Glogster

**Glogster ** **__Overview__** Glogster allows students to create online posters by using the graphics and elements provided by the site or uploading their own. Students can upload pictures, videos and sound to create unique posters on certain topics.

 __ Features: __ 
 * To access Glogster go to [|www.glogster.com/edu]
 * An educational version of the site that makes student accounts private and allows teachers to set up and control student accounts
 * Glogster has a number of graphics and elements that students can upload
 * Some creative control is available. Students can change the colors of various elements, control the size and add effects.
 * Pictures, videos and sound can be uploaded (think student made movies and podcasts!)

__ Strengths __ : >  __ Weaknesses __ :  __ Before using... __ 
 * Glogster has an educational version of the site where teachers can set up accounts and create accounts for their students.
 * Through the education account, teachers can monitor student progress and leave comments on student work
 * Student accounts are private and unsearchable
 * Gives students a lot of creative opportunities when it comes to backgrounds and other elements
 * Only one student can edit Glogster at a time without risking "saving over" other student work
 * Students have control over their account once they are given the username and password--this means they can change passwords, profile pictures and other profile information. This can be a distraction and if the accounts ever need used again, can cause problems.
 * The website can run slower when a lot of users are logged on
 * Sometimes the formatting can be tricky and have a mind of its own
 * Teachers can choose the number of student accounts desired when setting up their account. Request the most you can, you can never add or delete accounts
 * Change all the passwords to one you know in case you need to "reuse" the account for other classes, etc.

__ Best Practices: __  ** 1. Responses to Reading Glogster is a fun, easy way to assess student learning, especially for less "formal" projects, or as a component to a larger project. Independent reading projects usually encompass a broad spectrum of genres, and Glogster offers a way for students to respond to various texts in a visual way. It is a good format for students to share out and review other students' work, since the construction is simple and fun and the application interfaces easily with Wikispaces, which is commonly used in the classroom.

2. Student Research/Collaborative Learning Glogster can be used as a medium for students to present research they have done in small groups and to "teach" eachother different elements of a text or topic. It can provide background information, talking points, links, pictures, audio and other elements that can add to a presentation.

3. Antidote to Wikispace's "Mysterious Formatting" Since Glogster can be imbedded within a wikispace, it can be a "sanity saver" when it comes the formatting that seems to just appear on wikispaces. The glog can be created and imbedded, serving as a background or wallpaper. Glogster tends to allow more control over aesthetics than the wikispace does, which can help alleviate those that become easily irritated with wikispaces. A word of caution, it does take longer to load.

For sample student work click here! **