Open Source Writing and Publishing Tools
Using interactive Web 2.0 Literacy educational practices is not a trend but a reality that allows students to benefit from learning in ways that let them participate fully in public, community, and creative expansion for a new means of economic perpetuation grounded by the formulation of an evolving society. Web 2.0 Literacy educational practices, will allow students to construct spheres of knowledge that mirror brain growth and development in different settings.. Through these practices students and educators will explore methodologies on how the human mind develops from interdisciplinary collaborative studies and how Literacy 2.0 cognitive activities tap into the full potentials of the mind. In these collaborative exercises of learning students may do things such as: visit historic museums from across the globe, interact with experts in the field, design virtual projects that give additional in depth support to new knowledge, without ever leaving their classrooms. They can position observatory telescopes to view a distant star or collaboratively visit other classrooms within their school, state, country, or the world.
Literacy 2.0 learning will virtually open new doors for teaching and learning. This page will explore ways that educators can provide digital resources that will support students to synthesize concepts by comparing strands of ideas and to create new elements of thought, in writing open source writing tools. It is crucial that every child be exposed to an instructional setting that has a digitally produced “Personal Learning Partners” designed to respond to the knowledge expansion needs of each individual student.
Literacy 2.0 learning will virtually open new doors for teaching and learning. This page will explore ways that educators can provide digital resources that will support students to synthesize concepts by comparing strands of ideas and to create new elements of thought, in writing open source writing tools. It is crucial that every child be exposed to an instructional setting that has a digitally produced “Personal Learning Partners” designed to respond to the knowledge expansion needs of each individual student.
Google DocsGoogle Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables you and your students to create, store and share instantly and securely, and collaborate online in real time. You can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There's no software to download, and all your work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any computer.
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Ether PadEtherPad is the only web-based word processor that allows teachers and students to work together in really real-time. When multiple students write the teacher can join in and make suggestions for editing the same document simultaneously. The changes are instantly reflected on the students screen. The result is a new and productive way to collaborate on text documents, useful for making suggestions, helping draft out an assignment and educating students in mechanics. Teachers can work with ELL students as they write by making real time suggestions in language development.
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Great way for initiating real time language support while students are developing their language skills through written expression.
Student Publishing Sites
MidLink Magazine
MidLink Magazine is the oldest children’s publication on the web. Established in October, 1994, MidLink continues to be updated quarterly with projects in locations all over the world. For ten years, it has operated without interruption and continues to grow as a non-profit organization because of sponsorship and support by NC State University, the University of Central Florida. The heart of MidLink’s success, however, is the cadre of dedicated teacher-editors who guide students to create the exceptional content that fills its pages. Any teacher of students ages 8 - 18 is invited to participate.
Young Writers Society
Young Writers Society is an online writing community for young writers, with an average age of 18. This is a place
where young writers can share their creative works and help each other improve. Feel free to poke around as a guest, and we hope you'll take the time to join our community. If you want to learn more, about Young Writers Society click here for our about page.
Ferns Poetry
Ferns Poetry site is designed for students to explore the meaning of poetry as they, read poems, and even write their own poems and submit them. Students can learn about different types of poems and read examples of each. They will learn about narrative poems, limericks, haiku's, free verse poems, cinquains, and lyric poems.
MidLink Magazine is the oldest children’s publication on the web. Established in October, 1994, MidLink continues to be updated quarterly with projects in locations all over the world. For ten years, it has operated without interruption and continues to grow as a non-profit organization because of sponsorship and support by NC State University, the University of Central Florida. The heart of MidLink’s success, however, is the cadre of dedicated teacher-editors who guide students to create the exceptional content that fills its pages. Any teacher of students ages 8 - 18 is invited to participate.
Young Writers Society
Young Writers Society is an online writing community for young writers, with an average age of 18. This is a place
where young writers can share their creative works and help each other improve. Feel free to poke around as a guest, and we hope you'll take the time to join our community. If you want to learn more, about Young Writers Society click here for our about page.
Ferns Poetry
Ferns Poetry site is designed for students to explore the meaning of poetry as they, read poems, and even write their own poems and submit them. Students can learn about different types of poems and read examples of each. They will learn about narrative poems, limericks, haiku's, free verse poems, cinquains, and lyric poems.
Scribd
Scribd is the world’s largest social reading and publishing company. We've made it easy to share and discover entertaining, informative and original written content across the web and mobile devices. Our vision is to liberate the written word, to connect people with the information and ideas that matter most to them.
Blurb
Blurb's free online tools let you share, promote, and show off, and even sell your book. So, whether your book is for profit, for a cause, or just for fun, the site will help you get the word out.
Scribd is the world’s largest social reading and publishing company. We've made it easy to share and discover entertaining, informative and original written content across the web and mobile devices. Our vision is to liberate the written word, to connect people with the information and ideas that matter most to them.
Blurb
Blurb's free online tools let you share, promote, and show off, and even sell your book. So, whether your book is for profit, for a cause, or just for fun, the site will help you get the word out.
Citation Generators
EasyBib's
EasyBib's is a visual guide to citations. This website demonstrates to students where they can find the different pieces of information they need for their bibliography, not simply what they need. The site has a built in navigate system that shows a number of examples pointing out where a student can find the different things they need for their bibliography- titles, authors, copyright dates, volume numbers, and more. Currently the reference guide only covers MLA citations.
SiteSimple
SiteSimple: Online tool that generates citations for you in many formats for bibliography or work cited pages.
EasyBib's is a visual guide to citations. This website demonstrates to students where they can find the different pieces of information they need for their bibliography, not simply what they need. The site has a built in navigate system that shows a number of examples pointing out where a student can find the different things they need for their bibliography- titles, authors, copyright dates, volume numbers, and more. Currently the reference guide only covers MLA citations.
SiteSimple
SiteSimple: Online tool that generates citations for you in many formats for bibliography or work cited pages.
Online Writing Resources
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Writing Fun - watch this screencast to see how to use this interactive, online, structured writing tool to help elementary age students write descriptions, narratives, poetry, explanations, procedures, etc.
Wacky Web Tales - an online "madlib" tool Writing Fix - Interactive Writing Prompts Read/write/think- Interactive digital activities (click the interactive links - there are many to choose from) Online Note-Taking Tool (one of the interactive Read/Write/Think resources) OurStory - online timeline tool Mnemograph- collaborative, online Time Line tools ToonDoo- Online comic strip creator Make Believe Comix - Online comic strip creator |
Scholastic: Story Starters for Grades 1-4 - Story
Starters is a bank of writing prompts. Student spins the lever to get a writing prompt. To allow for even greater creativity, the student can spin wheels to change any part of the prompt. Kerpoofhas created a free story creator that provides many prompts to students as they generate text and ideas. Specifically, it limits students to 3 themes: alien, rock party, and pirates. For many students, limiting choice can assist task completion. Story Maker - use this with reluctant writers to create a fairy tale Resource Links |