SMART Notebook ONLINE!

   If you create your SMARTboard lessons in the SMART Notebook software, you know how impossible it is to share content with people who don't have the SMART Notebook software installed on their computers. Not any more. SMART has made their software available to anyone with an Internet connection via SMART Notebook Express. It's a very basic version of SMART Notebook software accessible online without the need for a login or download. Now you can share and collaborate with anyone!

Note: The online version does not allow for users to access the SMART Notebook graphics libraries. You'll want to preview any of your SMART Notebook lessons through the online version before making it available to others to make sure they're able to view it in the way you intend. (http://express.smarttech.com)

Vyew

Vyew is an online collaboration and web conferencing service hosted totally online with no download necessary. (Okay, yes...the spelling. C'mon people, we're trying to teach kids how to spell and then you go and do this! Despite the spelling, it's a great site.) You can host live conferences (teleconferencing and video) along with screen sharing (live stream or desktop screen shots). You can post various forms of media: PowerPoint, Word, Excel, PDF, audio, video and images. Below is a screen shot of the "dashboard" (what you see when you first login and where you control content.) Click on it to see a larger version.

Here's a list of some of the features:

URL to Access - Send out or post a URL to the meeting room - no need for email addresses (especially helpful with students)

No download - no installation so students who don't have install rights can still access the meeting

Set Access Level - The room creator (you!) can set the access level: Viewer (can only view), Reviewer (can make notes), Collaborator (draw, make notes, insert content), Moderator (full access, delete, etc.)

Upload a variety of media types

Screen Sharing - live streaming or screen shot

Draw / Annotate - can markup a document, image, presentation, etc.

Sticky Notes - post comments via sticky note

Webcam - can broadcast using your webcam

VOIP (Voice Over IP) - teleconferencing using a headset and microphone

Sync / Unsync Mode - when turned on, prevents users from navigating to other pages during a presentation. When turned off allows members to navigate as they wish after the presentation/meeting (Teachers: it will keep students focused!)

Vyew has one of the nicest interfaces (the way it looks and navigates) I've ever seen! It would be a great way to have a meeting in a room without a projector or an online meeting with members/students in other locations. I recommend taking 5 minutes to go through the tutorial (9 pages...one of the first links on your dashboard). It's fast, easy and I predict you will be impressed! This is a SIMPLE, full featured Web 2.0 tool...one I recommend having in your arsenal of "cumulus" favorites...(yes, yet another reference to cloud computing!)

Diigo

Let's see, I know I bookmarked it somewhere. Laptops and desktops and smartphones, oh my (this will not be lost on you Wizard of Oz fans).... not to mention using various browsers..Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome. So, how do I find the bookmarks on the various machines and from various browsers? Easy. Put them in the cloud. (Okay, my superintendent is now laughing at my geeky, techno jargon.) By "putting them in the cloud" it means I can access them online from any machine. There are various tools for online/cloud bookmarking but the two standouts seem to be Delicious and Diigo. Because of its features, I chose to review Diigo (according to their website it's pronounced Dee'go. The name "Diigo" is an abbreviation for "Digest of Internet Information, Groups and Other stuff.")


Diigo is not just for bookmarking. It's for social bookmarking, which means it includes sharing and collaborative features. You're required to register but it's free. Here's a rundown of some of the features:
Highlighting - digitally highlight a webpage as if you had your own highlight marker
Sticky Notes - add a digital sticky note to a webpage
Bookmarking - not only does it bookmark but it saves a cached version of the page so it's always in your folder even if the author of the original page removes it from the web
Tags - easily organize your bookmarks for searching by adding key words to help you locate various topics
Searching - search by URL, tags, comments, highlights, or full page
Share and Collaborate - share all your information with one or many. Create groups for sharing
Lists - create lists so you can categorize and arrange bookmarks as you want them grouped
Import - import all your bookmarks from the various browsers and machines

Diigo Toolbar and Diigolet - Install the toolbar so you can bookmark directly from Diigo right from your browser. Use Diigolet if you're using a machine that does not give you access to install software. (Click on the "Tools" link to download the toolbar.)

Below is a screenshot, taken from the Diigo website, that illustrates the toolbar. (Click on the illustration for a larger view.)

 

So, there you have it. Save your bookmarks, share them, write on them. Access them from anywhere 'cuz they're in the CLOUD!! (Nope, couldn't resist that one...)
http://www.diigo.com