Cool Tools Episode 55 Screencast: Google Calendar

Google Calendar is Google’s free time-management application which is available for use by anyone who has a Google account. In this screencast, you will see how to add and delete events on your calendar and change the appearance of your calendar, as well as get an overview of some of the other features this tool contains.

View the Screencast (3:02)

Cool Tools Episode 55 Podcast: Google Calendar

Google Calendar is a free time-management tool available to anyone with a Google account. This very handy application contains many useful features and can be used in a variety of ways. In this podcast, you will hear about some of its major features, as well as how the calendar can be used in the library setting.

Listen to the Podcast (4:14)
[Transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 54 Screencast: Rollyo

This screencast demonstrates how easy it is to use Rollyo to create a custom search engine, access your dashboard to search other users’ search engines, customize these search engines to make them your own, and finally learn how to create a searchroll box to add your search engine to your website or blog. To start rolling your own search engine today, visit Rollyo.com.

View the screencast (3:00)

Cool Tools Episode 54 Podcast: Rollyo

Rollyo is a web tool that allows you to create your own custom search engine to add to your browser, webpage, blog or to use on your Rollyo homepage. With Rollyo, you create your search engine in just a few easy steps, using only websites that you select. By joining the Rollyo community you have access to other users’ search engines as well. This podcast discusses some of the great features of Rollyo that can be incorporated into library or classroom use, as well as some basic instruction on getting started. Visit Rollyo.com to learn more.

Listen to the podcast (4:55)
[transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 53 Podcast: Brainify

Brainify is a social bookmarking tool intended for students and faculty at colleges and universities. Brainify users bookmark web sites relevant to college courses and academic subject areas and (ideally) share those bookmarks by forming and joining course-specific or subject-specific groups. Bookmarks on Brainify are not only tagged -- they are also categorized within a browsable taxonomy of academic subject areas. In this podcast I describe a few of Brainify’s features and discuss reasons why students might want to try using Brainify.

Listen to the Podcast (5:00)
[Transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 53 Screencast: Brainify

Brainify is a social bookmarking tool intended for students and faculty at colleges and universities. Brainify users bookmark web sites relevant to college courses and academic subject areas and (ideally) share those bookmarks by forming and joining course-specific or subject-specific groups. Bookmarks on Brainify are not only tagged -- they are also categorized within a browsable taxonomy of academic subject areas. In this screencast I demonstrate some of the features of Brainify.

View the Screencast (3:04)

Cool Tools Episode 52 Podcast: Vimeo

Vimeo, an anagram for 'movie', is a video hosting and sharing site that allows users to upload 500mb of videos per week. What sets Vimeo apart from other video hosting sites, namely YouTube, is that it stores a copy of the original file, and when enabled, allows other registered users to download the film file instead of just streaming it. With High Definition capabilities, and social networking features, Vimeo is an attractive medium for sharing either personal or professional videos.

Listen to the Podcast (3:08)
[Transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 52 Screencast: Vimeo

This screencast will demonstrate the features of the video hosting and sharing site Vimeo. Included are tips on uploading videos, marking and subscribing to 'likes' and examining how libraries are utilizing this resource.

View the Screencast (5:59)

Cool Tools Episode 51 Screencast: Evernote

This screencast demonstrates how to save snippets of a webpage or a whole webpage to an Evernote notebook, how to search for notes (including a demonstration of the search within image function), and how Evernote can tag notes made on a mobile phone geographically.

View the Screencast (3:28)

Cool Tools Episode 51 Podcast: Evernote

Evernote is a note saving tool that functions on the web, on your desktop, or on your mobile phone. This podcast describes the basic save and search features of Evernote and includes some ideas for organization or library use.

Listen to the Podcast (3:57)
[transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 50 Screencast: Last.FM

Last.FM is a social music service that tracks what you listen to, learns what you like, connects you to other users, and recommends songs from a vast array of "scrobbled" music. This screencast is an overview of the Last.FM profile page, where the user can see information about all of the music that Last.FM has tracked for an individual. Last.FM is a great way to share your music while being exposed to a world of new music, all based on your own musical taste.

View the Screencast (3:46)

Cool Tools Episode 50 Podcast: Last.FM

Last.FM is a social music service that tracks what you listen to, learns what you like, connects you to other users, and recommends songs from a vast array of "scrobbled" music. This podcast is an introduction to the features and functionalities of the Last.FM website. Last.FM is a great way to share your music while being exposed to a world of new music, all based on your own musical taste.

Listen to the Podcast (4:28)
[Transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 49 Screencast: Livemocha

Livemocha is an interactive language instruction website. This screencast will take you through the Livemocha learning interface. You’ll hear how to sign up and see a member’s home page. Then we’ll look at a couple of the interactive lessons. Finally, a tour of the social networking learning tools that Livemocha offers will be taken. For more information visit Livemocha.com. Enjoy the screencast.

View the screencast (6:54)

Cool Tools Episode 49 Podcast: Livemocha

This podcast discusses how knowledge of a foreign language is important for librarians, and how Livemocha can help. Livemocha is a fun and interactive way to learn a new language using in-depth instruction, conversational tools and exercises with the help of native speakers, and motivation to continue.

To begin, take a placement exam and then continue on to lessons at the appropriate level. Livemocha incorporates social networking into the learning process by allowing members to offer comments and advice on each student’s work both written and audio. You can practice with a native speaker in the Livemocha chat area. Livemocha is an entertaining and innovative way to learn a new language. For more information visit Livemocha.com.

Listen to the podcast (6:04)
[transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 48 Screencast: LucidChart

LucidChart allows users to easily create flowcharts and organization charts online. This screencast will demonstrate three main capabilities: creating and editing a chart, outputting charts, and sharing documents. The ease of use for this tool will be demonstrated as well.

View the screencast (2:59)

Cool Tools Episode 48 Podcast: LucidChart

LucidChart is a free web based application that produces quality flowcharts and organization charts. The application allows documents to be created, edited, and stored online. This podcast will discuss the main features of LucidChart such as the editing tools and multi-user collaboration abilities. In addition, an overview of LucidChart’s capabilities and background are also provided.

Listen to Podcast (4:02)
[transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 47 Screencast: 43Things

43Things is a social network for goal making and achieving. This tutorial will give a simple step-by-step demonstration of the basic features of creating a list of goals, entries for your goals, and cheering at 43Things. Visit www.43things.com for more information.

View the screencast (2:59)

Cool Tools Episode 47 Podcast: 43Things

In this podcast you will learn about the social networking tool 43Things. The tool is designed to help people organize life lists and goals. The podcast will review the main features of the site along with information on how certain features make goal accomplishments successful. It will also provide brief tips about using parts of the site.

Listen to the podcast (4:41)
[transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 46 Screencast: Tag Galaxy

Created in 2008 by Steven Wood using Papervision3D and the Flickr API, Tag Galaxy is a web tool that takes advantage of the tagging community in Flickr and sorts those saved images based on their tags. This tool provides a visually appealing and easy way to search for and display a wide variety of images saved in Flickr. This screencast presents a quick tour of the tool along with some ways to use it in a school library. For more information, visit the website at www.taggalaxy.com.

View the Screencast (2:43)

Cool Tools Episode 46 Podcast: Tag Galaxy

Tag Galaxy is a mashup that searches and sorts the tagged images in Flickr and displays them on a multi-picture sphere. This podcast shares a quick description of the tool along with some ways to use it in a school library. For more information, visit the site at www.taggalaxy.com.

Listen to the Podcast (3:31)
[Transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 45 Screencast: Survey Monkey

In this demonstration of how Survey Monkey is used to create surveys, see what options are available for selecting from several different question types and survey formats. The three stages of designing a survey, collecting responses, and analyzing results are shown in the presentation of this quick and easy tool to help with evaluation projects. Visit Survey Monkey at surveymonkey.com for more details.

View the screencast [3:20]

[transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 45 Podcast: Survey Monkey

Survey Monkey is a software application available online to quickly and easily produce surveys for use in evaluations for individuals or organizations. With different types of questions and design templates, professional looking surveys can be created and added to a web site or sent through email messages to specific user groups. Feedback data is collected online and can be reported and analyzed in a variety of formats.

Listen to the podcast (4:25)

[transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 44 Screencast: Weebly

This screencast demonstrates how easily and quickly a website can be created using the online tool Weebly. No programming knowledge is required to create websites or blogs that contain links, pictures, videos and much more. There are many options for customization and it's free. If you are on a budget and need a tool for creating websites or blogs, then check out Weebly. Find out more about Weebly at www.weebly.com

View the screencast (3:12)

Cool Tools Episode 44 Podcast: Weebly

Weebly is a an online tool that allows you to create a free website and blog using it’s easy drag and drop interface. No technical skills are required in order to create an attractive, advertising-free website that contains links, pictures, videos and much more. This podcast presents an overview of the product along with some ideas for using it in a library setting.

Listen to the podcast (4:09)
[transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 43 Screencast: Animoto

This screencast demonstrates how to use Animoto, a web-based service to create a music video from your pictures. Watch the step-by-step process, and then see part of the video that was created. See how you can use Animoto to create high-energy presentations that add pizazz to your educational project or public-relations effort.

Play the screencast (3:35)

Read the transcript

Cool Tools Episode 43 Podcast: Animoto

Animoto is a web-based service where you can create a music video from your pictures. The videos can be embedded in a blog or website, downloaded to your computer, or viewed on the Animoto site. This podcast explains the basic steps for using Animoto and presents some ideas for using it in educational and library settings.

Listen to the podcast (4:10)
Read the transcript

Cool Tools Episode 42 Podcast: Acrobat.com

In this podcast I described the five web applications that Adobe's Acrobat.com has to offer. From a free online word processor and PDF converter, to web conferencing and online file storage. A transcript of the podcast is also linked below.

Listen to the podcast (4:31)
Read the transcript

Cool Tools Episode 42 Screencast: Acrobat.com

Adobe's Acrobat.com is an all in one project management solution.It offers cloud computing, web conferencing, project management and collaboration. In this screencast I discussed the features of Adobe ConnectNow, the virtual meeting room component of Acrobat.com.

View the screencast (2:55)

Cool Tools Episode 41 Screencast: LibraryThing

Here is a brief screencast tutorial for LibraryThing, the social cataloging tool outlined in Cool Tools for Library 2.0 Podcast 41. It demonstrates how to add books to your collection and searching by tags.

View the screencast (3:12)

Cool Tools Episode 41 Podcast: LibraryThing

LibraryThing is an online tool for organizing and annotating your collection of books, which you can then opt to share with the wider community or elect to keep private. Overall, LibraryThing features over 660,000 registered users, 4.5 million unique works cataloged, 659,000 reviews, and an active forum with over a million posts.

It is a great way to organize your reading collection, network with other readers, receive well-tuned reader recommendations, and even get the Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress call numbers for every title!

Listen to the podcast (4:52)
[transcript]

Cool Tools Episode 40 Screencast: Flickr

This is a brief introductory screencast for flickr, the most popular online photo sharing community. It is a demonstration of photo upload, creating a set, tagging, photo editing, and a quick look at the New York Public library's photo stream.

view the screencast (3:00)

Cool Tools Episode 40 Podcast: Flickr

Flickr is the most popular online photo sharing communities with over 8.5 million users and over 3 billion photos in its repository. This podcast is a summary of the features that make flickr wildly popular as well as how libraries can use the community to market themselves.

listen to the podcast (5:00)
view the transcript

Cool Tools Episode 39 Screencast: Feed43

Feed43 is a free, web-based tool for converting web pages to RSS feeds or customizing existing RSS feeds. This screencast will show you how to use Feed3 to customize an RSS feed to search a library's catalog for an item in the feed. Using a feed from Amazon, it shows you how to create an item search pattern and use the extracted information from that pattern to customize the feed with a link to search a library's catalog. You can also check out the feed created during the screencast.

View the screencast (3:44)

Cool Tools Episode 39 Podcast: Feed43

Feed43 is a free, web-based tool for converting web pages to RSS feeds or customizing existing RSS feeds. It can be used to "scrape" a web page into RSS or to transform an existing feed into a new feed. It allows many options for control and customization, providing the opportunity to create new and interesting RSS feeds for your library.

Listen to the podcast (3:57)
[transcript]