WeVideo

WeVideo (https://www.wevideo.com) is an online, flash-based video editing tool. Users shoot digital video through mobile or handheld recorders and then upload files to the WeVideo site for in-browser editing. WeVideo allows users to cut, copy, and paste segments; add text, visual effects, and audio; invite others to collaborate or comment; and publish to various video-sharing and social networking sites. Instructors might use WeVideo to produce content for classes, and students could create, edit, and distribute individual or group projects. Sign-up is required for a free account, and payment is required for some advanced features.

Nabble

Nabble (http://www.nabble.com/) allows users to create free discussion forums, mailing lists, photo galleries, blogs, and more using a simple online interface. Nabble generates embed code for the above tools, so instructors could invite outside speakers to participate in public discussion forums within a restricted learning management system, and students could use several of the Nabble tools for collaborative work.

750 Words

750 Words (http://750words.com/) is a free, web-based writing tool that encourages users to write the equivalent of three, double-spaced pages every day. 750 Words tracks word count, typing speed, time-to-completion, and a running total as part of a point system to incentivize/gamify the writing process. All writing is by default private, but users can easily share stats with other 750 Words members. Instructors could ask students to keep class journals and use the site to encourage healthy competition, and students could use this site to build the habit of daily writing.

Pen.io

Pen.io (http://pen.io/) is a simple, clean, web content publishing tool. Users select a title and password and then enter text, drag images, or add tags to embed videos and create links. Instructors could use Pen.io to distribute content or assignments, and students could build pages collaboratively or individually to actively engage with course material and concepts. Account creation and login is not required in Pen.io, and all pages are publicly available.

Pixlr

Pixlr (http://pixlr.com/) is a suite of free, online, flash-based photo editing tools. Users can utilize the basic editor to crop, move, rotate, and layer (among other things) uploaded images or to draw and paint on a blank canvas. Pixlr’s interface is intuitive and user-friendly, so instructors and students alike could use Pixlr to edit photos or create images for any number of purposes: content-distribution, assignments, projects, etc. Other tools include Pixlr-o-Matic, which allows users to add retro or vintage effects to their images, and Pixlr Grabber, a browser add-on for pulling photos off the web.

Zamzar

Zamzar (http://www.zamzar.com/) is a free, online file converter that supports dozens of popular and arcane file types. Users upload a file or paste in a URL, choose the desired file format, and then wait for an email with a link to the converted file. Instructors and students alike could use Zamzar for sharing friendly file types with classmates and colleagues.

minutes.io

minutes.io (http://minutes.io/) is an elegant, browser-based note-taking tool. The interface is simple to use, and notes are easy to share among participants. While it could be used for taking minutes at university meetings, instructors could use minutes.io to share lesson plans with students and administrators, and students themselves could produce plans of action for group work that could be distributed to instructors. minutes.io is free and does not currently require a sign-up. Here is a sample image:

Tiki-Toki

Tiki-Toki (http://www.tiki-toki.com/) is a web-based timeline creator that allows users to embed videos, images, and text into their timelines. Instructors could use Tiki-Toki as an alternative or supplement to lecture, and students might develop Tiki-Toki timelines for any number of courses in various disciplines. Free accounts are available with sign-up but are limited to a single timeline; paid accounts offer group editing and other features. Here is a sample Tiki-Toki entitled “The Fight for Democracy in the Middle East”:

Evernote

Evernote (http://www.evernote.com/) is a free, cross-platform and web-based organizational application (similar to Microsoft OneNote) that allows users to conveniently save notes, photos, and links to webpages. Notes can be arranged into searchable folders, can be shared with colleagues for collaboration, and are accessible virtually anywhere via an internet connection. Instructors could invite students to share research and assignments via Evernote, and students could use Evernote to catalog notes or work on group projects. Evernote is available on almost any machine or device—PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, Droids, etc. Here is a sample screenshot of Evernote:

NowComment

NowComment (http://nowcomment.com/) is an online annotation tool that allows users to upload text documents (.pdf files must be converted) for comment and conversation. Instructors could use this application to give feedback on student work or to solicit peer review comments from students. Login is required, but accounts are free.