Effective Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom: Part 1

Effective Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom
Part 1

Johan Eddy Luaran

First Printing 2012

All right reserved. No part of this publication may reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means,
electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recorded or by any storage information or retrival
system, without the prior written permission from the author.

Effective Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom : Part 1
Johan Eddy Luaran
ISBN 978-983-41835-2-3

Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 EMAZE ..................................................................................................................1
What is Emaze?................................................................................................................................1
Benefits of Emaze ............................................................................................................................1
Get started with Emaze ....................................................................................................................2
References ......................................................................................................................................11

CHAPTER 2 TITANPAD ..........................................................................................................12
What is Titanpad ............................................................................................................................12
Advantages of Titanpad .................................................................................................................13
Disadvantages of Titanpad .............................................................................................................13
Ways of using Titanpd ...................................................................................................................14
How to use Titanpad in teaching environment ..............................................................................14
Get started with Titanpad ...............................................................................................................15
References ......................................................................................................................................25
CHAPTER 3 SPICYNODES .....................................................................................................26
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................26
What is Edcanvas ...........................................................................................................................26
Benefits of Edcanvas......................................................................................................................27
Getting started ................................................................................................................................28
References ......................................................................................................................................57

CHAPTER 4 TWIDDLA ...........................................................................................................58
What is Twiddla .............................................................................................................................58
Benefits of Twiddla........................................................................................................................59
Ways of using Twiddla for teaching ..............................................................................................60
Get started with Twiddla ................................................................................................................61
References ......................................................................................................................................78

CHAPTER 5 POPPLET.............................................................................................................79
What is Popplet ..............................................................................................................................79
Benefits of Popplet to teacher and students ...................................................................................79
Features of Popplet ........................................................................................................................80
Ways of using Popplet in the classroom ........................................................................................81
Get started with Popplet .................................................................................................................82
References ......................................................................................................................................97

CHAPTER 6 GOCLASS ............................................................................................................98
What is GoClass.............................................................................................................................98
Advantages of GoClass ..................................................................................................................98
Ways of using GoClass ................................................................................................................100
The Web App ...............................................................................................................................103
Gettting started with GoClass ......................................................................................................105
References ....................................................................................................................................116

CHAPTER 7 KIDBLOG ..........................................................................................................117
What is Kidblog ...........................................................................................................................117
Benefits of Kidblog ......................................................................................................................117
What do you use it for ..................................................................................................................119
How to get started ........................................................................................................................120
References ....................................................................................................................................131

CHAPTER 8 DROPBOX .........................................................................................................132
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................132
Benefits of using Dropbox ...........................................................................................................133
Getting started ..............................................................................................................................134
References ....................................................................................................................................154

CHAPTER 9 MURALLY ........................................................................................................155
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................155
Advvantages .................................................................................................................................156
Getting Started .............................................................................................................................157

CHAPTER 10 BUBBL.US .......................................................................................................169
What is Bubbl.us ..........................................................................................................................169
Advantages of Bubbl.us ...............................................................................................................170
Get started with Bubbl.us .............................................................................................................171
References ....................................................................................................................................192

CHAPTER 11 STORYJUMPER............................................................................................193
What is Storyjumper ....................................................................................................................193
Benefits of Storyjumper ...............................................................................................................194
Getting started ..............................................................................................................................195

CHAPTER 12 LIVEBINDERS ..............................................................................................211
What is Livebinders? ...................................................................................................................211
Benefits of using Livebinders ......................................................................................................198
How to work with the website? ...................................................................................................200
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................225
References ....................................................................................................................................225

CHAPTER 13 SPIDERSCRIBE.NET ....................................................................................226
What is Spiderscribe.net ..............................................................................................................226
Benefits of Spiderscriibe.net ........................................................................................................226
Getting started with Spiderscribe.net ...........................................................................................227
References ....................................................................................................................................234

CHAPTER 14 TEXT2MINDMAP ..........................................................................................235
What is Text2mindmap ................................................................................................................235
Benefits of Text2mindmap ..........................................................................................................236
Getting started with Text2mindmap ............................................................................................237
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................252

CHAPTER 15 PRIMARYPAD ..............................................................................................253
What is Primarypad? ....................................................................................................................253
Benefits of using Primarypad.......................................................................................................253
How teachers and students can use Primarypad.com ..................................................................255
Features of Primarypad ................................................................................................................255
Features of Primarywall ...............................................................................................................255
How to get started with Primarypad ............................................................................................257
References ....................................................................................................................................268

CHAPTER 16 PLANBOARD .................................................................................................269
What is Planboard? ......................................................................................................................269
Benefits of Planboard ...................................................................................................................270
Get started with Planboard ...........................................................................................................271
References ....................................................................................................................................281

CHAPTER

1

EMAZE

WHAT IS EMAZE?

Emaze is a software similar to Prezi and PowerPoint but is more advanced. With Emaze, users
can create high-quality presentations with very little effort. Emaze can be used by users who
want to go beyond PowerPoint to create interesting presentations in order to communicate ideas
to the target audience.

BENEFITS OF EMAZE:

Emaze is an excellent presentation software and there are many benefits that the users can gain
from this software. The following are the benefits:
1. Emaze is very user-friendly.
2. Spectacular presentations can be made simply and fast.
3. Emaze provides better results and more visualization.
4. Users can choose from the varieties of templates ranging from 2-dimensional to 3dimensional patterns provided by Emaze to prepare their presentations.
5. Templates are free to use.
6. Users can view the presentation online or download it as an HTML file to display to the
target audience.
1

GET STARTED WITH EMAZE

STEP 1

Go to http://www.emaze.com

STEP 2

Sign up for Emaze if you have not yet registered

1
2
3
2

STEP 3

Creating a new presentation

2
1
3

3

STEP 4

Selecting a template

STEP 5

Design your chosen template by adding texts, images, videos and shapes.

1

4
3
2
4

STEP 6

Add more slides and section title to your presentation.

1 2

3

1. Choosing your slides

5

2. Adding section title to slides

1
2

3. Choosing the themes for your slide

6

STEP 7

Save your presentation.

1
4
2
3

7

STEP 7

After saving your presentation, you will be directed to the page as shown
below. You may continue on with your presentation or you may pick from
the various options provided at the right side of the screen.

1
2
3
4
5

6

8

STEP 8

Present your presentation in the most advanced manner with Emaze.

10

Reference
1. http://geektime.com/2013/06/04/emaze-nextgen-presentation-platform/

11

CHAPTER

2

TITANPAD

What is Titanpad ?
TitanPad is a free Web 2.0 tool that lets a group of people come together to create and edit
documents but does not require a user account. The groups can access the document at the same
time or individually at any time; all you need is the URL to the pad. When you are on at the same
time you can see the changes that others are making. Each person is color-coded so you know
who is making what changes and contributing what to the document. TitanPad will automatically
save, but you also have the ability to save changes whenever you like and you can revert to older
versions if necessary. It contains a time slider feature that lets users slide the button back to any
time in the creating/editing process and bring up the document as it was at any of those
times. You can import other text documents into your pad and export the work product into a
word document. A chat feature lets you communicate with others in the groups. It is a simple
way to create and edit documents such as manuscripts, essays and reports for a group of people.
(Karen Schneider,2013)

Advantages of Titanpad
The advantages that Titanpad brings to the uses especially in education teaching and learning :
I.

As accounts are not necessary, the teacher will not lose any classroom or meeting time
getting colleagues or students online through a long registration process

II.

It can be created quickly and easily for hosting and recording any online brainstorming
session with students that collaborate them as a group in project-based learning in order

12

to keep teacher aware of the group progress, and to allow for communication beyond
school times and walls.
III.

Titanpad also can be a good platform to interview experts on a specific topic.

IV.

The teacher also can use titanpad to collaborate in curriculum planning, working on text
documents, keeping meeting notes, and drafting plans.

V.

Many features available in document software such as Word are available on TitanPad
such as bold, italic, spacing and etc.

VI.

You can go back in the history to see what was typed if something was deleted

Disadvantages of Titanpad
The following are some disadvantages of using Titanpad :
I.

For public users, there is no log in and password security. Although the invitation access
is given to your friends but maybe uninvited people use your friend's computer and get
the access to your document.

II.

Too many people editing the same page at once can get confusing.

III.

Any group work or discussion only limited to 8 people at one time.

IV.

Its text only, you can't create spreadsheets, charts or tables in TitanPad.

V.
VI.

When there are many people on with the same name color, it can confuse the names.
Students can write a fake name and then abuse the use of this pad during a project. They
also might use inappropriate language in the conversation.

VII.

Users also can delete others work easily.

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Ways of Using Titanpad
Collaborative Writing


Titanpad is main use as collaborative writing that allows a teacher to create their own
working space, where new documents can be set up and password protected easily.



Giving children a QR code or link will take them directly to the pad, where they can
add/edit information and see others’ contributions in real time.



Each user’s contributions show up in a different color and there is the option to ‘chat’
alongside the work.



The beauty of using iPads to work in this way as opposed to PCs, is that children can
more easily work alongside one another to work.

How to Use Titanpad in Teaching Environment
1. Situation: You are teaching a class of student at school. The class is divided into work
groups of 5 or 6 students as specified by the course administrator to facilitate a teambased approach to learning.
2. Plan:


Publish a student study guide on literature subject that can be used by them to better
prepare for their written exam.



Each group is asked to create a chapter on a specific category of a novel.



The groups are asked to answer a set of questions regarding the category and to work
together to finalize the chapter.



Ask them to use TitanPad as a public user to create the document. Each student will join
the pad and the group will also invite you as the instructor. By being invited to the
groups- pad, you will be able to monitor the contributions of each student to the
document.

14



Using the chat feature you can give them feedback on the content to ensure that they
include the important concepts so that the finished product will be a functional study tool
for the entire class.



They will submit the complete document as a group for a grade that will be used as a
portion of their final grade and you will give a group participation grade for each student
based on their contributions to the TitanPad document. This will be an interesting type of
learning for the students.

Get Started With Titanpad

STEP 1

Go to titanpad.com

15

STEP 2

Log In / Register

Titanpad can be used publicly or using personal accounts. First you need to sign in (if
you already have an account ) or (register if this is your first time).

Click log in
button at the
top right hand
corner.

Click this button of you
want to be a public user

16

After you click the sign in button, you can choose the button for new user to register like in the
picture below :

If you already have an
account, just sign in and
click ‘Sign In ‘

For first time user,
click here to register

17

Just follow the instruction
given to register your
personal account
Click this button to
finish the registration
for your account

18

STEP 3

Creating Your Own Pad

Click this button to
create your document

This is the homepage for
your Titanpad account
19

After you click the button,you
can start creating your own
documents in the space
provided on the pad

You will see your name as
the administrator on the
upper side second box

This is the chat box between the
administrator and another user
during any group wok or
discussion

20

To start a group discussion, you can divide all the other people using the step above :

Firstly, you have to
click this button to
share your pad.

Then, this box will
appear. You just need to
fill up all the needed
information and your pad
will be shared with other

This is the url
address that will be
sent to your friend

21

In order to be able the link to be used by other user you have to change the security setting.

You have to change the security
setting from private to public by
clicking here. Only then the
other user can also use the pad

You also can create any
password that will only be
known by your friend in order
to keep the confidentiality of
your document

Your friend name
will appear here

22

Your conversation
between each other
will be appeared here
and each person will
have different color
code to differentiate
from each other

This will be the type of
interaction between teacher and
student in a group discussion

23

Step 4

Export and Import Document

You can import
document here by
clicking the browse
button here

You also can export
all your discussion
to choosing what
type of file would
you export it

24

References

1. http://blog.emints.org/2011/03/22/tuesdays-tool-titanpad/
2. http://dmchugh675.edublogs.org/2013/03/14/collaborative-writing-using-titanpad/
3. http://primaryipadclassroom.com/2013/04/01/lesson-idea-using-titan-pad-forcollaborative-writing/
4. http://newtech.coe.uh.edu/tool-name.cfm?toolid=176&toolname=TitanPad
5. http://teachweb2.wikispaces.com/TitanPad

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CHAPTER

3

SPICYNODES

What is spicynodes?

Michael Douma, Founder and Executive Director of IDEA.org, is the brilliant mind
behind spicynodes. He is a person with interest in supporting the educational field. Other
examples of his committed works are WebExhibits, WikiNodes and WordFlare. His success in
producing interactive tools programs also involves the members of the Institute for Dynamic
Educational Advancement (IDEA). IDEA is a non-profit organization that works to enhance
scientific, artistic, and cultural literacy by improving how people use technology to find and
interact with information. Michael’s main agenda is to encourage people to create as well as
consume. Via his production, he aims for users to develop a broader mind.
Spicynodes was launched on the Web in 2006. It is flash-based display engine allowing
users to produce a more organized work. Its tree-like structure represents information using
interconnected “nodes” in virtual space. The basic concept is mind mapping. However,
spicynodes excel more than just the ordinary mind mapping techniques. Spicynodes allows users
to link their ideas to a direct source on the internet, other nodes or other nodemaps. It has a
complete visualization environment.

26

The benefits of using spicynodes

1) Work outcome is more organized.
-

Spicynodes has a home node and sub nodes. The main idea is within the home node
and the interrelating ideas are within the sub nodes. Users can specify each of the sub
nodes with different points. Categorizing points helps work outcome to be clearer.
Thus, work outcome becomes more organized.

2) No limits to user’s creativity
-

Spicynodes users can keep adding new nodes if there is more information needed to
be included. They can link it to various sources especially using direct URLs. This
allows users’ creativity to broaden.

3) Immediate link to other sources
-

Users can add a link for each node. When the users want to view the link, they just
need to click on it.

27

4) The program is free for individual users
-

There is no payment needed to make a spicynodes account. Anyone can make a free
individual account.

5) The nodemap is centralized at a home node
-

This helps users to maintain focus on the main idea of the nodemap. Users can have
an overview of the nodemap by clicking on the home node.

6) There is a “focus” function
-

When user clicks on a node, it will automatically zoom into the node; focusing on that
particular node.

STEP 1
Getting started
Step 1: Go to page


Firstly, go to the link given to create an account.

:

http://www.spicynodes.org/
28

1.1 Creating a spicynodes account



Look for a ‘sign up’ button on the top right corner of the page and click to create your
account.

29



Next, fill up the form with your preferred user name, E-mail, password and a verification
of your password. Once you have done that, continue by clicking on the ‘sign up now’
button.

30



You will be notified once your account has been created. Click the ‘continue’ button to
start making your nodemaps.

31

1.2 Signing up using email account



You can also sign up into spicynodes using your google/yahoo/OpenID account.

32



If you are not logged into your E-mail account, you will be asked to log in.

33



Once you have logged into your E-mail account, click ‘agree’ to continue creating your
spicynodes account.

34

1.3 Editing profile



If you are signing up using your E-mail account, you will automatically be identified as
‘Openid user’. You can change your user name and other information. Click ‘Edit
profile’ to do.

35



Do not forget to change the information about your country and time zone. Click
‘Update profile’ to save changes.

36



After you have successfully updated your profile, click ‘continue’ to proceed with
spicynodes.

37

STEP 2
Step 2: Create a nodemap


Second, click the ‘Create new nodemap’ link under Quick link to start creating your
nodemap

38



Give your nodemap a title. The description is optional. You can choose to ‘Begin empty’
or ‘Upload (text or xml)’. Click ‘Make new nodemap’ to continue creating.

39



Continue creating by clicking the ‘Continue’ button.

40

STEP 3
Step 3: Editing nodemap style



Third, edit your nodemap style to make it more interesting.

41

7 Basic tips and tricks


Before editing the nodes, you need to know seven basic tips and tricks. This include
copying, pasting, merging, adding, deleting nodes as well as changing the order.

‘Copy’ and ‘Paste below’

42

‘Cut’ and ‘Paste below’

43

Add a new node

Deleting a node

46

Changing the order of the nodes

47

STEP 4
Step 4: Editing a node


Fourth, start editing the nodes. You can start by clicking ‘Edit details’. Here are some
examples for your reference.

4.1 Adding description



The text in the node will appear as the main point while the text in the description box
will be the sub points.

48

4.2 Adding a picture for a node



To add a picture in the selected node, you can upload, copy from URL, or use URL. You
can also use Youtube video. Just paste in the URL in the box provided. Remove the
current picture if you want to change it. Then, choose a position for the picture.

49

4.3 Changing the node’s background and text colour



Edit the colour of the selected node and its text. The choices of colour include vivid,
muted, warm, cool and surprise. Click ‘OK’ to verify your choice.

50

4.4 Node’s connector



This is optional. You can leave it blank. There will be arrows that connect your nodes.

51

4.5 Linking selected node



The linking options include within and outside the current node.

52



Remember to click ‘Ready’ to save your nodemap contents.

54

STEP 5
Step 5: Editing nodemap details


Finally, you need to edit the nodemap details once again. This time, you can edit the
author’s name, date of publication, and the language. Choose whether to publish your
nodemap or not. Give your nodemap a thumbnail to make it attractive. Once you are
satisfied, click ‘Ready’ to save the changes.

55

5.1 Selecting thumbnail for nodemap



Congratulation! You have successfully created a nodemap. Enjoy this software and create
more nodemaps in the future.

56

References

1.

http://www.michaeldouma.com/index.html

2.

http://www.michaeldouma.com/index.html

57

CHAPTER

4

TWIDDLA

WHAT IS TWIDDLA?
Twiddla is an online collaboration tool. Twiddla is easy to use because it does not require
any downloads or complicated firewall stuff like programs. It is also free for everyone. The main
part of Twiddla is the whiteboard or a blank canvas. In this whiteboard, the user can mark up and
interact with the web page at the same time with people all over the world. Twiddla is a solution
to an easy and free way to collectively look at, mark up and discuss websites and images in realtime from anywhere people have got a web browser and internet connection. As using Twiddla,
people feel that they are as close as they can get to being in the same room and looking at a
webpage together.
Twiddla also provides users a platform for group communication and collaboration. Even
without logging in, people can experience Twiddla by starting a new session from the homepage.
Users can add their friends to the session by type in their email or just give them the URL
provided in the meeting. Twiddla allows users to share texts, web pages, documents, images and
the whiteboard itself. Users can draw shapes, lines and other small inserts.

58

BENEFITS OF TWIDDLA



Twiddla is a free tool. Anyone can try using it without worrying about the fee. Especially,
students who are always want something that does not need any money. In twiddla,
students can feel free to explore another way of learning.



It is available to anyone at anytime. Twiddla is a user-friendly website even though it
takes some time for user to get use to it. Twiddla is a user-friendly because it can upload
any pictures, documents and even power point. Users can use Twiddla for many
purposes.



Twiddla is extremely stable. There is no plug-ins needed. The users only need a web
browser. As it is a cloud based collaboration tools, the user can access to their Twiddla
account as long as they has access to the internet.



Twiddla utilize the cloud. It does not require any downloads or storage on hard-drives. It
is compatible with all browsers and allows the storage of numerous projects at once.



Users can interact with the web and mark it up at the same time. For example if John
uploads an image or a power point, his friends will see the changes after a while. Anyone
can make the changes by giving opinions or comments. Therefore, there will be many
words or pictures pop up in the whiteboard.



Twiddla incorporates chat and voice. The users also can have chatting session in the box
at the side of the whiteboard. The users just need to type in their friends’ email or just
give out the URL given in the box to their friends. The user’s friends can only see the
chatting session if the users setting the meeting session to private from open.

59

WAYS OF USING TWIDDLA FOR TEACHING

1. Twiddla act as the online whiteboard. Nowadays, teacher can have an online class by
using Twiddla. Twiddla has pen for the teacher to write anything on the whiteboard. The
students also can write their opinion on the whiteboard.
2. Twiddla also has mathematical formulas for any Mathematic teachers to use. It also has
ether pad for teacher teach the students. The ether pad act like Microsoft Word for
teachers creates a document or gives some notes to the students. By using Twiddla,
teachers and students can have an impromptu interaction by using both words and
drawing.
3. Teacher can also lead the students to go to any webpage by using the button webpage at
the above of the whiteboard. Insert the URL, and the webpage will appear on the
whiteboard. Twiddla also has the drawing tools, which the teachers can use to underline,
circle or put in some shape to the important point the teachers want the students to give
attention.
4. In Twiddla, teachers can upload any power point or document for the students reading. It
is not only photo and drawing that can save in Twiddla, power point and documents can
also be save in Twiddla. Teachers just need to click the button save on the upper right of
the whiteboard.
5. For any mathematic teachers, they can use the mathematical formulas to insert any
mathematic equation. By using those formulas, teachers can give questions to students
and the students can discuss the answer with their classmates.

60

GET STARTED WITH TWIDDLA

STEP 1

Go to http://www.twiddla.com/

STEP 1

STEP 2
STEP 1

Start using a Twiddla

Click “Start your 30 Day Free
Trial” and create an account.

61

Give your username, password,
and your email.

Then, click
“Get
Started”

They have sent you a
confirmation email. You
need to open your email.

Click here to
activate your
30-day trial.

62

Click “My
Account”.

Click “nurul
(your username)”.

Click “Click here to
rejoin your meeting”.

63

If you click here, you
will go to the main page
as the picture below.

You can log out
by click “Log
out”.

Then, you can log in back. Refer to the screenshots below.

Click “Log in”.

64

Click
“Log
in”.

Enter your username.

Enter your
password.

Click “nurul
(your username)”.

Click
“Meetings”.

65

Click this link.

Click “Invite”.

66

You can type in your
friends email addresses
to invite them to this
meeting.

Click
“Join
Audio”.

Try clicking any
of these buttons.

You can
type in
any
comment
here.

You will
see this in
the chat
room.

67

You can use this button to
move this box to the other
side.

Click here
to close or
hide the
box.

Click here to open
the box again.

68

At the right of the page:

Click “Room…” to
modify your room.

Click “Save…”
to save a
snapshot of
your current
board.

Click “Undo” to go
one-step before.

STEP 3

Twiddla tools

STEP 1
A)

If you click “Whiteboard”’ it will
clean the current board and open a new
whiteboard.

B)

Click “Web
Page”.

69

Insert a URL.

Click
“Open”.

It will clear the exits board and appear this board:

C)

Click “Ether
Pad”.

70

It will clear the current board and appear this pad:

Click
“Browse” to
edit this pad.
You can use these tools to
edit the pad.

Click here to save
any document in
the pad.

D)

Click
“Document”.

Click “Choose File”
to upload your files.

71

Click the link.

It will clear the current board and appear this power point:

Click these buttons to go
to the next slide or to the
slide before.

E)
Click
“Image”.

72

Click “Choose
File” to upload
images

Click the
image.

It will clear the current board and appear this image:

73

F)
Click “Select”.

You can
choose the
type of grid
you prefer.

G)
Click “Draw”.

Click here to
choose the
color of your
pen.

You can choose
the grid for the
board.
Click here to
choose the size
of your pen.

You can choose to
clear the markup
or the whole
board.

74

H)
Click “Erase”.

Click here to
choose the size
of your pen.

You can choose to
clear the markup
or the whole
board.

I)
Click “Shape”.

You can choose
the shape you
want.

75

J)
Click “Text”.

You can cut copy or paste in
this board.

You can choose the type and
size of font. You can bold or
italicize the font.

You can choose
any alignment
that you prefer
here.

You can choose the
type of text that you
prefer here.

K)
Click “Widget &
Code”.

Click “Embed”.

You can type in
anything here.

76

Then, the words will
appear on the board.

L)
Click “Mathematical
Formulas”.

The symbols you
choose will be here.

You can choose any
symbols from here to
make a complete
structure of
mathematical formula.

Click “click to embed”.

The equation will
appear on the board.

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REFERENCES
1. http://cshah-summer2012.blogspot.com/2012/06/web-20-tool-review-

twiddlacom.html
2. http://6080collaborationtools.blogspot.com/p/collaborative-tool-3.html
3. http://www.slideshare.net/ProfDrAmin/web-20-interactive-tools-a-quick-guide

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CHAPTER

5

POPPLET

What Is Popplet?
Popplet is a new and fun technology to create a lively learning environment. It can be used in all
grade levels for all subject matters and provides an endless possibility to show our creativity.
Popplet combines the online sticky notes services with mind mapping functions. It allows us to
create our own boards and diagrams that can be used as concept maps of any topics and ideas.
Users are able to create “ walls ” on which they can create “Popples,” or individual bubbles, to
provide images, drawings, information, videos and other media to convey learning.
Benefits Of Popplet To Teachers And Students
1 ) Engage the users.
The “ Popples ” feature allows the users to contributing any idea or opinion as much as they can
and presenting their ideas with each other. When the users invite other people in Popplet, the
guest can add any Popples in the users’ wall.
2 ) Build a body of knowledge.
The users can share their ideas and knowledge with the world. They can make their Popplets
accessible by the public, group or certain individuals.

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3 ) Encourage the users to think and train their skills to organize information efficiently.
The Popplet allows the users to create a mind map by using Popples. They need to organize their
ideas better and neatly by moving the Popples around so that the information does not look
crowded and easy to understand.
4 ) Help the teacher to monitor the students who is and is not contributing.
The teachers can make use Popplet in their teaching and they also can know whether the students
are participating or not. The teacher can invite students in Popplet and asks them to answer any
question posted in the teacher’s wall.
5 ) Help the users to visualize their learning and ideas through graphic organizer.
The features in Popplet allow the users to customize the mind map according to their own
creativity. Popplet also is very colorful and it makes the information becomes more interesting to
read.
6 ) A user – friendly application that can be used by everyone from all age level.
The users do not have to worry if they make any mistake in using Popplet. With this application,
if the users accidentally draw the wrong thing or make an unnecessary Popples, deleting it is
simple and easy.
Features Of Popplet
1 ) Variety of customization options.
2 ) Zooming work space.
3 ) Can add Youtube links and upload pictures from the computer, Google Maps, Flicker and
Facebook.
4 ) Can share the Popplet through social network, such as Twitter, Facebook or Blog.
5 ) Can export the Popplet as a JPG or PDF file.
6 ) Can print the Popplet.
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7 ) Can comment and draw on the “ Popples ”.
8 ) Suitable for online and offline presentation.
9 ) Allow access to multiple users by email.
Ways Of Using Popplet In The Classroom
1 ) Presenting historical events
The teacher can use the timeline option with the lines and multi-media to create a historical map
for an event.
2 ) Learning a new language
Mind map is a great way to learn a language because it uses both sides of the brain effectively
through pictures and words.
3 ) A tool for brainstorming
Mind map can be used to generate and organize creative ideas in a workspace that can be
expanded.
4 ) Summarizing
The teachers and students can summarize their main ideas before and after a lesson.
5 ) Feedback
The comment option allows the users to comment or add ideas on the Popples.
6 ) Homework and notes
The teachers can use Popplet to give printable homework and notes to the students.
7 ) Class photo albums / Posters :
The students can use Popplet to create class photo album or poster because they can export it as
JPG or PDF files.

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Get Started With Popplet

STEP 1

STEP 2

Go to http://popplet.com/

Create an account

82

STEP 3

Create and Customize a
Popplet

84

STEP 4

STEP 5

Build a Popple

Customize the Popple

85

STEP 7

Add content to the Popplet

90

STEP 8

STEP 9

Insert a link to the Popplet

Save the Popplet

91

STEP 10

View Popplet in
presentation mode

92

STEP 11

Export the Popplet as a
JPG and PDF file

94

STEP 12

STEP 13

Print the Popplet

Share the Popplet

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REFERENCES

1. http://paulhami.edublogs.org/2012/06/11/popple-for-mind-mapping-sharing-

and-presenting/
2. http://allisonmccarthyeportfolio.weebly.com/1/post/2012/11/popplets-endless-

possibilities.html
3. http://rachelyoungeducation.wordpress.com/tag/popplet/

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CHAPTER

6

GoClass

What is GoClass?

Goclass is a cloud empowered instructing requisition for tablet gadgets that redefines the borders
of figuring in the classroom. Interface with your studes such as never before, modify and finetune your lesson plans on the go, captivate student in new ways and constantly assess their
comprehension while you are in class. By enhancing existing systems -instead of swapping them
-Goclass enables you to expand your instructing knowledge while captivating learners in a 21st
century environment.

Advantages of GoClass.
1. Assemble Online Communities
Today's people can utilize synchronous work team up without going anywhere, all through a
country, or over the globe and fabricate vibrant studying groups that empower support and
animate enhancement. With Goclass establishments and teachers can even set up virtual person
spaces for planned gatherings or specially appointed joint effort, with or without an instructor
present.

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2. Save Travel Costs
Today, education institution is instructed to equalize instructive results with the budget as the
main concern. Accomplishing more with less has turned into a lifestyle for the educated
community as it has in the business planet. In the meantime, schools are working in a more and
more aggressive environment and worldwide commercial center. This means that more money is
needed for education, with go class we can reduce the weight of the cost needed for an
education.

3. Suit Multiple Learning Styles
Goclass makes a rich and captivating studying environment that permits clients to benefit
completely from a session, paying little heed to their inclined toward studying styles. As we are
using colourful notes which can be displayed by a projector or through a gadget students can
learn through the instructors voice or self learn on their own.

4. Save Information and Knowledge

Enter usefulness in any virtual classroom might as well incorporate the capacity to record and
play again sessions, making reusable studying questions expand access and power assets.
Recorded classes might be utilized for exam audit, and qualified information sessions might be
prerecorded to furnish after a course starts. Furthermore, prerecorded preparing for personnel,
understudies, and staff on points like usually utilized requisitions or online library assets could
be created. Making an effortlessly approachable information base of intuitive, recorded
recordings is simple with Goclass.

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Ways of using GoClass.

How does it work for Instructors?
Goclass is a exciting tool that permits an educator to construct, alter and administer class
sessions. Like for any classroom, the teacher can utilize assets, for example message, notes,
media, questions and explore gadgets to construct arranged and timed lesson plans. It permits
you to clarify on pictures or draw outlines, offer materials and ask inquiries in the lesson plans
with understudies throughout class. Moreover, the application catches comes about information
for developmental appraisals directed in class for after-class assessment.

1. Make Lesson Plan
Teachers can string together assets in a lesson arrange design on top of address notes and
inquiries for developmental appraisal through a single application, then afterward convey it
through the same application. Also, these lesson arrangements might be made and altered
throughout class session.

2. Show
This characteristic permits the educator to send materials to single student units utilizing the
Broadcast characteristic or project items using the Project feature and by connecting the device
to an external projector. While projecting or broadcasting a specific item, the instructor can
browse through other items in the lesson on the mentor's device. For example, the instructor can
browse through questions while broadcasting some reading material. When the learners have
finished perusing, the teacher can then broadcast questions to check people's grasping of the
idea. Here, the educators can comment pictures and the scholar can gain the annotations
continuously on their mechanisms

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3. Explain
This characteristic permits the teacher to make lecture notes in association to the context of the
lesson. It empowers the educator to summarize the idea in straightforward bulleted record that
might be imagined utilizing a projector or kept as ideas for the educator's reference as people are
facing perusing or review materials. An additional way the teacher can utilize this characteristic,
is to record out and assignments or give points and direction for in-class pair or group exercises
that people can imply while working on the activity. Here, the educator can utilize the Scribble
characteristic to draw outlines or compose equation and broadcast it.

4. Ask Activity
The Ask characteristic permits the educator to make inquiries that could be managed in class
while illustrating the lesson designs. The application gives you instant effects with the intention
that you can modify your educating context continuously. You can make CYU (check your
understanding) questions after introducing a topic, asses questions before introducing new theory
or end-of-chapter drill questions. You can select to project the results to do an error analysis,
converse common misunderstandings, or give constructive response.

5. Make Polls
Goclass App permits you to do a instant survey to get learners inference and get them involved
in active studying instead of latently listening to the lecturer. This characteristic can additionally
be utilized for developmental evaluation and utilize the effects to pace instruction accordingly.
Survey comes about plus outcomes of any inquiries asked in class might be checked on in the
Reports and Logs segment of the web application.

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How does it work for Students?
Goclass makes a remarkable chance for learners to take after a class at their own particular pace.
Learners can contemplate materials shared by the educator, and connect with content and
pictures utilizing touch cooperations, for example as pinch, zoom, pan, and so on. You can
utilize this application to reply within class inquiries and survey the complete lesson in addition
to logs of your responses after class.

1. Join Session
When the educator begins a class session utilizing Goclass and chooses the a relevant student
roster, students in that class can join the class session through the App on their exclusive gadgets.

2. Interact & Respond
When the educator shares reading or materials with the students, the students can interface with
the substance utilizing all the touch connections, for example zoom, squeeze, dish. People can
additionally react to question asked throughout class through the Goclass App on their gadgets.

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The Web App

You can access the Goclass web application through a Web browser utilizing any pc, smart
phone or tablet. The Web App permits the instructor to enlist as a new user and manage all class
work. It immediately adjusts with the Goclass App on the tablet so you can access all eligible
information from both applications at any place and time. Student can likewise enroll on the Web
App and survey class work after a session is finished.

1. Create Lesson Plans
As an educator utilizing the Web App permits you to maintain all your lesson plans from any
area or device with the expectation that you have a web connections. You can make and alter
lesson plans all the more effortlessly. For instance, in the event that you safeguard all your
educating lessons and materials in one Pc at home or at school, you can access the Web App
from the same machine and transfer pertinent materials straightforwardly into your lesson
arrangements. When ready and recovered, you can immediately access this lesson arrange from
your tablet and take a class session utilizing the same lesson move toward the Goclass App.

2. Create Student Roster
The Web App permits you to make student roster for the purpose that you can select a specific
roster before taking a class session. Student lists could be made by including distinct names or by
making mass entries utilizing a .csv record sort that records the names and student IDs. Sample
.csv files could be utilized as a template. It Is important that you make a student roster before you
begin a class session from the Goclass App on the tablet because it will require you to select a
student program that you have made. This helps you to operate various lists and view logs and
reports created based on specific class sessions.

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3. View Logs and Reports
The teacher can see logs and reports of each class session that has been led from the Web App.
This characteristic empowers the teachers to screen people's performance and change their
destiny lessons appropriately.

4. Create & Manage Profile
This feature permits teachers to make and administer their own particular profile by expressing
their name, message address, name of organization. You can likewise personalize the application
by transferring a profile picture.

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Getting started with GoClass.

Step 1- Website
Enter the website URL http://www.goclass.com.

Step 2 – Instructor’s Registration

Click the
Create
Instructor
Account or
Register
button from
the home
page.

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Fill in the blanks accordingly.

Read and accept the terms of condition.

Verify your account through
email.

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Step 3- Starting Goclass

Login to the website

107

Login

will

direct

to

your

dashboard page.

Dashboard purpose is to
view all our activities, from
uploaded files, participating
students and class, student’s
attendance and also grades.

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Step 4 – Adding Rosters and Students

Create and name the Roster.

109

From Roster we can add students.

Fill the blanks to send invitation to the students.

EDU220 B

110

Step 5- Adding Lesson Plan

Click lesson plan to add documents,
questions and media.

Fill in the blanks accordingly.

111

Class sessions can be timed and limited to record the attendance of the student.

112

There are a varitity of ways where we are
able our students understanding, which
is through multiple choice questions,
polls and also short aswers

113

Step 6 – Log and Report

From the logs and report button we can view our students current and past performance
in class. It also helps see what we had post and also see the specified time we had that
session. Finally it also keep record of the class attendance.

114

Step 7 – Broadcasting
To start sharing the teacher and student must be within range and also with acess of wifi.
The instructor and student must have the Goclass app and log in to Goclass to be
connected.

Once all the files are transferred into the instructors account, the instructor can choose to
broadcast or project his or her teaching material.

The Students can then save any of the materials sent.

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Conclusion

In conclusion Goclass is a new way of studying which can change the way we are
currently learning. It is cheap, saves time and is a new approach to keep students interest in
educating themselves. It is like the webis site used by Ilearn but is more practical and
technologically friendly to the users.

References
1. http://www.goclass.com
2. www.techsmith.com/jing.htm

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CHAPTER

7

KIDBLOG

What Is Kidblog?
Nowadays, there are so many ways where we can keep in touch with our students to keep
them in track, to transfer knowledge or even to hear their opinions about something. One of the
ways is by using Kidblog. Just from the name (Kidblog), we know that it is a form of blog where
we can share our thoughts and opinions in there. Kidblog is intended for educators who need to
give every understudy a single online journal. Scholars distribute posts and take an interest in
scholastic discussions inside a secure classroom blogging group. Teachers maintain complete
control over student blogs and user account. In short, Kidblog is a site where teachers give
students their chance to have their own blogs and voice up their opinions in the academic
discussion held in the blogs.

Benefits of Kidblog
These are some benefits of Kidblog:
 Kidblog is a free site, where you only have to register and set up your own class. You do
not have to pay for anything to use it. Not only that it is free, this helps us to save the
consumption of papers.

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 Kidblog was created by teachers, for teachers. It allows them to interact with their
students during school holidays or weekends.
 Students can gain experience about blogging as they can have their own blogs. Through
this site, students are acquired to have their own blogs too to interact with their teachers.
Thus, other than learning academically, they can also increase their knowledge about
blogging.
 Kidblog provides only the features and menus that are relevant to both students and
teachers. Thus, it is a user friendly site.
 Upon setting up a Kidblog account, Kidblog does not ask for any personal information.
You can use your own usual E-mail but it is just so that it is easier for the students to
search for your class.
 Your blogs can be viewed by anyone (but you can change the availability). However,
your students’ blogs are personal. They are only to be viewed by the teacher or
classmates.
 Teachers can post questions, upload files or make a discussion through Kidblog just by
making new post in the blog. Students can react using their own blogs by commenting on
the posts given.
 Students can upload files for example their writing, and have it reviewed and commented
by the teacher.
 Teacher can give feedbacks about their performance by putting up comments or new
posts.
 This can save time as students only need to submit their work online, and the teacher can
directly check and mark them up.
 Moreover, Kidblog does not need any personal information from the students. The
teacher in charge just needs to register the students in the set-up class. Remember to give
them their usernames and passwords so that they can be logged-in to it. Once the teacher
has registered their usernames and passwords, their blogs are automatically set up.
 Other than that, the teacher can ask the students to just write about anything that is
educational in their own blogs. Other than sharing it with their friends, the teacher can
also assist their writing.

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What Do You Use It For?

These are some useful things that can be done through Kidblog:
 Once a student is registered, (s)he will have his or her own blog. Therefore, it means that
a student can post anything (as long as it is not personal) and have his or her writing
commented by the teacher.
 A student can also use Kidblog to upload any educational files or medias that he or she
wants to share with the classmates and the teacher.
 A student can use Kidblog to submit their work.
 As a teacher, Kidblog eases a teacher to assist and grade the students’ work.
 A teacher can post questions in the blog and the students can answer it either by
commenting or uploading a Microsoft Word document that contains their answers.

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STEP 1

Go to this URL
If you are a
teacher.

STEP 2

Setting up a class

2
1

120

3

Fill up these
boxes with
appropriate
information

After setting up your
class, you will have this
page. This is your
dashboard

121

STEP 3

Adding up students to your class

1

As your students are not

2

registered in your class
yet, you have to click
‘Add New Users’ to
register them.

122

3
Adding new students
require a teacher to

4

provide their
passwords which will
be given to them for
logging in later.

5

STEP 4
You can choose to give
them questions,
homework, or upload
any articles or journals
for them to read and
review it.

Sharing post with your students
1
2

3

123

5

4

After you are done
making your post, you
can choose either to save
it as a draft or straight
away publish it for your
students’ view.

6

STEP 5

Your homepage
2

4

After publishing
your post, you will
be brought to your
homepage that
consists of
1. Your
published
post
2. Your “All
Blogs”
button
3. Your “My
Blog” button
4. Your “New
Post” button
5. Your
Comment
button
6. Your
“search”
button

3

6
1

5

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STEP 6

Logging off

3

1

2

You can choose to go to
control
panel@dashboard(where
you can approve your
students’ comments on
your posts) or to go to
your profile( to change
your class’ name or add
up your profile picture) or
just click Log out to log
off.

125

Go to
STEP 1 this

Go to this URL

If you are a
student

STEP 2

Logging in to your teacher’s class

1
2

You have to click
LOGIN first to enter
your teacher’s email

3

After you have entered
the teacher’s email, you
will be given the class’
link and you have to
click it in order to be
logged in.

126

5
You will then be
brought to your
teacher’s Kidblog
page after clicking the
link. You can choose
to either

4

4 . Just read the post
given
5. Log in to your
teacher’s class

To log in to your class,
select your name from the
choices of user indicated by
the arrow, and type in your
password that has been
given by your teacher.
Make sure your teacher has
already registered you.

6
7
8

127

STEP 3

Getting to know your blog

This is your Kidblog’s
homepage. You can
click any of it to check
it out.

If you select “NEW
POST” in the
homepage, you will be
brought to this page and
the followings are the
functions of the
buttons

128

STEP 4

Making a post and publishing it

1

2

In this page, you can make a
post to answer to any of the
work given by your teacher or
you just can share educational
stuff (not your personal story)
with your friends or your
teacher. The post can be
commented and graded by
your teacher and commented
by your friends too.

3

5
On the right side, you can
choose to save your post,
preview it or if you are
satisfied with it, you can
straight away publish it

4

6

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After you have
published your post,
your teacher and friends
can now view it.
Remember that they can
always comment on
your work by leaving
comments. The teacher
might also leave her or
his feedbacks through
the comment section.

STEP 5

Logging out
1

2

3

To log off, just go to your
right side and click “Log
Out”. To log in back, just
repeat Step 1 and 2 ( for both
teacher and students)

130

References
1. http://www.Kidblog.com
2. http://assessmentthewebtwopointoway.wikispaces.com
3. http://www.blogtap.net

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CHAPTER

8

DROPBOX

Dropbox is a well-known service for free online file storage. Other vendors offer comparable
services, like Box.net, Mozy, Sugrasync, and Syncpility or the platform-oriented MobileMe
(Apple) and Windows Live Skydrive. However, based on Alexa traffic rankings, Dropbox is the
most widely used application so far. Dropbox allows its users to generate their special folder on
each of their computers. Then, Dropbox will synchronize the folder and it appears to be the same
folder (with the same contents) regardless of which computer is used to view it. Files placed in
this folder also are accessible through a website and mobile phone application. According to
Dropbox founder, Drew Houston careful thinks of the idea after repeatedly overlooking his USB
flash drive while he was a student. He began making something for his personal use, but then he
came to his senses that it could help others with the same problems. As being said by Craig
Buckler in his article, the concept is simple; install the Dropbox application on your PCs,
smartphones and tablets and it creates a magic folder which synchronizes all its files across all
your devices. As a bonus, it is useful for backing-up, accessing files online, extracting historical
versions, exploiting the API and sharing files with other users. With a free 2GB account, users
can make use of the space given to actually save their important files so that they will be wellsecured. If anything bad happen to our computers, tablets or phones, at least all the files are safe

132

and still can be retrieved later. Besides, it is very easy to be used because the steps are very
simple and understandable.



Can be accessed anywhere – You can save a PowerPoint slides in your office and then
open it everywhere. For example classroom, library, coffee shop, home, airport, hotel, or
conference centre.



Can be used in multiple devices – Backup files on your desktop and see them later on
your laptop, tablet, or smartphone



Works across platforms – Sync up a to-do list from a Windows machine and modify it
on a Blackberry, Mac, Linux, iPhone, or Android device



Optional – If the computer in your classroom that doesn’t have Dropbox installed; you
can simply access your files from a browser.



Good way of sharing – You can set up a folder to be accessible by a specific set of
Dropbox accounts. Try this with students, colleagues, committee members, co-authors,
family, or other groups.



Back up essential files – Everything you save in a Dropbox folder is automatically
copied, not only to “the cloud” but also to other devices connected to your account.



Keep files in sync – Always have your most recent to-do list or folder of browser
bookmarks. I keep my genealogy database in Dropbox, so I have the most up-to-date info
at home and on the road.



Provide a history – An account maintains 30 days of “undo”, allowing you to return to
last Friday’s draft of class preparation notes – the one before you accidentally deleted that
awesome anecdote.



Low price – There is no fee for 2 GB of space. If you need more, pay up to $20/month
for 100 GB. You can earn extra free space by using a special URL to refer new customers
(I resisted that temptation here).

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Getting Started !

Before being able to start using this application, we have to go to http://www.dropbox.com/ .
Then, we will be asked to create our own Dropbox account for free. We just have to provide
them our own name, email and password. Then, all we need to do is press the “Sign Up” button.

Do not forget to click “I agree
to Dropbox Terms”

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If you already have a Dropbox account, you can simply “Sign In” and start using this application
within a minute.

For a beginner, before you start using this application, you are advised to read the guideline
because all the information about Dropbox is stated there.

135

First of all, we have to take the
Dropbox tour. It gives us information
about this application.

While going through the tour, we will be exposed to the purpose of using Dropbox, its benefits
and other qualities that it has.

Basically, the tour is being divided into five subtopics.

136

The first subtopic is “What’s Dropbox?”. It tells us a little bit about this application, how it
functions and its speciality compared to other related software available nowadays.

Secondly, the next point will be focusing on more on its convenience while using this app. We
will be informed that Dropbox can be easily used regardless of no matter where we are. Once
this app being downloaded in our pc or phones, it will automatically upload the photos, videos or
any other documents directly to your Dropbox folder. Manual transferring is not needed.

137

The next chapter will point out how easy Dropbox is especially for sharing. We just have to
invite our friends to register for this app and they will receive every file we upload after being
invited to our folders.

Moreover, Dropbox has its own safety precaution as well. It helps the users to protect their
important files from being destroyed or lost. Even if our pc or phone is having some problems

138

and can no longer function, Dropbox will make sure all the files are protected and can be
retrieved straightforwardly.

Besides that, it tells us that Dropbox able to help people all over the world in their work such as
designing buildings, composing music or even running a business.

139

Then, proceed with the next step, which is to download the app into our pc, tablet or phone. The
downloading process will only take us less than 10 minutes.

Second step is to install this app
into our pc, tablet or phone.

To download this app, we just have to click the link and it will direct us to the downloading
process. Everything is automatic. If the downloading process is not starting, we just have to click
“restart the download”. Then, the installation process will begin.

After this app is properly installed in our electronic gadget, we can freely start using is. Since it
is free, the storage capability is quite limited for only 2Gb. For a larger storage, we will be
charged.
140

How to start using Dropbox?

Start uploading your files here!

Easy, all we need to do is just click the link and it will precede us with the next step, which is to
start uploading the files into our own folders in Dropbox.

All we need to do is click “Choose files”

Next, we can freely choose files that we want to upload. Put the most important folders there.
Music and Photos folders might work if you have enough Dropbox space. Remember, you can
upgrade from the 2GB that Dropbox gives you for free to 50GB ($10 per month) or 100GB ($20
a month) paid accounts.

141

Right after that, click “Open”.

Further step to be taken is letting the process completed by itself. While waiting for a file to be
installed, we can actually upload more files at the same time. It can actually save our time.

Click to upload more files.

142

After done uploading all the files that we want, we can arrange them into different folders.

If the folders are too crowded, create a new one!

Not just that, we can share our files with other Dropbox users as well.

143

We can easily share our photos or
videos with other users just by clicking
“Photos”.

All we need to do after that is just to choose any of the photos or videos to be shared.

144

Besides that, Dropbox gives us option which folders we want to share.

145

Apart from that, we can share our files with friends. If other users join shared folders, they can
freely access our folders. All we need to do is click “New shared folder” to make sure other users
can access our folders for sharing purposes. It provides us with some privacy which we can keep
some of the folders unseen by others.

Click “Learn more” for
better understanding.

Sharing happens when someone has joined our shared folders where all the files that we upload
in that specific folders will also appear in their computers. To share work files among coworkers,
store them in Dropbox’s Public folder; Control-click (or right-click) on a file in that folder, select
Copy Public Link, and share that URL. Or share a folder: At dropbox.com, Control-click on a
folder, and then select Invite To Folder and provide an email address. Or select Share A Folder
from the top menu. You can save money on postage by scanning large documents and then
depositing the scans in Dropbox. It’s a lot cheaper than sending those same documents via mail
or some other delivery service.

146

Moreover, we can create a link to any files or folders so that it can be easier for us to share our
files or folders.

147

If we click the “Events” button, every activity will be recorded. We will be able to know the
exact date and time every file is being installed in Dropbox. This is basically for safety purposes.
Since every files will be uploaded directly from our phones, tablets or PCs, we can easily detect
if someone else is using our gadgets instantly.

148

Dropbox Makes Everything Easier !
After we have completed with the downloading and installing process in the website, we can
actually view all the folders in Dropbox from our desktop.

Then, proceed with the next step where we can easily “Copy” and “Paste” any folder that we
want into our Dropbox folder. The example has been shown below.

149

After that, all the files that have been transferred to that folder can be seen. We can actually
organise those files as usual, according to dates and so on.

150

Just like what we can do while we log in our Dropbox account, we can still do some sharing with
other people.

151

Besides that, we can always see there is a Dropbox icon which will keep us alert about what files
are being synced and what files cannot be uploaded into our folder.

Through Dropbox, we can easily organise our files even though we are not connected with the
internet. We can just place all the files needed into the folder and once we log in into our
Dropbox account, we can see all the files there! Indeed, as simple as that.

153

References
1. http://www.sitepoint.com/how-to-use-easy-file-sharing-in-dropbox/.
2. http://www.informationweek.com/cloud-computing/infrastructure/8-smart-ways-to-usedropbox/231902845.
3. http://www.macworld.com/article/1161311/62_things_you_can_do_with_dropbox.html.
4. http://www.businesszone.co.uk/topic/technology/dropbox-pros-and-cons/42935.

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CHAPTER

9

Murally

Inroduction

Mural.ly is a website that consists of a mural. Mural is a board or container in which we
add elements that reflect our ideas. Mural.ly was first launch on September 2012Launched:
September 2012 in Buenos Aires, Argentina which was privately held. The founders of Mura.ly
include Agustin Soler, Johnny Halife, Mariano Suarez Battan and Pato Jutard.
Mural.ly offers a new, different way to collect and share ideas and mind mapping.
Mural.ly is a collaboration tool that’s part Google Drive, part Pinterest. Professionals in designrelated industries, students, teachers or anyone that basically uses mind-mapping and simple
notes on ideas can collect links, videos, profiles, photos, and presentations to post on their
murals, and then share those murals as a way to map out the entire creative process with their
teams. It lets visual people creative quickly map that content, share their ideas and receive
feedback or new ideas online.
155

ADVANTAGES

Users can plot out their plans for a website they are designing. There are plenty of rooms
for the users to collect their thoughts and just be creative and then mapped out all the ideas in a
single mural. This way, the users do not have to use a lot of papers and space on anything else
because Mural.ly users get a scrollable space which can grow both horizontally and vertically
according to needs.
Users can also be creative in creating an interactive presentation to woo new clients.
Rather than just using a boring slideshows, clients can now enjoy a different way in looking into
their ideas with a lot of pictures and videos with much more colourful and organised simple
notes.
Collaborate with colleagues on an upcoming project is one other thing that Mural.ly
offers. Mural.ly offers users to grab websites, photos, audio and other media and work arrange
them on a virtual canvas, as well as invite others to work together at the same time in the same
space. Thus, users do not need to meet up at the coffee shop, or a house in order to brainstorm
ideas. Mural.ly is a great tool for teams looking for a more visual way to collaborate on projects.
I remembered that I sometimes forgot to save all the ideas or notes I was making and all
of the sudden my laptop will go off. And when I opened the laptop back, the documents was
already gone. But no matter, using Mural.ly users can actually avoid that. Mural.ly auto-saves
murals every few seconds. Thus, users do not need to worry about losing their document. Users
also have total control over the privacy of their murals. If they do not want to publicise their
murals, users have the option to make their mural as private.

156

GETTING STARTED

1.1 Registration

The first thing that we need to do before we can use this site is to register. This site does
not need any payment or fees to register. To sign up, just click the ‘Sign-up for free’ button to
make an account for free. Once we have signed-up, we can start using the site.

1.2 Sign-up
157

After clicking the ‘Sign-up for free’ button, the site will immediately show up as shown
on diagram 1.2. Users need to enter email address, username, and password. If you are
happening to make Murals for your company or organization, you can put in your company or
organisation’s name. Once done, just enter ‘create your account’ and you are in.

1.3 Optional way
If you do not want to create your account using email address, you can also signup using other social network accounts that you have such as Facebook, Twitter or even Google
account. Confirmation will be requested if you are about to open using social network accounts.

158

1.4 Home
Once you are in, you will see your home page shown in diagram 1.4. Here you can make
changes to all your settings to your account.
CREATING MURAL

2.1 Create Mural
To begin your own Mural, you can just click the box with ‘create new mural’ sign in it.
You can easily start your mural after that.

159

2.2 Invitation

2.3 Optional Invitation
Once you clicked on ‘create your mural’, a pop-up window of invitation will come out.
You just have to put in our friends’ email to invite them. You can also customize private

160

massage with every invitation. Once done, you can click on ‘send invitations’ to send them off.
You can also use your contact from your Google account to invite them.

LET’S GET STARTED

3.1 Elements
On the left you can find, vertically, the various tools to add items to the mural, classified
by three categories: Content, Tools and Show.
The content consists of Mobile Inbox, Web Content, Images and Document. Web
Content: Allows you to insert any type of content: photos, videos, news, maps, text documents,
presentations, etc., either from the web or from your computer. In itself, this menu has no icons

161

or buttons to add, if not that, having opened mural.ly, in another browser window; you can select
and drag part of a new to the window of mural.
The same goes for a photo of a page, an Instagram image, a Youtube video, a SkyDrive or
DropBox document. You can also add items using the file explorer files. For Images, you are
allowed you upload images directly from your computer.
Tools consist of Text Tools, Shapes, Stickers, Spaces, and Background. In Text, it allows you to
insert a text on several formats: Title – single line text, Text Box - multiple lines text, Sticky
Notes – post-it in several colours, Shapes – allows you to insert several shapes (connection lines
with arrows, circle, rectangle, triangle, Schema shape ({), and smileys.
Meanwhile Stickers allows you to insert different pre-defined icons. Spaces allows you to
insert a content organization structure, such as tables, parallel lines, concentric circles, Kanbas
boards, etc.. Lastly, Backgrounds allows you to select a texture for the background mural.
Show consists of comments and show. In Comments, they let you to make comments
with Balloon comments while Show allows you to define areas for zooms, in sequential order, to
be shown in presentations.

162

3.2 Paste URL to add conten

3.3 Example of pasted URL

163

3.4 Put in Images

3.5 Text Tools
164

3.8 Stickers

3.9 Backgrounds
166

3.10 Layout

3.11 The examples of some of the tools used

167

CHAPTER

10

bubbl.us

What is BUBBL.US?
Bubbl.us is a website that allows users to create interactive mind maps. This website also
allows users to save, print and share mind maps with people around the globe. Users only need to
sign up and they can start brainstorming. However, users can also start creating their mind maps
without signing up!

Bubbl.us
homepage.

169

Advantages of BUBBL.US

Some advantages of using bubbl.us are:
 Simple and easy.
 It is very simple and easy to create new mind maps by using this websites.
Furthermore if, you have any question on how to use the website, you can always
click the ‘Help’ button.
 It is free.
 You can sign up for a free account. Although, the upgraded provides more features
for example, for upgraded version you can import your mind maps, a free account is
sufficient enough for you to save your mind maps to your computer.
 It is available to anyone, anytime and anywhere that has Internet access. No installation
needed.
 You can just go to https://bubbl.us/ to start mind mapping.
 Users only need to sign up by providing their usernames and emails.
 You can be a member by just providing your personal information such as email,
username, and your password.

170

GET STARTED WITH BUBBL.US

STEP 1

STEP 2

Go to https://bubbl.us/

Signing up.

Bubbl.us homepage.

..or if you are already a member, just sign in your account.

171

STEP 3

Signing in.

If you’re
already a
member, enter
your username
@ email and
password and
then click sign
in.

172

STEP 4

Creating mind map.

Click here to learn
how to use
bubbl.us

Click here to start
brainstorming

173

Click here to start
brainstorming.

174

(c) Changing bubble’s colour.

For examples:
177

(d) Resizing the bubble and text.
178

(g) Changing the arrow’s head direction.

183

(k) Making new child bubble.

188

STEP 5

Saving mind map.

Click here to
save your mind
map.

Your new mind map is now
saved. Simply double-click
here to view or edit it.

189

STEP 6

Printing mind map.

To print your mind
map, click this
(o) Creating a new mind map. ‘Print’
button.

STEP 7

Saving mind map to computer.

To save your mind map
to your computer, click
this ‘Export’ button.

190

STEP 8

Creating new mind map.

To create new mind
map, click this button.

And start again
making your
interactive and
creative mind map!

191

REFERENCES
1.

http://www.wikihow.com/Brainstorm-Using-Bubbl.Us

2.

http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=1207

3.

http://www.web2teachingtools.com/bubbl_us.html

192

CHAPTER

11

StoryJumper
Introduction

What is Story Jumper?

Story jumper is a website that allows teachers and students to create their
own children’s books. We can use the existed images on the website or we can also
upload our own photos to be used in our books. When we are done, we can embed
the book to a website or we can order hardback version of the books.
Students can work alone, or collaborate as a class. Teachers and students can
register for free, and teachers can use the Classroom Edition to manage and review
students' work, enable students to share stories at home and at school, establish
privacy controls for your students' stories, and receive discounts when ordering
books.
Apart from making story books, students can also make various kinds of maps
such as treasure maps, and mind maps for their educational purposes.

193

What are the benefits?

 Story Jumper enables students to create their own story book in a more
interactive ways using colorful and interesting visuals.
 Give teachers an interface to manage and review students' work.
 Enable kids to share stories between the classroom and home.

194

Getting started

For Teachers
1. Go to the website

2. Sign Up

195

For Students
1. Entering your class

202

CHAPTER

12

LIVEBINDERS

What Is Livebinders?
The word binder might ring a bell in your head. It may remind you of the traditional
binder or combs used to compile a work of the same value. So does Livebinders, except the fact
that it is actually a website that serves as a platform for users to ‘bind’ their work in the same
place. Livebinders is actually a virtual three-ring web that enables users to have their own work’s
organizer.
Livebinders is a flexible websites whereby users can choose whether they want to be a
member or non-member. Non-members can only view the binders shared publicly by the
member-user. On the other note, members are given free account-based whereby they are
provided with 100MB capacity as their workspace. Plus, there is no limit of time for memberusers like some of the free-trial websites.
Livebinders can also be referred to as virtual notebook. This is because it works similarly
like a notebook with division. The way it works is very convenient, with a straightforward layout
and easy-to-work-with options. Users are given their own dashboard, shelves to view their work
easily. Every detail in your work is within reach. So it makes it easier to work with the websites
since the probability of losing any details of your work is very low.
Finally, users are given options whether to keep their binders as private or to publicize
them to other viewers. The binders can be made public by sharing them on the social networking
sites which are linked with the websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and a few others. In
contrast, premium users whom paid for their account can be made their binders private (viewable
for authorized members only). Not to mention another special figure of the website is that is
211

allowed collaboration to take place. Users can collaborate with one another to come out with
their binders. This makes the websites suitable to be used to make school projects and any team’s
work.

Benefits of Using Livebinders

Among the benefit of using Livebinders are:


It saves time and energy. Users don’t have to go through the entire headache in having
to juggle between many files. Livebinders has made organizing work as easy as a
mouse-click away. The layout and the structure of the website are not complicated even
for beginners. It is easy to create a binder and arrange all the materials in a single binder.
You can have multiple tabs and subtabs in a binder.



It is free. You can have a basic account without having to pay any fee. However, a sum
of money has to be paid if users want to upgrade into premium users.



It is user friendly. Livebinders can be used to do various task. It can collaborate and
integrates with other websites such as Prezzi, google doc and may other web 2.0
websites. It can also be used for smart board and laptop presentation.



It is flexible. Users just have to add the “LiveBinders it” bookmark on their browser
toolbar. Then, they can save the links that they like by clicking on the bookmark without
having to log in to this websites. This button can also be included in the users’ personal
websites or blog.



It is suitable to be used for any subjects. Students or teachers can use Livebinders for
every subjects taught in school because Livebinders doesn’t has any specific format. The
website is universal whereby it can be used for making notes, presentations, portfolios,
science school projects, quizzes and many others.

212

HOW TO WORK WITH THE WEBSITES?

STEP 1 : Go to http//:www.livebinder.com

STEP 2 : Create an account

213

STEP 3 : Creating your own binder

214

STEP 4 : Customizing your tab

215

4(i) Changing the tab colour

216

4 (ii) Changing the tab layout

4(iii) Setting the Tab Text Layout

217

STEP 5 : Adding content to your subtab

5(i) Uploading a file into your subtab

218

5(ii) Uploading another content into the subtab
(Video)

220

STEP 6: Adding annotation to your subtab

STEP 7 : Saving your binder

221

STEP 8: Sharing your binder

222

STEP 9: Viewing other binder

223

Conclusion
Technology has brought education to a higher level. Education today does not rely on the
conventional blackboard and chalk only, but it is becoming globalised as man is making
advancement in technology. New and improvised technology promise better education to the
mankind. In conclusion, both the teachers and the students are the ones that gained benefits from
this miraculous development.

REFERENCES
1. http://www.livebinders.com
2. http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html

225

CHAPTER

13

Spiderscribe.net

What is SpiderScribe.net?
SpiderScribe is an online mind mapping and brainstorming tool. It allows users to organize their
ideas by connecting notes, files, calendar events and many more in free-form mind maps. You
can collaborate and share those maps online with other users.
(Source: http://www.spiderscribe.net/)

Benefits of SpiderScribe.net

Some of the benefits of using SpiderScribe are:


The ability to organize ideas in mind mapping form for easier reference.



Users can connect notes, pictures and files together to give the idea a more modified and
illustrative look.



The user can access his/her mind maps anywhere which is very convenient on-the-go.



It can be updated as and when required.



Very user friendly in a way of how interactive it is with anyone who is using it.



Easy to pick up and learn within just a few minutes.



Fun to use and mess around with during your spare time.

(Source: http://www.e-junkie.info/2011/06/start-up-of-week-spiderscribenet-brand.html)

226

Getting started with SpiderScribe

First of all, go to http://www.spiderscribe.net/

This is located on the top right for you to log in or sign up if you aren’t already a member.

227

You have three separate choices on how to sign up. However for now, we will choose the
personal (free) use option.

228

Once you have signed up and logged in, you are ready to create your very own mind map of
ideas.

229

You start by including a title and description for your mind map.

Next, we can begin constructing the mind map. On the left-hand side there will be five icons
each with its own separate functions. The first icon inserts a text box.

230

You can customize the colours, size and type of the font and text as follow under properties.
The following four icons allow you to insert a word file, a photo, a map or location as well as
an event respectively.

231

Once your mind map is complete, you can share it with your friends and acquaintances by
clicking share which is located on the top right corner.

232

There are several options whether or not you want the link to be public (with link or without)
or private (only for your own access). You can also choose to embed your mind map into
your own personal website or blog. Finally, just click the save button and you have yourself a
mind map.

233

References
1. http://www.e-junkie.info/2011/06/start-up-of-week-spiderscribenet-brand.html
2. http://www.spiderscribe.net/

234

CHAPTER

14

Text2mindmap

What is Text2mindmap
Text2MindMap is a free mind mapping tool where you can convert your ideas into mind
maps. To put it simply, using Text2MindMap you can map your thoughts onto dashboard and
later download them to your PC. The way it works, you simply make a list of things you want to
have on the mind map, optionally bundle items under nodes, and arrange the nodes to your
liking. Once the mind map is ready you have an option to download and save it to your
computer.

Test2mindmap is a free visualization web application that allows users to turn ideas into
node-based maps. Users simply write out a list, and whenever an indent is placed, Tex2mindmap
will separate the bundle of items into node, with little sub-nodes below each one. It provides a
user-friendly way to put together simple or complex mind maps in a very short amount of time.

Text2mindmap is a way of creating a visually stimulating outline without a fuss. This
made any simple outline that had been limited to just words, a two dementia picture showing the
branching relationship between the outlines concept. This can be useful for almost any subject. I
used it myself in a personal project to demonstrate the different cultures that my family members
represent. It turned a confusing jumble of countries and names into a cohesive picture with lines
showing relationships.

235

Benefits of Text2mind


Easy to create mind map and you can save them to your PC



No membership required



The program is free



Does Not require Downloading or Installing



Make as many maps as you like.



Organize and group map objects into nodes.



Can customize maps: change font size, line colour, text colour, etc.



Can download or retrieved mind maps in JPEG format (image file).

236

1. Getting Started with Text2mindmap

237

References

1. http://www.text2mindmap.com/
2. http://www.text2mindmap.com/flashversion/index2.php?map=hsn7vH
3. http://hillerspires.wikispaces.com/:

252

CHAPTER

15

PRIMARYPAD

What is PRIMARYPAD?
Today’s generation of learners are social beings who communicate, collaborate, create, co-create
and connect using online technologies. PrimaryPad is a web-based word processor designed for
schools that allows pupils and teachers to work together in real-time and integrates seamlessly
with PrimaryWall and PrimaryPaint.Primary Technology operates this PrimaryPad. Primary
Technology is a UK based company that provides ICT services to Education worldwide. Primary
Technology also provides a range of tools both offline and online.These applications are great
for teachers who want to create a collaborative space for a small groups or classes. Besides, what
this web based tool allows is for numerous students to collectively create and edit the same
document simultaneously online (Mark Robinson, 2010). PrimaryPad are useful for getting
ideas, collaborating, sharing and quickly posting pieces of information when working in a group
or collaborative environment. Moreover, it is improving important typing and English skills as
well as critical thinking.

Benefits of Using PRIMARYPAD
The following are some advantages of using PrimaryPad (Jalger, 2011)
Ease of Use
Primary Pad is very easy to use. There is no need for the users to log in register to start
collaborating with one another. Simply click “create pad” start typing and share the unique URL
with others so they can join in. There are a minimal number of icons, common to most word

253

processing documents like bold, underline, undo, redo and save) So most users will instinctively
know how to use the features.
Value for money
Most users will only require the basic features which are completely free. However if you or
your school really likes the application then the pro features can be accessed. Different cost will
be charged for the different period.


One PrimaryPad Pro account for one year – £50



One PrimaryPad Pro account for six months – £30



One PrimaryPad Pro account for one month – £6

Overall Rating
Primary Pad is a useful tool that allows users to collaborate easily on one document. Like most
tools Primary Pad is only limited by a teacher’s creativity and the application is definitely worth
checking out if you have access to several laptops, an electronic whiteboard and internet access
within your classroom. A teacher could lead a discussion on the whiteboard and allow students to
contribute ideas from their seats. In fact some students can even join in without being present in
the classroom.
PrimaryWall and PrimaryPaint integration
Primary pad integrates with these both tools. PrimaryWall is a web-based sticky note tool
designed for schools that allows pupils and teachers to work together in real-time. Teachers and
students can get ideas, collaborating, sharing and quickly posting pieces of information when
working in a group or collaborative environment while PrimaryPaint is a web-based painting tool
designed for schools that allows pupils and teachers to work together in real-time.

254

Effective Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom: Part 1

Effective Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom: Part 1

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