Symbaloo    

We live in such a fast-paced age with information that comes at us through multiple forms of media. Even our television viewing has been transformed since the DVR and the ability to record live TV. We are a clickable, on demand society. As we use the Internet more and more, bookmarking websites in our Favorites is common place, but don't ask me to remember the address! It's no different with our cell phones. Who remembers phone numbers anymore? You just click the name of your friend's name and it automatically rings. Bookmarks work much in the same manner. There's only one problem. Your cell phone is easily carried around with you. Your home computer is a little heavier!  In this "tuesdays" I like you to consider how fast things are changing in our technological world - even bookmarking!

Now what do social bookmarks have to do with the classroom? Just about everything. As we give our students projects and research to do, they can spend half their time on unnecessary surfing. Sending them to your del.icio.us, Symbaloo, Diigo or iKeepbookmarks site gives them the exact places that you want them to go. (This of course is done with a dedicated account for websites for your students - not your personal account!) I would also encourage students to create their own social bookmarking site because they definitely cannot bookmark at school. Why not encourage them to develop research skills that will enable them to quickly return to websites for further investigation and more detailed reading any time, any place and at any pace? (and may I add from any computer!) Most students today have devices that gets them to information quickly, but very few students ever consider gathering and organizing their findings. Symbaloo does the trick and there's an app for it!

So how do you get started with Symbaloo? First, make sure you are going to their Symbaloo Education site. It's FREE to sign up and was created by teachers for teachers. Symbaloo wanted a sharing environment they could used in school. They listened to their thousands of users and created Symbaloo.edu! The best "how to" directions are on their website. I loved the interviews with the teachers and students and particularly this description - "It organizes how to be a network learner." Please take the time to view the main video, but don't miss the little vignettes. The most powerful one is a middle school girl who is using Symbaloo as her PLE (personal learning environment). May I add only one warning. Although Symbaloo is offered as a FREE sign up, there is a paid premium version. FREE is still good for teachers!

"The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all they know and then stop."

Mark Twain 

This is an image of my first attempt

ipadio   

LiveBinders 

Doceri 

NASA's Image Gallery 

Popplet 

Zoey's Room
Finance in the Classroom
Fotopedia 

The Common Good Forecaster  

Google Earth 

UJAM 

Symbaloo.edu 

Google Science Fair 

Stossel in the Classroom
Word Sift 

Lee Kolbert