The following links provide Web 2.0 tools to support K-12 students in creating multimedia products.

Mind Mapping Tools

Elementary:

Bubbl.us - Upper elementary students who have previously used mind mapping tools will be able to use this one.

Cacoo - This free online collaborative drawing tool offers a history feature that allows participants (and reviewers) to easily note individual contributions.

Wallwisher.com - This is a free online tool which allows you to build your own wall of information. You can group your posts together. I think that it is user friendly and visually appealing.

Edistorm - This brainstorming tool allows multiple users to work at the same time in a public or private space. It includes bots that give suggestions.

Mind42.com - This site is easy to join and use for collaboration. (There was a bit of a learning curve for me in using the composing/editing features.) Mind42 offers great export options. GA Liz and I used this site to create the 5443 Course Map.

MindMeister. com - This site is free for only 30 days.

Mindomo - This is a feature-rich mind mapping application (free basic memberships are available) for experienced or explorative mindmap users. GA Liz used this tool to create the O.D.2.4 mind maps.

Podcasting Tools

BeanPod - A free, Web 2.0 tool that allows you to record and save podcasts.

Vocaroo - This is the easiest yet Web 2.0 podcast recorder.

Creativity Tools

Animoto - If you are a currently practicing educator, you can sign up for a free account that let's you make longer videos. If you are not, this site allows you to create free 30-second videos using your own images and text combined with a selection of free (or fee) music. You can purchase single or multiple longer videos.

AndreaMosaic - This free software program allows you to create photo mosaics.

Big Huge Labs - Home of Flickr Toys - As the site says, it offers users cool things to do with their own photographs!

Glogster - This is the education site for Glogster. It allows you to upload images to create cool posters (in a school-safe environment)! See my Portrait of a Collaborator example: "Achieve Together!"

My eBook - This tool allows to you create, publish, and share your novels, cartoons, magazines, photo albums, and brochures. This product has pleasant design features.

Newspaper Clippings Generator - This site offers an authentic-looking newspaper image generator that has applications in many areas of the curriculum. Images can be downloaded, saved, and printed. Other options on this site are: a clapper board, a cigarette pack... See my newspaper clipping generator "Calling all teachers!", Portrait of a Collaborator example made at fodey.com.

PhotoPeach - Use this site to create a slideshow with built in transitions. Simply upload photos, pick a soundtrack, and email or embed it. Note: This is not a Web 2.0 tool, but it's so cool, I had to include it for PC users... You may NOT use this for course projects requiring the use of Web 2.0.

Photo Story (for PC Users - free downloadable software) - This tool allows you to create a slide show from your digital images with special effects, your own narration, and soundtrack.

Postcard.FM - Create an audio postcard and email it to a friend. How could you use this in the curriculum?

Slideshare - Upload and share PowerPoint presentations (publicly or privately)

Tagxedo - This site allows users to create "word cloud" images in symbolic shapes.

Time Line - This free site allows users to create, save, share, and embed time lines in other Web documents.

Vimeo - This is a no-cost video-hosting site. Users can set up a password to view their work. This tool is for mature student users.

VoiceThread - This is an excellent tool for creating booktalks. Users can make VoiceThreads public or private. You can invite students (friends and family) to view your VoiceThreads and give them the capability to post comments - or not. Here's a sample: Feathers: Booktalk by Dr. M.

Voki for Education - If you are a practicing educator, you can register and create your avatar from this link. Tight! Otherwise, use Voki

Wordle - This site can convert text to a "word cloud" image similar to the one on this wiki's home page. To convert a wordle to a .jpeg image file, see these instructions compiled by GA Liz:

Yodio - This tool allows you to add voice via telephone to your images and text. Similar to VoiceThread, it allows for comments from viewers.

Xtranormal - Allows you to type a script and an avatar will read it for you in movie format.

Sources for Copyright-free Images

The American Memory Project (A Project of the Library of Congress) - The images on this site are arranged in categories. Note: "It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the Library's collections. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Researchers must make their own assessments of rights in light of their intended use."

Copyright-friendly Images - Springfield Township High School teacher-librarian Joyce Valenza's collection of links to copyright-friendly images

Creative Commons - You can search Google and Flickr images from this link. Be careful. Not all of the Google images this site retrieves are copyright-free. Don't assume; read copyright information. You can also search for music and videos.

Discovery Education - This copyright-free clip art is organized by topic.

Free Clip Art Pics - These cartoons by Curtis D. Tucker are copyright-free for non-commercial use. (The rules say "no more than ten per Web site.)

Imagebase - This site, organized by broad topics, is hosted by David Niblack offers copyright-free images as long as proper attribution is given.

The MorgueFile - This site provides search by subject copyright-free photographs, some of which require that you cite the source of the images you use. (The goal of the site is to promote the subscribing photographers' work.)

Pics4Learning - This site provides copyright-free images for teachers and students for classroom, fundraising, or Web distribution purposes.

Smithsonian Images (for educational use - not for distribution) - The images on this site are arranged in categories. Users may browse, download, create a portfolio, or buy high-quality prints and digital images.

Teaching with Primary Sources (A Project of the Library of Congress) - The American Memory Project is part of this vast collection.

Sources for Copyright-free Music

The challenge with recommending music sites is that the fine print regarding terms of use is sometimes very fine and applies to particular songs rather than to all works downloadable from the site. I have used Creative Commons to search for copyright-free music.

Audionautix offers copyright-free, no registration, no subscription music.

Free Sound offers just that, free sounds -- not songs!

Incompetech asks for donations for their royalty-free music.

Musopen.org is a non-profit site that allows registered users 5 standard-quality free downloads a day without copyright restrictions.

Purple Planet has royalty-free music that can be used in projects that include Web distribution.