Classtools.net

Classtools.net is a free set of templates that allow educators and other users to create interactive learning content.  It is a web based tool where librarians and teachers can build educational video games and faux social media pages to go along with assignments or presentations.    Classtools.net is totally free.  There is a premium option that includes several additional features including ad free access.  

Probably one of the more exciting features is the ability to create a virtual treasure hunt using the educational site in conjunction with Google Maps.  Users can also create QR code assignments.  This is a very versatile set of tools especially for individuals looking to build interactive educational games and other out of the box learning experiences.  

For librarians it represents a chance to add games and other non-traditional content to webpages and instruction sessions.  Teachers will find it useful for building lessons using media that kids and adolescents respond to.  The free version of the site is very busy with numerous ads and constantly changing windows but despite this Classtools.net is very easy to navigate.  Also the templates themselves are simple to use allowing librarians, teachers and other educators to create content very quickly.  This website is a great tool to add to your distance learning arsenal and even though it is geared toward a younger audience it can be useful for older students.  

http://www.classtools.net/

WiseMapping

WiseMapping is a free web based tool that can be used for developing concepts for projects or papers.  Based on the idea of diagraming or what is known as a spidergramming or spidergraphing.  Individuals can link concepts or words in order to create a map or framework to facilitate thoughts or planning.  This tool is a great way to brainstorm, problem solve, or organize information without developing restrictive hierarchies. 

For librarians WiseMapping can be a useful tool to show patrons.  It is web based and free so access will not be a problem.  For students it presents an interesting way to organize papers or projects.   They can also easily use it to brainstorm.  Patrons interested in writing will find it useful for developing ideas for fiction and non-fiction stories.  WiseMapping can even be used to develop simple horizontal family trees for libraries that have stakeholders interested in genealogy.

This tool offers the ability to collaborate.  Users can share mind maps and even allow others to edit their creations.  The mind maps can be exported into blogs, power points, word documents, etc…   Also you can publish or make public the diagrams you create on WiseMapping.  Mind maps can be printed directly from the tool as well, making it useful for students and teachers.

It is easy to set up.   Users first have to make an account, once that is accomplished they can immediately start creating mind maps in WiseMapping.  It has tutorials available for individuals using the web based tool for the first time.  Also users can get help by selecting the Contact Us link at the bottom of the WiseMapping website.   

This is a very powerful free web based tool.  WiseMapping is a great addition to any librarian’s education arsenal.  I encourage everyone to check it out and leave a comment about this tool. 

http://www.wisemapping.com/

Mind Map

Khan Academy

In my blog today I am going to discuss Khan Academy.  This is a website based learning tool that offers tutorials and exercises on a number of different topics.  The electronic resource is free to use and has lessons in math, science, economics/finance, and history/civics.  It represents a self-paced tool that anyone with an internet connection can use.  One of the unique features of this site is that they have partnered with several education institutions including the Getty Museum and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Khan Academy represents an amazing resource that can be used by school libraries and can be leveraged by public and academic libraries as well, to the benefit of their patrons. 

Its biggest advantage is that the electronic resource represents a way to offer tutoring to patrons both young and old without expending excessive resources.   One of the critical shortages that libraries face is a lack of personnel.   Khan Academy has many easy to use self-paced tutorials so that there is no need for an organization to hire tutors or use staff in order to provide educational help to patrons.  The other major problem libraries and many educational institutions are facing is deficient funding.   Khan Academy is free.  All you need in order to use this electronic resource is an internet connected computer and a working email.  Patrons can just register and right away they can begin using the program within most libraries.  Khan Academy is a great tool that has many great features and can help users reach their educational goals.

www.khanacademy.org

WorldCat.org

Happy Holidays everyone for this blog I am going to discuss and old tool.  As librarians we probably have all used WorldCat.org or the paid database version of this useful e-resource.  For those of you who may not have heard of it, this tool is a database of library catalogs from around the world.

Now you may be asking yourself why is he going over WorldCat.org?  It has been around since 1971 in one form or another.  Well, I think that sometimes going back and giving overviews of older tools is good idea because with all of us being busy we might not notice new features or even realize that the data available has expanded or been reduced for any given tool. Also for those institutions that have distance learning programs where users may be in other states this WorldCat gives librarians access to library catalogs from all over the United States.

The first thing that I would like to point out is that there is a free version available at http://www.worldcat.org/.  It can be accessed by anyone who has an internet connection.  This is great for libraries that have lost there subscription to the OCLC First Search database version of this electronic resource or those institutions which may be on a budget.

Next the folks at WorldCat have gone mobile.  There are now apps of this tool for iPhone and Android.  This is pretty cool because now you can search for books and other material through your smart phone and other devices without having to worry about screen compatibility issues.  It is also useful for libraries that are trying mobile reference but whose online catalog does not have a device ready platform.

Some new innovative features that librarians may want to check out include social media function where users can rate as well as review materials and the WorldCat Identities Network.  This latter feature is most intriguing.  It allows users to create visual maps between different subjects or people.  You can see their interrelationships in expanded data trees that are easy to interpret.  The WorldCat Identities Network also lists books and other materials connected with with your searches.  It is a very power research tool that can be a great asset to public, school, and academic school librarians as well as other educators.

WorldCat.org is a powerful tool that contains the records of 2 billion items.  It allows users to find books, articles, video, audio, and other materials that their local libraries may not have but which may be obtainable through inter-library loan.  WorldCat now features innovative new features which turn it into a learning and social media tool.  The electronic resource is a must for librarians no matter if they are in academic, public, or school libraries.

WorldCat
www.worldcat.org/

MERLOT II

MERLOT II is a free peer-reviewed site of online learning material.  It is program of the California State University and the web resource is free for anyone to use.  MERLOT II covers a number of disciplines including Arts & Humanities, Business, Mathematics & Statistics, Education, and Science.  The web resource has close to 50,000 materials covering a large number of subjects.  These include open access online text books, presentations, tutorials, animations, and even assignments.  All of this is available and open to anyone.  You do not even need to create a user account.

MERLOT II has over 100,000 members including educators from universities, public schools, and librarians. They encourage individuals to join.  When you setup an account on this web resource you can rate online learning materials and more importantly network with other education professionals.  Being a part of MERLOT II also gives you the ability to post your own electronic content.

The online resource is easy to use.  To get started, once you are on the website, just click on the Search MERLOT icon.  From there it is just a matter of searching for online instruction materials or you can also use one of the many other options such as the browse feature.  It is an impressive resource giving educators vast amounts of online learning materials that can be used to enhance distance learning programs.

To access MERLOT II follow this link:

http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm

Free eBooks

I recently did a presentation on free eBooks at the District 1 Annual Media Conference on South Padre Island.  What is surprising to me is the amount of free eBooks available online.  I have always gone to a few sites like Baen Free Library and Project Gutenberg but I had no idea about some of the other sites that I have found during the course of my research into this interesting subject.  Here is a list of the Free eBook providers I discussed at the Media Conference as well as some new resources.

Project Gutenburg
http://www.gutenberg.org/

Google Books
http://books.google.com/

Internet Archive
http://archive.org/index.php

University of California – California Digital Library
http://www.cdlib.org/services/publishing/ucpress_ebooks.html

Baen Free Library
http://www.baenebooks.com/c-1-free-library.aspx

Cambridge Free eBooks
http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/ebooks/free.html

Good comics for kids! = Aggregated Site
http://www.goodcomicsforkids.com/?p=142

The ecomics link was added for fun.  Out of all the e-content providers I really like Internet Archive.  It has content that is not available on Project Gutenberg and has over a million free eBooks most of them are available in formats that you can download to Nooks as well as other mobile devices.  If any of you have any suggestions for this list or any other free e-tools that you think should be showcased please feel free to add them here or email me.

Hello again!  This is the second blog for the TLA DELRT page!  The tool I am going to talk about today is RootsWeb.com.  It is a great website/tool for librarians who work in the field of genealogy.  It is freely available for anyone to use.  Libraries with small or non-existent genealogy budgets will find it invaluable. Roots Web is easy to use.  The first page of the website allows users to enter the name of an ancestor. Users should use the search boxes that are available under RootsWeb.com.  The other two areas are for pay services.  Roots Web also offers multiple links to other sources of information for individuals working on their family trees.  Of particular interest to genealogists will be Charts and Forms link which gives access to useful record sheets for keeping track of information.  For beginners the website has a Getting Started at RootsWeb link which provides information on how to get help and interact with other users of this resource.  This is a great tool which offers users a great deal of material and help in the field of genealogy.    

If you want to check it out here is the URL:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/