21 Classes:Cooperative Learning

http://21classes.com

21Classes lets teachers set up and manage a multi-user blog solution with independent blogs for students instantly and easily. Classroom BlogPortals can bring today’s students into the world of web publishing at anytime and almost from anywhere. A class can have its own portal, where all students will have their own blog. It can motivate stronger students to help others and strengthen the interaction between students. They can also give students a platform to discuss topics covered in class outside of school.

CamStudio

http://camstudio.org/

CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs). Free Open Source download.

Jing

http://www.jingproject.com/

Snap a picture of your [computer] screen. Record video of onscreen action. Share instantly over the web, IM, email. Web based- a  URL is automatically created and can be shared with others to view or access the uploaded file.

Google Forms

http://docs.google.com

Meet Google Forms: a flexible form and survey development interface with built-in reporting.  Much like Survey Monkey, Google Forms allows you to create an on-line questionaire and collect and report on the data received.  For a brief tutorial (on YouTube) visit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxYZKkusg-Y

Skype

http://skype.com/

Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other users of the service and, in some countries, to free-of-charge numbers, are free, while calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee.

Additional features include

• instant messaging
• file transfer 
• video conferencing.

ePals

http://www.epals.com/

… the Internet’s largest global community of connected classrooms!

Safely connect, collaborate and learn using our leading protected email and blog solutions for schools and districts.

• Safe and Protected Email
• Secure, Award Winning Blogging Technology
• Connections with other classrooms
• Collaborative Projects & Language Practice
• Robust Tools and Learning Resources for Schools and Districts

Ning

http://www.ning.com/

Ning is the social platform for interests and passions online… Ning offers an easy-to-use technology platform enabling you to create and join Ning Networks for your interests and passions.

Google Reader

~ From CNET’s Newbie’s Guide to Google Reader:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9745368-2.html

Google Reader is a free, Web-based reader for RSS feeds. You can find feeds on nearly every Web site. RSS feeds offer a simplified view of Web content down to just text, pictures and videos–minus the site’s style and formatting, which can sometimes hinder or befuddle casual reading.

Google reader lets you subscribe to these feeds as easily as typing them into your browser’s address bar, and lets you read them like you’re browsing through e-mail.

Wiki

~ From Netlingo The Internet Dictionary:
http://www.netlingo.com/word/wiki.php

A “wiki” is a type of Web site that allows users to easily add, remove, or edit content. The idea is that this kind of “open editing” allows for easy interaction between users and/or groups and is effective in collaborative authoring.

In the industry, “wiki” is said to be “the simplest online database that could possibly work.” It is a server software and its main advantages are ease-of-use, global access, and low cost. Like blogging, it allows anyone the ability to publish their writing directly on the Web, however, this kind of free expression comes with a caveat: DBEYR [Don't Believe Everything You Read]. The term wiki originates from the Hawaiian word for “quick.”

Intel Showing Evidence Tool

http://educate.intel.com/en/ThinkingTools/ShowingEvidence

The Showing Evidence Tool helps students learn how to construct well-reasoned arguments and prove their case with credible evidence. The tool provides a visual framework to make claims, identify evidence, evaluate the quality of that evidence, explain how the evidence supports or weakens claims, and reach conclusions based on the evidence. This thinking tool supports activities where students debate differences, make and defend decisions, and analyze conflicting information.