Web-based+Collaborative+Writing+Tools

Using web-based collaborative writing tools such as TitanPad / Primary Pad, Evernote, QuickTopic, Penzu, Today's Meet, Microsoft OneNote / Skydrive, and Twiddla participants will explore options for engaging students in shared work and content rich writing. Student notebooks that may be shared, common writing and revision experiences, and back-channeling based on classroom activities will be modeled. These tools can change the way we work together, the way we work with students, and the way students work together.



Today's Meet
This online back-channeling tool requires no account creation or sign in for teachers or students. It is an on-demand space to have a real-time second channel of communication going during a lesson, presentation, video, or Socratic seminar. It is a valuable way to give all students equal opportunity to participate and provides valuable feedback for the teacher.

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TitanPad
To create an instant collaborative writing space go to @http://titanpad.com/ or Primary Pad at @http://primarypad.com/



Classroom Management Group Example: @http://titanpad.com/9exPoTfNtI

TitanPad Pro
To sign up for a Pro account for you and your students (with unlimited number of concurrent users) go to @http://titanpad.com/ep/pro-signup/ //Please Note: TitanPad is case sensitive! Make sure that capitalization in the email address and password you set is what the users will know and use.//


 * If you need a way to make an easy link for the public pads you create use** @http://tinyurl.com/. You can also add links to your teacher webpage, to a a class wiki or webpage, a MS Word document on the server, or even your Diigo or Delicious accounts.

Public Pad vs. TitanPad Pro Group**
 * ~  ||~ **Public**
 * Pad** ||~ **Pro**
 * Group** ||
 * **Students and Teachers**
 * Must Create Accounts** || No || Yes ||
 * **Student Must Sign In** || No || Yes ||
 * **Teacher Must Add Users** || No || Yes ||
 * **Private** || No || Yes ||
 * **Pad Can be Created in**
 * Advance** || Yes || Yes ||
 * **Link for Pad Must Be Shared**
 * with Students** || Yes || No ||
 * **Import and Export of Contents** || Yes || Yes ||

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> //(You will have an invitation in your email inbox. If you are using EtherPad Pro in your classroom, you will have to go to Manage Users and Create New Accounts for your students before the activity. If you have not done this, you can still create a public pad with no sign-up required, making the pad available instantly when you share the link to it with your students.)//
 * 1) First watch and consider the video.
 * 2) To join today's group for our training activity go to @http://davenport.titanpad.com/1
 * 1) Look at the Activity Questions (download below) and read the question assigned to you. On the collaborative pad, to to the numbered line corresponding to your question assignment and write a few sentences that completely answer your question.
 * 2) Activity Questions: [[file:TitanPad_Cyberbullying.docx]]
 * 3) When everyone has typed the response to their question, we will discuss, revise, and edit the piece as a group. (Note the DWM Rubric below!)

Quick Topic
Go to @http://www.quicktopic.com to create a topic for brainstorming/prewriting.
 * Share the link or copy and paste the link into an email to invite others to join your topic. The person creating the topic must create an account but those who are joining do not have to create an account.

@http://www.quicktopic.com/50/H/J28fqfbmnrC7t

Walking the Wire QuickTopic http://www.quicktopic.com/50/H/GrDHg8ScgbQT

To upload a document for review go to @http://www.quicktopic.com/documentcollaboration There will be a place for comments only if you hit enter at the spot (Create the line break manually where you want people to be able to comment.)

Example Document for Classroom Rules

Penzu
This online notebook does require account creation, including a first and last name, email address, and the creation of a password. Each entry can be kept private or shared with name included or anonymously,
 * Go to @https://penzu.com/
 * Click on Sign up to create your account. (Students MUST be at least 13 years old to create an account. Teachers of students less than 13 years old can create an account for the class and share the login information with students so that they can all log in to the same journal and just create pages. This would require being very specific about what to name the page!)
 * Go to the **journal created for our class today**. (This is an example of how Penzu might be used with students younger than 13 years old. **Use your instructor's email address and the password provided during training to access it. Each of you will find your own page on which to write.**)
 * **On your page:**//(By carefully constructing the assignment the teacher can use these entries to address writing, technology, and content standards and to ensure rigor and relevance.)//
 * 1) Explain how you would decide who "lives or dies" and what factors should be considered. You may want to consider scientific/medical, social, economic, or other factors.
 * 2) Create a prioritized list of determining factors and justify the inclusion and placement of each.
 * IF this entry were done by a student more than 13 years old and using his or her own Penzu account,we would do this: When you are ready to receive feedback on your writing, click on the Share icon and email the link for this ENTRY to your partner. (All entries are Private by default, only seen by others when they are intentionally shared. A Public Link can also be created and shared, perhaps posted in response to a note or assignment in Edmodo!.)
 * Go to and comment on your partner's entry. Remember to use the DWM Rubric and to be constructive.

Twiddla
Go to @http://www.twiddla.com/home.aspx

Teachers & Students:
//(from the Twiddla FAQ page)// With an educator account you can still only have one meeting at a time, but one of the nice benefits of doing this is that you gain.... [|Custom Meeting URLs] [|Unlimited Storage] [|Password Protected Private Meetings] [|SSL Security] [|Presenter/Moderator Controls]
 * Free for Educational Uses**! Sign up for a Free Trial, then send us an email from a .edu address (or whatever screwy extention they use in your land), and we'll hook you with a Pro account free of charge. We're at info@twiddla.com. Be sure to include your username!

Our Example Page

=Evernote= @https://evernote.com/

Use evernote for free to create a class show case of original writings or even a class authored book. Each student may create an individual page and allow others to help edit and revise. The final writing may be published for all to see with a shared link. You may use the website, software which can be downloaded, or the ipad app.

Click here for a classroom example for constructed response math.

=BE SURE TO CHECK THIS OUT!=

Microsoft OneNote and Skydrive
Beginning in 2012-13, each teacher and student will have an Office 365 account. Watch to see how the activity above could be done using OneNote and Skydrive. This example demonstrates only the most basic use of OneNote and Skydrive. Be sure to check PLAN for a Microsoft Innovative Educator session to learn more about the powerful uses of these tools.

Click Here for the Survey!