StumbleUpon

Have you ever been searching online for really cool websites but don't know where to look? StumbleUpon (http://stumbleupon.com) is a website that utilizes a discovery engine to help you find websites, blogs, videos and photos based on your interests. You can choose your areas of interest and StumbleUpon will deliver the "best of the web" based on your selections. You can rate the pages (thumbs up or thumbs down) and content is personalized based on your ratings. Every time you click the "Stumble" button, a new website loads.

One you create your account you'll want to choose your categories of interest. They recommend at least 5 but I suggest you check all your interest categories. (Hint: be sure to choose the "Bizarre/Oddities" category!!) Then click the "Start Stumbling" button. You may be prompted to install a StumbleUpon button on your toolbar. That makes it easier to "Stumble" at any time. Be sure to rate the websites as they come up.

Below is a screen shot of the toolbar that installs to your browser. You can send your favorite "Stumbles" to friends, post them to Facebook, etc. Be careful! It's addicting!

Tagxedo

If you liked Wordle you'll LOVE Tagxedo! (http://www.tagxedo.com) It's a Web 2.0 tool (in a really nicely organized, easy-to-use site) that, according to them, "turns words into a visually stunning tag cloud". Since pictures are worth 1,000 words (okay, ya gotta see the irony in that statement!) below is a screen shot of Tagxedo. (Click on it to see a larger view.)  I typed in the address for Boyden-Hull's website, chose the colors, and then chose the shape (appropriate since we're the Comets).

 It was fast and easy and required no registration to use. You can type in a list of words or upload a current list. The more words you have the more detailed your design. After you choose your words, you'll select the "Shape" option. You can tweak the other options as well if you want to fine tune it.

When you click the "Create" button you may get a message that you need to install Silverlight. It's free and you must have it or you won't be able to use Tugxedo. (Silverlight is similar to Adobe Flash in that it integrates graphics, animations, multimedia, etc. into a single runtime environment.) The link to Silverlight is right on the page so you don't need to go find it anywhere (how thoughtful, huh?)

How will you use it? Once again, the Tagxedo site anticipates this and provides a presentation on "101 ways to use Tagxedo". Here's just a brief overview of their suggestions:

Summarize a presentation - turn your PowerPoint into a "Tagxedo"
Compare documents - Gettysburg Address /MLK "I Have a Dream" speech
Review a book or movie
Keep track of current events
Make a poster of your favorite celebrity, historical character, fictional character
Make a self portrait - list words to describe yourself
Critique your resume - see it from a more visual perspective
Create an advertisement for a marketing class
Start a class topic and have groups provide input
Contrast candidates in a political debate
Summarize a report, story, book
Create artwork from original poetry or an old classic
Create a synonym word wall
Visually display a class poll
Make a "find the words" game

Artpad and Noteflight

I couldn't resist giving you two web 2.0 tools. I found Artpad and Noteflight.

Artpad (http://artpad.art.com) is a digital drawing/painting tablet that's very easy to use. There is no signup unless you want to save and send your masterpiece. You can browse the gallery to see what others have done. You have a nice color palette and variety of brush/pencil sizes. But, here's the really cool part to Artpad. By pressing the "Skip to beginning" link you can see exactly how the painting was created. There are some paintings with hidden messages embedded into the creation. You'll want to browse the gallery as there are some really creative "paintings." (Okay, yup, I tried it and my "creation" looked like something my granddaughter would have made...great for a 2 year old drawing with peas and carrots on her high chair but not so hot for an adult!)

The screenshot shows you one of the better gallery submissions. I circled the left side as you can see how to "play" the drawing. (Click on the drawing below to view a larger version.)

Noteflight (http://noteflight.com) is an online application for music notation. It lets you create and listen to music from within your browser. It does require signing up for a free account. You have a choice of various scores (piano, treble, bass, choir, guitar, rock group, etc.) along with the freedom to edit almost everything. I did think this was made for more musically advanced people, however. I can read notes and play a bit of piano (badly!) but I had a difficult time working with this simply because I don't know the conventions of how to create music. Interestingly, I predict that children will be able to figure it out in a matter of minutes. Those proficient in music will have an easy time of it as well.

Below is a screen shot of a demo. Yes, I created it and you will all laugh at how UNmusical it is..but, hey...I gave it a shot, right? Even if it's not something you're interested in, there may be others (especially kids!) who are, so please pass it along. Again, click on the image to view a larger version.

As always, please let me know if you try these and use them (especially in a classroom situation.) I love hearing the creative ways in which you use these tools! (And, hey.. ain't I got good grammar?!!!! *smile*)