Bubbl.us

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=What is Bubbl.us? =

Bubbl.us is a Web 2.0 tool that allows users to create concept maps. This is very useful in a classroom because it requires that students analyze parts of a system and determine their relationships. By creating the concept maps online, students can be creative, fix mistakes quickly and easily, and work collaboratively with other students. Bubbl.us is super easy to use. Within ten minutes of joining for free, I was able to make the concept map shown below. The tools are very simple to use and practically any age student can create a concept map using Bubbl.us.

=How can Bubbl.us be used in a classroom? =

Bubbl.us can be incorporated into any subject area and any grade level and is available for free for all users. Teachers like Bubbl.us because it is easy to get started and is not blocked in many school districts, “//There are MANY available mind-mapping tools, but in my district I found bubbl.us useful due to the fact that it is not blocked by our administrators and does not require a registration in order to use it. Mind mapping is useful when working with vocabulary as well as when flowcharting work or creating a graphic organizer for writing assignments//.” (Hart, 2012) Students can create concept maps and share their work with their friends through the website. This allows their peers to check their work and give suggestions. Students can also embed the concept maps in a blog or website as well as email them to their teachers.

=Advantages & Disadvantages =  Advantages
 * Simple to use
 * Can color-code information
 * Fix mistakes quickly and easily
 * Easily share work through email, blog posts, or websites
 * Students can work together independent of time or location

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Disadvantages
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Cannot insert images
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Each student must have their own log in information
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Cannot assess what individual students have completed on one concept map

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">How can teachers hold individual students accountable? =

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">There really is no way for teachers to identify what individual students have contributed on Bubbl.us. Teachers could have each student prepare their own concept map and then have them share with other students to ensure that everyone is working. Another way teachers could assess student contributions is to have them post their mind maps to a wiki or website and then check there to make sure everyone has completed the task. Posting to a wiki or website would save paper and allow students to view each others work.

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Navigation =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Check out the next collaborative tool, Collaborize Classroom.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Chapter 4 Introduction || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Bubbl.us || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Collaborize Classroom  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">CrocoDoc  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Edmodo  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Google Documents  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">KidBlog  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Skype  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">VoiceThread  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">WikiSpaces  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Chapter 4 Conclusions ||

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">References =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">//Bubbl.us Logo//. (2012, January 20). Retrieved January 27, 2012, from QuarkBase: [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Hart, J. (2012). //Top Tools: Bubbl.us//. Retrieved February 22, 2012, from Center for Learning & Performance Technologies: http://c4lpt.co.uk/top-tools/top-100-tools/top-tools-bubblus/

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">//Open clip art// (2011). Thumbs [picture]. Retrieved from Open clip art, @http://openclipart.org/ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Pontefract, D. (2012, February 14). //The Recalibration of Play//. Retrieved February 22, 2012, from http://www.danpontefract.com/?p=1909