Murally is Google Docs for Visual People

I know that some research is suggesting that there really aren’t such things as visual or auditory learners. Well . . . that research is wrong. Cause I’m a visual learner. No question.

I don’t listen well. I can’t pay attention to audio books. I have trouble staying focused during long lectures and speeches. Just the way it is. And I think I’m a lot like most of your kids – someone who feels more comfortable using visual stuff like graphic organizers, infographics, photos, and videos as part of my learning process.

So I’ve always love tools like Glogster and Wallwisher and Prezi. They help me “see” what I need to understand. They help me organize information in ways that make sense to me.

And I can hear you thinking way over here:

Yeah. So?

Glogster does have an “educational” version but it’s not the same since they started charging money. Wallwisher is now Padlet and Prezi makes me dizzy.

So . . . I need something else. And today, thanks to Kelly over at iLearn Technology, I’ve got a new toy to play with.

Five great sites for finding web 2.0 tools

We all can sometimes get in a rut. Ruts can make us feel comfortable. We use the same book, the same video, the same lesson plan, the same activities, the same tools. I’m no different. I read the same sites, browse the same authors, use the same online tools. I’m a big fan of Flipboard and Zite. I spend time scanning the same RSS feeds every day.

And there’s not anything wrong with that . . . unless there is something better out there. It’s easy to get fat and happy with the way things are. And that’s not a good thing.

So today? Five great sites that you can use to spice up your technology tool library.

EdShelf
This one is new to me and I already love it. Created by a small group of educator/techie people, edshelf is designed to be an easy to use, easy to search directory of websites, mobile apps, and desktop software “rated and reviewed by educators, for educators.” It has a huge database of stuff that you can browse through or filter down by grade level, subject, platform, category, and price.

You can also save your favorite tools and create a “colleague” list of like-minded people to help you search and save more effectively. Plus the site looks good and is easy to use, so . . . what’s not to like?

EdSurge
EdSurge is a community resource for all things in edtech. Their goal is to help educators make informed decisions, and help developers make products that matter.

EdSurge is a user community and information resource for the emerging education technology ecosystem. Our goal is to help accelerate the adoption of innovation in education.

Sounds a bit pretentious but it’s really not. The basic idea is that you and others share ideas, resources, suggestions, new sites, new tools and together, everyone gets smarter and edtech products get better. You can also research and handy articles on EdSurge. If you’re looking for specific tools, click Products. You can filter your results in much the same way as edshelf. But your choices also include topics and organizations – all cross-referenced with one another. Pretty slick.

ClassroomWindow
A relatively new site, ClassroomWindow “is on a mission to make teachers the new power brokers in K-12 education.” 

Built by a group of friends passionate about education, ClassroomWindow wants to help teachers make sense of the “chaotic” world of education technology, textbooks, and tools. It claims to be the first education directory of its kind and features trusted reviews by and for teachers around the globe.

In some ways, ClassroomWindow is a lot like Yelp or TripAdvisor. All sorts of people can add resources, web sites, web 2.0 tools, mobile apps and then review them. A nice way to find and evaluate a huge variety of edtech stuff. You can search by keyword or browse through small categories such as American History or large categories like Web Tools. Lots of ways to filter results.

And it’s teacher driven. I like that.

101 Web 2.0 Teaching Tools Every Teacher Should Know About
This is a much simpler site the first three. It’s a slideshow.

Yup. Just a slideshow. But it’s a good slideshow. And because it’s just a slideshow, you can quickly scan through the slides and find exactly what you’re looking for. No filters. No colleagues. No ratings. It’s just a slideshow.

Go2Web20
The Go2Web20 directory has been around forever. And it’s been around forever because it lists hundreds of handy online tools while making it easy to find tools that you can actually use.

You can find quick descriptions, screenshots, and similar links.

So get out of your rut. Go find something new.

1500 websites, apps, and web 2.0 tools just for teachers

Yes. It is a bit of overkill. Seriously. Who would ever need 1500 websites, apps, and web 2.0 tools? Or have time, for that matter.

But our SOE guy said numbers in blog titles increase site traffic so today . . . you get 1500 websites, apps, and web 2.0 tools. 1500. My site traffic will be through the roof today.

If nothing else, the lists below are testimony to the fact that there is always something out there, that we can always be learning more about how we can do our jobs better. But take this post in chunks. Bite off a little bit at a time. Come back to it next week. Share it with friends. Find a helpful tool once a week for . . . well, 1500 weeks. Enjoy!

1000 Education Apps Organized by Subject and Price
We’ll start with the biggie. You’ll find just a taste here with a link to a huge Google Doc. Huge.

The 100 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen by You
Narrowed down from 900 teacher submissions, these are the best tools used by actual teachers.

The 200 Best Special Ed Apps
Eric Sailers has been working on this list since before the iPad came out. I’m talking the iPad 1. So you know it’s got some stuff.

The 100 Top Tools of 2011
What is a “learning tool”? Any tool you use to create or deliver learning content/solutions for others or that you use for your own personal learning.

Top 100 Sites of 2011
Tech & Learning’s version of the best sites.

Psst . . . it’s not really 1500.

You’re gonna find a lot of overlap between the different lists. But trust me, you’ll still need to set aside some time here. And don’t be afraid to share your own favorites in the comments.

100 top sites for teachers

I’m still recovering from the 2011 turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, green bean casserole, pie and football four-day spectacular. Woozy. Just a little woozy.

So . . . while I recover, head over to Technology Tidbits for an awesome list of online tools and sites compiled by David Kapuler. One hundred sweet goodies just for teachers.

I can’t promise anything but check back tomorrow. Should be back to normal.

80 online tools and resources plus 22 more

That makes 102.

If my math is correct.

Even if it’s not, it still adds up to a lot of stuff.

Edutopia started a list back in June of helpful tools, references, and resources for classrooms. Teachers were urged to add their own items to the list and it’s grown to 102 things that you can toss in your virtual tool kit.

Some I know and use a ton. Some are new to me.

So head on over, browse the list, add some new favorites to your tool belt and don’t forget to share some of your old favorites in the comments.

Need a tease? Here ya go: