much easier.
 * __Critique:__**

Is pretty clear. Students have a safe place to search for information. Teacher does not have to be concerned with inapppropriate content popping up! There is also a page with scholastic news online and other interesting articles and information for students! There are lesson plans and ideas for teachers as well. It is a good site to play around on as a teacher and see what you find!
 * __Main advantage:__**

As with every search engine, students may not find what they need here so the teacher is back to square one searching for websites and bookmarking them on their own.
 * __Possible concern:__**

_ Name – Amanda Kosin

Date – 1/25/11

Website Name - []


 * (1) Summary **

This website provides beneficial information and is easy to access. It can be teacher guided as well as student directed. Once the site is open, one can search for a specific topic and can click on the following options – kids home, animals, games, videos, stories, activities, people and places, photo, and blog. There is a vast amount of information and it is all free to access. I think it is appealing to the eye as well. The bright, and real life pictures, are sure to catch students attention. I use this site in my classroom and would highly recommend it to others.


 * (2) Critique **

This educational website is a great starting point for elementary students to get accustom to using and search a website. Since it is easy to find information, a simple scavenger hunt would be a good activity to get them started.


 * Main advantages **

This is a kid-friendly website and is free. I think this is a great resource to show parents and promote the use at home. It is educational and fun, what a great combination! National Geographic for offers a broad range of information that allows teachers and students to enjoy topics of interest.


 * Possible concerns of the website **

My only concern with this website is that it is strictly for elementary students. The material is not challenging enough for middle school students and the regular National Geographic’s may be to advanced for that age range. This is really the only flaw I see, but since I teach 5th grade, I find the material to be quiet age appropriate.

**Name**: Brent Mishler **Date**: 1/27/11 **Website** Name: []


 * (1) Summary **

Shwup is a website where users can create interactive digital slideshows/movies and share with others. It's nice because all the presentations are locked, and no one can view yours unless you invite them. People that you invite are able to add and alter your project the same as they could with a regular wiki. There is an option to add template backgrounds, and music as well.


 * (2) Critique**

Overall, I think this is a very good website, that has a lot of practical use in the classroom. While you may be able to create something like this with other websites, the advantage of the projects being private is huge. Also, even though many districts don't allow social networking sites, the ability to go right to Facebook is appealing. The muvee feature is really neat. It's essentially a montage of media, with transitions that you set. You can add video or pictures, and are able to lay audio down over the top of the file.


 * Main Advantages**

This website is extremely easy to use. It's just the click of a button to upload media off of your computer, and you can even take images off of Facebook and Flickr. The style is laid our similiary to Windows Photo Story. I like the feature that only people you invite can view your projects. This makes being able to use in a classroom more of an ease, because teachers don't have to worry about students' files being viewed by someone who shouldn't be viewing them.


 * Possible Concerns**

I don't see any issues with this site. Obviously, the amount of editing (cropping, rotating, etc) that you can do is limited, but most of that can be achieved with other programs before you upload your media. For a free site, it looks very good. I would recommend for a class who is trying to do a multi-media group project.

(1) Summary
====This is a fun site for digital storytelling (comic strip style) that has a drag-and-drop interface. You can save and print when you are finished. There are options for backgrounds, props, speech bubbles and more. ====

(2) Critique
====Overall I think that this is a neat way to get your students writing. Most kids don't like to write but this is just another genre to get them excited and more creative in their writing. There are options for students to choose from so its not just a fill-in-the-blank type space. ====

- Main advantages
====It's all about genre! I think that students, boys especially, would love to dive into writing if they were able to use this type of site. It is at least something to catch their interest and get the ball rolling. :) ====

- Possible concerns of the website
====There are only a few backgrounds to choose from and a limited amount of props. I think that this would limit stories and hinder good writing. ====


 * Name:** Melissa Jasmund
 * Date:** January 28, 2011
 * Website Name:** [|e-Learning for Kids]

e-Learning for Kids is a fun website that is created for educators, parents, and students to use to help aid in online learning in math, language arts, science, computers, environmental skills, health, life skills, and English language. The free interactive online games are designed for children ages 5-12.
 * (1) Summary**

Overall, I believe that this educational website is a great site to use in the classroom and a great site for students to use at home. It is innovative in the fact that teachers can use these interactive games on a SMART Board (or any whiteboard), or in the computer lab. This website is easy to use and very user friendly. The website is also very simple and not complicated with tons of information. The main page has each grade level listed, where users can select which grade they are in and find their grade appropriate games. The main page also features subject areas to click on, which will list each game that corresponds to the subject area. Each game is interactive, so it is great for students to work on independently. The games are also very fun and colorful, which students love! My only concern with this website is that some of the younger grades could click on some of the older grades and see courses on alcohol and tobacco, drugs, HIV/Aids prevention, etc. This is the only concern that I see which can be prevented with instruction to students about staying within their grade level.
 * (2) Critique**
 * -Possible innovation application:**
 * -Main advantages:**
 * -Possible concerns of the website:**

**Name:** Courtney Verellen **Date:** January 28, 2011 **Website name:** [] This site is basically a site of free online video clips. The site has a lot of reference videos that a teacher could show to their students to watch or just for anyone who was looking for videos. The site has seven basic categories that the videos are listed under: Travel, History, Animals, Nature, Science, Health and Fun. There is even a section where you could add your own video. Each day on the home page they have a “Feature Video” that they suggest watching as well as the “Top Videos” section. This could be a great source for a teacher to use, especially in History or Science. A lot of the time we would like to show a video but we don’t have the time. To incorporate a video clip into something that we’re already discussing would be great. I could see incorporating these clips into my PowerPoints when I give notes to my students, or even to put them into a webquest that I might have the students completing. They offer the website so that you could embed the clip right into your notes, project, assignment, etc. The positive of using a site like this comes down to time. I could incorporate a lot more in one day if students are just watching the video clip or something instead of watching the whole video. Also, if I were simply explaining an event or students were reading about it, they wouldn’t necessarily have the visual that this could offer them. I really like the idea of using clips in what I’m already teaching. The one problem that I could see is that they may not have all of the clips that you would like to use. Another concern is that not all of the clips are documentaries; some of the clips that they recommend were uploaded by others and could not really pertain to what you searched for. Lastly, I couldn’t view all of the clips that I chose, for some reason.
 * 1) Summary **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">2) Critique **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Innovation Application **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Main Advantage **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Possible Concerns: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**January 28, 2011** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**Website Name:** Kidblog
 * Lauren Karol**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**(1) Summary** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//Kidblog is a blogging site for the classroom that is completely private "by default." On this website, teachers have complete control over what the children write and publish. They are the ones who approve every comment and contribution. There is no personal information collected, and you can create a class site without requiring each student to have their own email address. It seems like the perfect site on which kids can blog.//

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**(2) Critique** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//I think this site would be extremely useful for any classroom that is looking to implement technology. I think it is a great way for teachers and students to communicate outside the classroom walls. It allows students to talk about their ideas relating to a particular subject, and they can ask each other for help as well.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//This is an extremely user-friendly and FREE website that can be utilized in the educational field to safely open the paths of online communication between students, as well as students and teachers. I think the entire site allows teachers to increase interest in learning by merely implementing a small facet of technology.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//My only concern with the website is keeping up with everything. If you are opening this line of communication with your students, how exactly do you stay constantly connected in order to publish each post as promptly as possible? You are the moderator for the website, so in order to keep the responses coming, you must make sure things are getting published frequently. It may be a bit cumbersome, but I do feel that it is a wonderful website at which to look!//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Possible innovation application
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Main advantages
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Possible concerns of the website

This website is useful for anyone needing a place to manage and organize content. This is another way to bookmark websites in a drag and drop format. On a mashup, you can add websites, images, video, code, file, background, music and text. Users can collaborate and share their mashups. The search option allow users to search other mashups, the web, images,and tweets to add to their own mashup.
 * Name: Alicia Frusciano**
 * Date**: 1/28/11
 * Website Name: middlespot.com**
 * 1) Summary**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I liked this idea for a variety of classroom uses. When students are gathering information from the internet for a project, this is a safe location to drag and drop resources. I find that many students write down the wrong website or address and have a hard time finding the information again. I would also consider using it to create mutimedia collages. Students would be able to embed their mashup to enhance any web projects.
 * (2) Critique**
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Possible innovation application **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**- Main advantages** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The empty canvas has many possiblities for a student to be creative.The drag and drop method is very easy to use and understand. Another advantage is saving your work. Everything is saved as you work under the title you selected before you start. You can create an account and view your mashup anywhere. You can also select your work to be private or public. Students could work together to collaborate on any group project or writing assignment.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I was working with my mashup, it took me a few minutes to figure out all of the fuctions. It also took awhile to upload images etc (although this could be my computer). The search is very open on middlespot. With any internet activity, it would be wise to supervise activites. I feel this technology would be of better use with upper elementary students.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Possible concerns of the website **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**Brian Perry** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**1-29-11** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**Website name:** []

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**(1) Summary:** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This website is perfect for creating online diagrams and other charts that can be placed onto wikis and other websites. There is even a way to communicate and collaborate with other members as if you were in the same room, working on the same computer. It appears to have all of the necessary drawing tools included on the website to make well-organized charts and graphs.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**(2) Critique:** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This site is easy to use and provides a way to collaborate together using visuals such as diagrams, charts, concept maps and so on. Planning is made easy through this site because the organization of ideas is both easy and creative. Upon completion, users are able to share their diagrams with others in their class through email or uploading it to a class wiki.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**Main Advantage:** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Many students can be working on a project together from computers in different locations at the same time. While editing their work they can communicate with each other through the use of an instant message (chat) feature built into the site. This allows for the students to collaborate and create projects in a group setting without having to meet in a common location.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**Possible Concerns:** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This site could provide challenges to the students if there are no proper guidelines presented by the instructor because there are so many options for creativity. Students may feel overwhelmed by the number of options presented to them, or they may feel excited about the chance to develop their own learning tool.

**Name:** Jennifer Burg **Date**: January 29, 2011 **Website Name: []**

**(1) Summary**: This program is designed to help students learn through educational games and activities. These games and activities are aligned to state and national standards (Edheads 2000-2011). Activities include: Design a Cell Phone (grades 5-8), Brian Surgery (grades 7-12 +), Crash Scene (grades 9-12 +), Hip Replacement (grades 7-12 +), Hip Resurfacing (grades 7-12 +), Knee Surgery (grades 7-12 +), Compound Machines (grades 2-6), Simple Machines (grades 2-6), and Weather (grades 4-9).

**(2) Critique**: This program is relatively easy to use. A short demonstration would be appropriate for some students. I would encourage teachers to go back and discuss each tutorial with the class as a whole. Teachers should ask questions and promote students to observe each tutorial more closely than what they may have done previously. **Main advantages**: The main advantage to this site is that it gives students an opportunity to explore various topics above and beyond a textbook. It can be used as reinforcement activities. Even though it provides students with some background information, teachers are able to see how students have processed what was learned and how they are applying it. **Possible concerns of the website**: My only concern is that teachers monitor what activities students click on. For example, the virtual knee surgery is a little graphic for young students. Otherwise, I think these are great activities for students to explore.

**Name: Sharon MacDermaid** **Date**: January 30, 2011 **Website Name:** [] 1) ** Summary **  Googlios is a website where free Google tools become integrated into ePortfolios. This short video give a very good explanation of what a Googlio is.    media type="youtube" key="mCdm2rTe17s" width="425" height="350"

[] The main idea behind the Googlio is to create an ePortfolio by gathering together work done with free Google tools in a way that showcases goals, activities, collaboration and reflection. It appears that the intended audience is upper level high school and university level students as well as professionals of every type. I see this being something that could be a valuable tool for students entering college or the workforce as well as for teachers or any professional, for that matter, to showcase their accomplishments digitally. (2) ** Critique ** - **Possible innovation application** When used with students a Googlio would be an innovative application because it takes something as simple as a portfolio and presents it in a new way. Instead of students or professionals creating a portfolio that is housed in a binder that is taken from place to place the portfolio would be created digitally, as an ePortfolio, in a way that would allow it to be shared instantly with an unlimited number of others. It is important that our students keep up with new technology as they move toward the job market. - **Main advantages** The main advantage I see with a Googlio is that the use of Google tools in education is increasing every day. Students as young as middle school are creating GooleDocs to share with their classmates and their teachers. They are utilizing YouTube, Picasa, Blogger, RSS feeds, Google Calendars and more as they continue to grow up in a digital age. A Googlio simply integrates the tools our students are already using in the form of an ePortfolio which believe will become something that all students will be leaving HS with very soon. Educators need to keep up with the digital age that the youth of today are growing up in. - **Possible concerns of the website**

The only concern I see with Googlios is that it would most likely not be something that middle school students could readily utilize. I am always looking for things that middle school kids can use since I have been teaching middle school for the past 12 years. The Googlio is geared for high school and college students and would require students to have a thorough understanding of many Google Tools which are, in many districts, being introduced beginning in middle school. )


 * Name:** Mike Verellen
 * Date**: 01/30/11
 * Website Name: [|http://www.wordia.com]**

(1) **Summary** Wordia is basically a dictionary site that does all of the traditonal things a dictionary does, but adds video to describe the words. Users uypload their videos and to sort through words that are done more than once, the videos are rated by the viewers. They break the videos into categories such as music, comedy, experts, poetry, etc. Some of the different tabs you can choose are latest word, top videos, and blog. They also have different languages and a school feature. (2) **Critique** - **Possible innovation application** I chose this site because the current push from our professional development days this year is to incorporate more contant vocabulary into our teaching. We have been working on all kind of innovative ways not to just toss vocabulary words out, but to make them useful and meaningful. This site would be a great resource to do just that. - **Main advantages** I suppose the main advantage, especially for the purpose I described, is that it is more than just a dictionary. The claim, and research shows, that adding audio and visual stimuli to the words makes them more memorable than just the words themselves. The videos create additional connections. - **Possible concerns of the website** I haven't found any yet, but possible concerns might be some content not being suitable for children.