ISTE Student Standard-Curate Information, 1.3c, Students
curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods
to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or
conclusions.
Trello Educational Review - https://www.educationalappstore.com/app/trello-organize-anything
Trello is easy to use and provides a simplistic way to plan
and organize virtually anything. Even though it is designed to manage teams,
tasks, and tools, it most certainly can be used to assist in collaboration and organization
of content. Users create cards to house information of any kind: text, images,
checklists, links, etc. Users simply create a board, add lists for different
types of content to be collected, and then enter content. Cards may be arranged
and organized freely, providing powerful visualization of the content. Trello
is free for individuals/teams to organize any project, and it includes up to 10
boards, unlimited cards, unlimited storage, unlimited Power-Ups per board,
2-factor authentication, and more. Paid versions are available for additional
functionality, but they are not necessary as the free version is quite
generous. The intended age group is 12 and up. Trello is available via web
browser or mobile app for both iOS and Android. The review listed above is from
the Educational AppStore, which aids parents and educators by reviewing and
recommending educational apps and websites. The Educational AppStore uses
certified professional teachers to review and certify websites and apps which
lends itself to credibility and reliability.
Evernote Educational Review - https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/evernote
Evernote provides a way to save ideas, notes, web links, images,
PDFs, and more on any computer or phone. One can even email notes, printed or
handwritten, to a personalized Evernote email address. Important documents can
be scanned and saved within Evernote. Evernote promotes productivity by providing
users with a way to get things done by organization of tasks, notes, and
schedules, all in one place. It is easy to clip web pages and mark them up with
arrows, highlights, and text. All saved information is synchronized across
multiple devices allowing ease of access anywhere. The free version provides
note-taking capabilities, synchronization of up to 2 devices, 60MB of uploads,
a Home dashboard with 3 widgets, the ability to clip web pages, and allowance
of attachments such as PDFs, photos, images, documents, and files. The paid
versions allow connection of a Google Calendar account, management of tasks,
offline access, powerful search options, custom templates, integration with other
software (Microsoft Teams, Slack, etc.) and much more. While Evernote is
designed for adults, children under age 16 may use it with parental consent. The
Common Sense review states the app is recommended for students in 6th
grade and above. Evernote is compatible with the following device operating
systems: Mac, Windows, iOS (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch), and Android. Common
Sense is credible because they review technology with kids in mind and suggest
learning tools that prepare students and teachers for technological success. Additionally,
they provide information for families and teachers to choose high-quality,
age-appropriate, and diverse content for kids that supports well-being while safeguarding
privacy and support healthy media and technology.
OneNote Educational Review - https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/microsoft-onenote
OneNote is note-taking software included in Microsoft’s 365
suite of products. It allows for organization of information into sections and
pages within a notebook and includes easy navigation and search capabilities. Users
can enter text and highlight or add ink annotations. OneNote provides the capability
to clip and save from the web, record audio notes, insert online videos, and add
files. Notebooks are synchronized across all devices and allow sharing and
collaboration with others. OneNote is free to download and use, but there are
premium features, like collaboration with other users, that can only be unlocked
with a Microsoft 365 subscription of $69.99/year. The Common Sense review states
the app is recommended for students in 6th grade and above. OneNote
works on Windows, Apple, or Android devices. Common Sense’s credibility is
directly related to them being a leading source of technology recommendations
for families and schools since 2003; they are an independent, nonprofit, and
research backed organization focused on helping parents and educators navigate
the digital world with children in mind.
All three educational apps are beneficial and may be more useful
depending on what content is to be curated. If I had to choose one app, however,
it would be OneNote because so many schools are Microsoft 365 schools and already
include access to its entire suite of software. There is a lot of continuity and
power in collaboration amongst the Microsoft products. Also, OneNote is easier to
use and lacks the complexity and initial learning-curve that both Evernote and
Trello present to new and younger users.
