BP6_20091011_Web_2.0_Applications_2

When we started working with Google Docs last month in class, I started using it in class with my students. Up until Wednesday of last week I was impressed and the students were ‘loving it’ with the exception of a couple of things. One, a student forgot his password to his Gmail and it would not send his password information to his Yahoo account. We thought of creating a new account, but Gmail will not let you have multiple accounts with one email and he would lose all of the work he had completed. He had to go back to using a ‘regular’ Microsoft Word document to complete his assignment. Two, when the students export the Google Document and send it to me as an attachment, the majority of the text is gone or it is blank. What would cause this? Third, they struggled with the whole ‘sharing’ thing and my Gmail is full, but not as full as it should be with the amount of students taking the class. Well, needless to say we have some ‘buggy’ issues to work out.

However, in exploring the other Web 2.0 applications, I came across another online program that allows for Microsoft Word documents to be completed in it (it doesn’t allow for ‘fancy’ formatting, but some formatting). It is called Notely.net ( http://www.notely.net/ ). It’s list of features include: calendar; to-do list; homework organizer; manage courses; write and save notes; organize links, contacts and files; and keep a notebook or lab book. It allows the user to export documents as PDF, DOC, TXT or XLS (Whitson, 2006). Yet, it doesn’t include an aggregator for RSS or a bookmarking function or an integrated email address like Google. The major negative is it doesn’t allow for collaboration, but it is an alternative to Google. If the originator continues to expand its capabilities, it very well could become a rival to Google.

I feel Notely.net (screen shot above) is an excellent choice to use to introduce younger students to organizing and keeping information online. As students ‘mature’ in their online use, so will their needs, they will soon out grow Notely when their need for more online organizational tools and online collaboration grows. Notely.net would, also, be an excellent introduction web tool for senior citizens whom are just learning to get around on the web and may not need to many organization tools or to use the online collaboration. It is definitely worth checking out as a potential Google alternative.

Reference:
Whitson, T. (2006). New students, new tools. Retrieved from Notely.net Web site: http://www.notely.net/about.php