Featured: 4-8-2014 Mobento

Mobento is a video learning platform that features a “spoken word” search. They believe they have invented a better, faster way to search.

 

A keyword search in Mobento will yield videos in which those keywords were spoken as well as the frequency of the words and the the precise location of the words in the video.

 

 

Mobento wants to help you manage the wealth of educational content and technology that can be overwhelming without proper tools. School Accounts are quick, easy, and affordable to set up. Intuitive and simple to use, School Accounts enable you to organize and secure video and other digital assets and deliver education that is efficiently used without online distraction.

 

Benefits for teachers:

• Powerful and flexible video learning system
• Simple to administer
• Manage users
• Easily create digital courses
• Build secure public/private libraries
• Attach documents and links to videos
• Control content and assure security

Students who have been raised on online video get a fast, engaging user experience. They can download or stream content and make Inline notes while viewing.

 

 

 Mobento offers free mobile apps for both Android and iOS that allow streaming and downloading, note-taking, favorites, watch lists, and device synching.

 Watch a video overview of Mobento

 

Mobento launched with only 200 videos, but that number has grown to well over 4000 currently, sourced from speakers at Stanford, Yale, Khan Academy, TED, and more.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

MS OneNote for Mac OS X

I have been an Evernote user since long before Evernote was trendy. I was among the first 10K users. Evernote has a prominent position in my digital life and many of my workflows.

Yesterday, I downloaded and tried Microsoft OneNote for Mac OS X. Hey, it’s free, so why not. Here are my impressions.

 

OneNote has a very nice interface. If you are an Office user (I’m not), you’ll find the interface very familiar with the ribbon metaphor. There is a lot of flexibility in the creation and content of new notes. You can place a text box anywhere in the note and include various kinds of media.

 

I would think that OneNote could be very useful to anyone who would use it principally for note-taking.

 

 

However, my main use for Evernote is capturing and organizing web content. The browser extension Web Clipper gives a number of options as to what exactly you want to capture and what you can do with it.

 

Unfortunately, OneNote falls woefully short in this regard. You capture a web page using a simple bookmarklet which creates a new page in OneNote consisting of a static ‘screenshot' of the web page which is not editable and contains no live content. Any links are the page are not functional. You cannot select and copy or delete text. Maybe Microsoft will add more capturing features in future versions, but right now it comes up short.

 

OneNote syncs through a MS OneDrive account. My experience was that it was slow updating. Web page captures did not appear in the app for a few minutes. This could be just an early-days glitch.

 

Also, some pages didn’t render very faithfully. The proper positioning of page elements was lost. Be aware as well, that there appears to be no simple way to import your existing Evernote data.

 

At this point, OneNote doesn’t have the extensive integration with other apps to match Evernote, but that will likely improve over time.

 

After these experiences, I didn’t try out much else, because I realized OneNote was not going to work for me. But, that’s me.

 

It’s FREE, so if the issues I noted are not deal-breakers for you download it from the App Store and give it a try.

 

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Extra 2-21-2014: Corkulous

Corkulous idea board is an iOS app that can be used to collect, organize, and share your ideas.

 

Corkulous features:

• Notes, Labels, Photos, Contacts, Tasks, Index Cards, and Arrow Flags
• Full board view with pinch zooming
• Search cork board items
• Email board snapshots as PDFs or images
• Export board PDFs via iTunes File Sharing
• Save images to Saved Photos album
• Unique back side of the cork board
• Excellent and proven customer support

The free version of Corkulous gives you a single board on your iOS device's collection to work with and lets you connect with Dropbox folders and view Corkulous boards shared by others. 

 

Corkulous Pro adds iCloud support, multiple and nested cork boards, and passcode locking.

 

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Extra: 12-30-2013 MyndBook

MyndBook is for free form note taking. Brainstorm, organize, and review in the way that fits you best.

 

Jot down notes as they happen, organize them later. Note mapping employs both the analytical and the creative sides of the brain. Learn and brainstorm in a visual, non-linear way.

 

 

 See a Myndbookvideo demonstration 

 

MyndBook facilitates review and study. Generate flashcards, outlines, and presentations with just the click of a button. 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0 

Featured: 12-11-2013 ExamTime

The aim of ExamTime is to change the way you learn, with more engagement, more understanding, and an enriched learning experience.

ExamTime provides free study tools that empower students to build best practices into their study habits:

• Goal setting
• Personal learning styles
• Comprehension techniques
• Brainstorming
• Practice & testing
• Collaborative learning

Intuitive and easy-to-use tools allow users to create, discover, and share engaging study resources such as mindmaps, flashcards, notes, and quizzes using ExamTime.

With ExamTime teachers can easily form learning groups to share resources and conduct discussions. The structure of groups simulates the organization of a real classroom online. Ask a question or share an article or study resource and let your students react, respond, and engage. 

Timetable tools let you drag-and-drop your subjects onto your calendar, setting up flexible and responsive schedules that allow you to make changes as needed. The goal setting feature allows you to mark important dates such as exams and assign tasks that need to be completed by due dates.

Any Mindmap or Note you create can be instantly turned into a presentation. Use the Mindmap tool for giving introductory presentations. Notes allow you to embed more media: videos, images, audio, links, even slideshows.

 See a video overview of ExamTime

ExamTime is a Web-app and can be accessed via the internet browser on any Android or iOS device.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured: 9-17-2013 Classmint

Classmint is an interactive study notes tool that lets anyone create annotatable, audible, notes that can be folded like a paper.

Classmint notes makes it possible to add complex math, computer code, and images to notes, as well as having the ability to explain notes with text and image annotations to create more useful notes.

Image annotations can reveal information on your mouse-clicks, enabling learners to retrieve information on-demand. Notes can be played in a text-to-speech audio-visual player. Students can learn concepts by reading and listening to the study material.

Classmint also maintains an automated 'revision' list to aid in the process of reviewing the notes on a subject, especially in preparation for an examination. Notes are designed to simulate the popular Cornell Notes format. Users can digitally fold the notes like paper and try to recall concepts.

 See a video overview of Classmint

Currently, Classmint is completely free to use and ad-free.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

COD - 10/9/2012 - Citelighter [Tools]

Citelighter is a browser plug-in that saves and organizes your research and formats it to a bibliography, stored in the cloud, that's accessible anytime, anywhere.

Citelighter collects most of the relevant information to create accurate citations for you and asks you to complete any remaining items. Once you have completed the citation, the correct bibliographic info will be attached to that page forever. You can choose to format your citations as MLA, Chicago, or APA. 

You can view each and every one of your findings from the toolbar drop-down window, and reorganize them by simply dragging-and-dropping them in any order you need. Additionally, Citelighter lets you add your own thoughts in the comments box.

Citelighter also includes a dynamic notepad that is there only when you want it, but is unobtrusive when you don't. The notepad fades away when idle. It re-appears when you're ready to take notes. Citelighter allows you to export your citations, notes, and quotes to Word, Google Docs, or email.

Watch a video about Citelighter

You can download the Citelighter plug-in for Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0 

COD - 7/24/2012 - Vidinotes [Tools]

Vidinotes is an online tool that can be used to create descriptive summaries of videos that can be readily printed or shared.

To use Vidinotes, first upload a video that is in FLV format. You can then capture up to 30 still images, adding titles and descriptive text. Title your Vidinote project. Print it or create a PDF document.

Watch a demo video of Vidinotes

Vidinotes can serve as the bridge from video to learning, allowing viewers to create their own notes of a video, including images taken directly from the video, then print or save their new document.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0 

COD - 6/28/2012 - LectureTools [Tools]

LectureTools, a free iPad app, is a student response system that also allows students to take notes linked with the slides and videos presented in class, answer instructor-generated questions, and ask the instructor questions. 

LectureTools provides an interactive presentation tool that includes an innovative student response system, a two-way student inquiry channel, and convenient study tools.

All notes, questions and activities are instantly synchronized with the LectureTools web application where instructors have uploaded slides, videos, and interactive questions. Students can use the LectureTools iPad app or the LectureTools web application to participate in class. 

Watch a video introduction to Lecture Tools

LectureTools has been independently shown to increase student engagement, especially in large classes, and can be integrated with most Learning Management Systems.

Instructors and students can try LectureToolsfree for their first two lectures with no payment information needed. LectureTools was developed at and is licensed from the University of Michigan.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

COD - 3/29/2012 - Shelfster [Writing]

Shelfster is a free tool designed to collect resources and place them all at your fingertips when creating a document. Your ideas and sources of inspiration are gathered together in one place, no longer lost or scattered in different locations.

Shelfster is sort of a hybrid of Evernote on the capturing and collecting side and Google Docs on the document creation side.

Shelfster's capturing tools let you clip text, capture all or parts of screens, bookmark sites, take notes, save online images, take snapshots, and record audio.

Features of the ShelfsterOnline Document Creator:

• Create new documents with everything easily at hand
• Access captured information and previous documents
• Drag-and-Drop images into documents
• Share documents and get feedback
• Export to PDF or HTML, download, or print documents
• Organize captured information and documents

Watch the videoShelfster - tools for writers

Try out the Shelfsterdemo

There are Shelfster desktop apps for both Mac and Windows, mobile apps for iOS and Android, browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, and a convenient bookmarklet for any browser.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

StudyBlue Adds Premium Features

StudyBlue, a subject of previous posts here, is a free online tool to mobilize your lecture notes and make flashcards.

Recently StudyBlue began offering StudyBlue+, a paid upgrade from their free service. StudyBlue+ includes these premium features:

• Advanced study filters to study the toughest stuff more.
• Unlimited study reminders.
• Hide cards you know to spend more time on ones you don’t.
• Make study guides, package a folder of flashcards into a tidy deck.
• No ads.

Upgrade pricing is $10/month ($80/year) and users can earn a free month for every three referrals that sign up.

Go to earlier posts about StudyBlue

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Catch of The Day - Easy Notecards - 8/22/2011

Easy Notecards is an online studying tool for both students and teachers that uses interactive notecards to help you to learn new material.

Create, study, print, and share interactive notecards with your students or classmates. The unique feature of Easy Notecards that distinguishes it from other notecard/flashcard tools is the ability to create notecards tied to a specific textbook. Users can even enter the chapter or chapters the notecards are linked to, making it easier to find what you are looking for.

Easy Notecards features:

• Images can be attached to individual notecards
• Helpfulness Ratings so you'll avoid wasting time with low-quality notecards
• View notecards one-at-a-time or all-at-once
• Mark specific notecards for later review
• Print card sets as notecards
• Test yourself with quizzes
• Favorite cards, books, and members
• Powerful search tools

Watch a video intro to Easy Notecards

Easy Notecards is totally free.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cpm.ly/0

Catch of the Day - StudyBlue - 4/14/2011

StudyBlue is a free online tool to keep lecture notes and make flashcards. Have access to your study materials whenever and wherever you choose to study.

StudyBlue provides labor-saving tools that help focus your studying. StudyBlue tracks what you know and and what you don’t, making your review sessions more on point and effective.

StudyBlue flashcards can be quickly made and are a convenient study aid allowing you to study both at your computer and on your phone for effectual, productive, anytime learning.

A StudyBlue iPhone app is available free. iPad and Android apps are promised soon.

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Catch of the Day - Knowcase - 2/23/2011

 

Knowcase is a collaborative notebook that enables groups to brainstorm, capture ideas, take notes, and track todos.

Users can arrange information in an outline-style hierarchy. Then share the information with your teammates using a simple KnowcaseURL, such as http://knowcase.com/abc123

Share and collaborate with your colleagues, students, parents, or the whole world, whomever you want to give the URL. Quickly save ideas, notes, todos in Knowcase's distraction-free environment.

Knowcase is very similar to Quicklyst which I wrote about last week.

Go to the post about Quicklyst.

Disclosure of Material Connection: http://cmp.ly/0