Week 8: Online Applications & Tools #19 Take a look at LibraryThing and catalog some of your favorite books

Good morning!
I've been playing around with Library Thing. It's simple to use and provides a lot of options with regard to how you manipulate the content on your Library Thing page or if you choose to post the content to your blog. The tour is a great place to start.

I especially like that it allows you to post book jackets and also links to the titles and authors. This visual option definitely adds to the whole experience. I knew in past copying jacket covers was discouraged, but apparently the copyright issues were worked out. I found this note (Cover images link to Amazon, a requirement if their covers are displayed. Text links go to LibraryThing.) Finally, another impressive feature of LibraryThing is the search options via Amazon or Library of Congress for cataloging info.

I could easily see this tool used for by our high school students to create and share their favorite books and authors, not only with each other in their school setting...but with the larger world of readers...which is what Web 2.0 is all about.
jane

Welcome letter to Mr. Fillmore

Hi Mr. Fillmore,

I'm learning about an online productivity tool called Zoho. It's similar to Google docs.

I haven't used either with students...but used Writely (predecessor to Google docs) as a student. We wrote a grant using the product. It was great to be able to post our component parts and collaborate on refining the final product.

BUT we also had access to something called Centra which allowed us to talk to each other. SO we were able to add the verbal (real-time conversation) dimension to our work. I think that could make a huge difference depending on the product.

I wonder if Skype could do the same thing if students were working on an online project outside of school?

Thanks for letting me send you something. I thought you might like to see Zoho too,

jane

PS - I may like Zoho a bit better than Google docs. It seems to have more options on the document page...very intuitive. I'd be interested to hear what you think.

Technorati Tags Web2.0

Week 8: Online Applications & Tools #18. Take a look at some online productivity (word processing, spreadsheet) tools

AWESOME!!
The above post was created in Zoho.
I used Zoho’s publish options to post to your blog.
FYI...Mr. Fillmore is a chemistry teacher in my high school who has migrated his course into Moodle this school year. We spoke briefly last week about his plan to use Google Docs with his classes.
BTW-if anyone out there is interested. We also have migrated his students citations and note-taking into NoodleTools. NoodleTools is an online bibliography composer with fully-integrated note-taking capabilities. We did make them (11th grade students) use books...YES, print sources...can you hear them groaning...for the first exercise last week.
For as wonderful as this is you can't throw the baby out with the bath water. There will be times when navigating a brick and mortar library and consulting print sources is absolutely the best choice (or an additional choice). It's well worth the time to elaborate on these important skills.

And Mr. Fillmore...I appreciate your being a good sport and allowing me to keep the post from the Zoho letter in my blog. In all fairness, please let me know if you'd rather I didn't or would like something edited.
jane