Web Tools
These tools support the different stages of the inquiry process
-- connect, wonder, investigate, construct, express and apply. Many of the tools
can be used for more than one purpose and not necessarily in a sequential order.
The tools are meant to support the learner's thinking process during the various
stages of inquiry. Technology is not an end in itself, but a support to
help students learn.
organize, categorize and share websites
Creates a
permanent, searchable record of your favorite web pages (like a mini-Yahoo) and
lets you share parts of your personal directory with other Backflip users.
(free)
analyze information
Courtesy of the National Center for Education Statistics, this site allows you
and your students to instantly create an area, bar, line or pie graph based upon
values that you enter. You can then export the graph into an other application.
communicate and share
Instant
"online corkboard" for messages, photos and files. Great for newbies -- easier
than creating web pages. (free 30 day trial, $29 per year)
organize, guide searching and model good question
An
interactive Web-based template on the Blue Web'n site that allows educators to
develop Hunts, websites that focus on a few key curriculum questions and guided
web surfing and Hotlists, an annotated list of websites on a particular
curriculum topic. (free)
organize websites
A free Web-based utility that saves a copy of an entire webpage into your member
directory. It can be accessed from any computer on the Internet.
analyze information
This table shows different types of graphic organizers and includes examples.
analyze information
From the California Education Department, SCORE provides a collection of
graphic organizers, including how they might be used.
brainstorm, organize and outline
A visual
organizer (software program) that helps students develop ideas and organize
thinking. Inspiration's integrated diagramming and outlining views work together
to help students comprehend concepts and information. (30-day free trial
software, $70)
organize, share and demonstrate learning
A Windows
software program that enables you to gather and enhance all types of information
and images from the Web or from your computer's hard drive into convenient,
easy-to-read on-screen books that students or teachers can send via email or
publish to a Web site. ($34.95 for educators, download a free 30-day trial copy)
collaboratively write stories
A free
collaborative story authoring tool for children.
It
supports students to create hyperlinked stories in a large two-dimensional
zoomable space. (free)
develop
search strategies and correctly cite information
An online
tool that helps students develop search strategies and assists in creating
bibliography according to the Modern Language (MLA) suggested format. ($200 per
year for schools with 1,000 or less students)
make
notes online and organize
Using the
NoteStar NoteCards tool, students can take notes from online sources as they
browse the Internet. Source information (i.e. title, url, etc.) is automatically
captured in order to assist in work citation. Once their notes are gathered,
students may then organize their notes to suit their project's goals. (free)
collaborate and communicate real time
A
professional development virtual community for educators on the Web. TAPPED IN™
is the online workplace of an international community of education
professionals. K-12 teachers and librarians, professional development staff,
teacher education faculty and students, and researchers engage in professional
development programs and informal collaborative activities with colleagues.
Guests are welcome, and membership is free.
critically evaluate information
From
Kathy Schrock, includes a variety of resources to help teach students to
evaluate information critically. Of particular interest is Kathy’s list of spoof
and inaccurate sites to demonstrate need for critical evaluation.
refine a topic
Think Tank is designed to help students (grades 3-8) develop a Research
Organizer (a list of topics and subtopics) for reports and projects. Students
learn how to refine a subject so that it is more manageable for Internet
research. Think Tank can be used with NoteStar.
organize, write and share your stories
TK3 is
both a new format for multimedia electronic documents and a flexible, easy
assembly tool for making them. ($49) The TK3 Reader is free.
organize and demonstrate learning
A software
program that guides you through a tour of the Web, a sequence of Web pages on
any given subject. For each page, there is simultaneous commentary in an
accompanying window written by the tour author. You can move backward and
forward throughout the Web tour using the Control Panel and leave the tour to
explore links without worrying about getting lost -just click on the Control
Panel. (30-day free trial software, $25 for personal use)
organize and demonstrate learning
An online
interface that helps teachers organize and annotate Web sites into lessons. The
list of resources acts like a table of contents and remains visible throughout
the lesson allowing the user to easily browse through the lesson and stay on
track. (free)
create learning activities
Templates
for creating thirteen different types of online games, including flashcards,
matching, concentration (memory), word search, hangman, challenge board, and
rags to riches (a quiz-show style trivia game). ($49)
copy web information
WebCopier
is a powerful offline browser that records websites and stores them locally
until you are ready to view them. (free for 30 days, $30.)
