Dropbox

I know you are sick of me pushing this but it is a wonderful tool! Dropbox  If you download Dropbox onto each computer and share one area, students can put in their link to their project for you to view if it is online or upload it to your Dropbox and all the projects are in one place!  If you need to grade at the Dr.'s office - pull it up and grade! Please try this one.  You will wonder how you ever got along without it!  I promise!
The tutorial is the first thing that pops up!

Weebly

Weebly is a free website that seems to build itself.  It is a drag and drop adventure.  Rearranging the page is just as easy.  This would be a great tool for inquiry.  Presenting information is half the project and this is a fun way to do it.  I would put it as a group project.  This will teach the class why we need things organized.  Weebly  As soon as you open up the link, there is a very easy tutorial that pops up.  It is very short.

Research

This isn't exactly a creative set of tools but it will send you to some safe places for research. This site hosts seven good sites for information that is kid friendly.  Learning tools for Elementary  Sometimes having some good places to go saves headaches later!

Animoto and Smilebox

Both of these tools would be perfect for inquiry projects.  Look at Animoto and watch one of the already created projects and you can see how many ways your kids could use this.  Animoto  Smilebox is the same kind of program.  I did however see a teacher use the intro to the Christmas card and then when it came time for the pictures to flash - she inserted sight words to practice! You could also use these as background building for a unit. Now how could a kid's attention be kept anymore than that?  Smilebox  Smilebox does have an educator account that is free. You have access to more tools than the freebie.

Voki

Using avatars to tell their story would be a fascinating journey.  It was one of the craziest projects that I did for my blog!  It is so easy too!  Just go to Voki and join up! Here is a tutorial How to Create a Voki  This would be a great idea for open house or just introducing yourself to each other.  It really doesn't take too long.  I think if you would show how to do it just once on the smart board, your kids wouldn't need too much assistance.

Survey Monkey

What a fun way to collect information between classes.  Our district uses it and there is a "limited" free edition. If the kids are gathering data for a graph or voting on a project, Survey Monkey could be a fit.  Survey Monkey
Here is a tutorial for creating a survey in three easy steps.  Easy Steps to Survey Monkey This will be a good collaborative group activity just coming up with the questions!

FreeMind

I like the concept of working backwards.  FreeMind gives you the adult version of Kidspiration.  It is a download but it is open source thus free.  I think all lesson plans should be done this way but not everyone would understand it.  If you are doing an inquiry project you could use this as your organizer.  You can put your big ideas in the map and what you will do for each leg of the journey.  Maybe this one is a little "out there" for some people but it has potential!

FreeMind

QuizStar

QuizStar is an awesome tool.  After a unit of reading, my class takes a clicker test and an online test using QuizStar.  It didn't take long for them to get the hang of it.  Most problems came with signing in because it is case sensitive and they are not.  The tests are easy to create.  I mostly use worksheets from the book or the test.  Best of all (besides being free) it grades the test for you!  The kids get instant feedback.  You can decide if you want them to have more than one chance before showing them the correct answer or giving them feedback after the incorrect answer.  There are so many tools, timed tests, do you want the results sent to you -  these can be set up in the summer (when else do you have time?) and be ready for the school year.  It also keeps a gradebook for your further enjoyment!  Here is a tutorial: QuizStar Tutorial  There are other links after this video that concern how to do other things like add media to a question.  This is a great way to save paper!

QuizStar

Wiki

Wikis are fun!  They are a great way for your students to collaborate and create a class project showing what they have learned.  They are very simple to set up too.  The site I used for the Lewis project was made at Wikispaces.  Wiki stands for What I Know Is. You can use this for inquiry projects also.  You can have students (with their permission) put on their best writings.  Pictures, links, widgets, files, and tables can be added.  If you know how to change fonts and colors there is that too.  Here is a wiki tutorial: Wikispaces Tutorial 

Blogger

I keep saying this is my favorite or that is my favorite but this has a lot of potential in the classroom.  I have had a blog for 2 years now and it is a wonderful tool.  Once a week I put on a bit of information (digital newsletter) for my parents and I also add a question for my kids.  I teach them how to comment successfully.  Then the first 10 minutes of their computer time (once a week) they have to answer the question.  Besides being a source of information for my parents, my students are able to be a part of it. 

If you can follow instructions or have someone who has one - blogger is so easy to set up.  The hardest part to me was finding the perfect way for it to look.  It can be as easy or as elaborate as you want it to be.  If you have a class blog, you could have students blog about what they have learned in a subject.  The applications are endless.
Blogger

Screencasts

If you have never ventured out to make a screencast but wanted to, Jing is a fabulous tool!  Screencasts are what many YouTube videos are.  They show how to do something while showing your desktop, map, or well anything!  Jing screencasts are for shorter projects.  If I can do it, any kid can and will love it.  The best tutorial is right on the Jing website!  Jing   Jing does require a download (free)  Screencast-O-Matic is another very easy tool to use.  It does not require a download.  I have also used the tool on the smartboard.  It is easy also.  Other than watching the tutorials on the websites, really no other instruction is needed.  If you need to show how something is done and you don't want to say it 100,000 times - try a screencast!

WallWisher

Wallwisher is a neat site also.  It is a wall, with postit notes, and a comment or question.  You set up the wall and the students add their ideas.  Videos and images can be uploaded also.  It is simple and easy to use.  You learn it in about 5 seconds.  Check out the site:  Wallwisher  There are many ways this can be used in the classroom.  One such way would be to have the student add things that they want to tell you the first thing in the morning.  Tattle box?  What I know about ______ is.  Students can also put complements about someone on their birthday.  There are so many ways to use this.

Myna

Myna is fabulous!  It is another one of my favorites.  I don't know if our students have time to work on something like this (indoor recess) but it is easy (just doing the basics) and really gives you a sense of accomplishment.  I created 2 songs for a project and I was in love with the end product.  You can save it and add it to moviemaker or just share the tune.  It works with reading too.  Beginning loops, middle loops and end loops.  Put them altogether and you have a song! Myna Tutorial

Myna

Museum Box

Museum Box is a bit like Glogster.  You create a shadowbox about your subject.  It is easily done.  Here is a tutorial:  Museum Box Tutorial  I would probably use this more for upper grades but I think if you did it as a class project for ending a unit of study, it could be done in any grade level.  If you go to the website it has many examples.  It also provides Lesson plans and ideas for use.  I think it might lend itself very well to social studies.  This is one to go look at!    Museum Box

Wordle

Wordle is another way to check for student's understanding and relationships.  Here is a tutorial for Wordle:
Wordle Tutorial  Here is another short video showing how it can be used in the classroom:  Wordle in the Classroom  I see there would be a lot of ways you can use this.  If you are talking about friendship, students can put in words that tell what a good friend is.  If you want to know your students better, they can make a wordle about themselves.  It looks like it has a lot of interesting potential to me.  One video I watched showed a teacher had one on her wall.  If you created one, I bet Michelle could get one made in Uppercase Living.


Wordle-Beautiful Word Clouds

Glogster

This is one of my favorite tools.  When I used it for my inquiry project, I was amazed at what my students did with it and how they found things I didn't.  With a quick tutorial, I was able to turn them loose.  I think the most time consuming part was putting in their names and creating their accounts.  Here is a tutorial for glogster in 90 seconds.  90 seconds  Another video shows how one teacher used it for her state study.  Virtual Poster
This is one way a teacher uses it for her classroom.  She uploads it to her blog and the students can work with the reading skills at home.  I use it in my classroom every week.  SettleOnIn  You might want to check out this one just for teachers: udtechtoolkit

Glogster Website

Blabberize

Blabberize is a unique site that allows us to change who is talking.  This might be a fun way to start a new unit of study or get your point across so they will remember it.
Watch this YouTube for an example of getting your point across:  Blabberize!
I have a really good video to show you how to start and finish in about 5 minutes:  Blabberize Tutorial
It also shows how students can use this tool in the classroom.   You have to try it!

Blabberize Website