Symbaloo

Symbaloo is a free visual bookmarking application that allows you to organize your web links as buttons with icons or logos. However, it can be used as more than just a bookmarking site.  You can create webmixes that include sites you want students to visit on a particular subject matter for research and then embed that webmix on your webpage or in Edmodo. 

Here is an example of a webmix for WWII .

You can save your webmixes to adjust them annually as needed and create multiple mixes to coincide with individual lessons.  You can even share your webmixes with others and/or easily search for mixes already created.  It is extremely user friendly and easy to use.  All this for FREE.

Here is an example of the HMS Library Webmix.

To create an account and get started today for free, visit www.symbaloo.com.

Information at Infotopia.info

infotopia.info

For our first Tech Tuesday, we will discuss Infotopia. Infotopia is a search engine that allows users to access trusted websites selected by librarians, teachers and other educational consortia. The website was created by, and is maintained by, Dr. Michael Bell (former chair, Texas Association of School Librarians) and Carole Bell (former middle school librarian and director of libraries).

Are you looking for lesson plans, videos (foreign language, Annenberg, History.com, etc.) grants, freebies and more? Then check-out Teachertopia.

Do you teach lower grades or have students on a lower reading level? Then have them use Kidtopia.

 

Are you looking for information for your own continued studies or to use with students in AP, Dual Credit or other advanced situations? The check-out AcademicIndex.

TeacherTopia, Kidtopia and AcademicIndex are all available at Infotopia.info. Something important to consider is that Infotopia is a free resource. While no entity can add their links or other information directly to the site, it does have the drawback of having advertisements on the pages. With the access to Hot Topics, images, sound and links to almost any topic you can think of, Infotopia.info is an asset for every classroom, even with advertisements.  However, keep your audience in mind when using the resource and educate students ahead of time on where they need to keep their attention.

For more information on this resource, please visit with your campus librarian.

Happy Searching!