communication_tools

Resource Links:

 * Weblogs**: These online diaries can be set up for free and easily made private. They can be used to post text, audio, image, and video files. (Tips: You can usually subscribe to be notified when a new blog entry is posted.)
 * [|Blogger]
 * [|Wordpress]
 * [|Live Journal]


 * Wikis:** These web-based tools facilitate collaborative writing and webpage creation. Free wikis for K-12 educators can be made private and include built in discussions. They can be used to post text, audio, image and video files. (Tip: You can set the preferences so that you are contacted when change are made.)
 * [|Wikispaces for Teachers]
 * [|PBWiki]
 * [|GoogleDocs]


 * Email:** You could use an existing account or set up a free web-based using a tool like [|Gmail]. (Tip: A free google account provides access to email, google docs, and other tools.)


 * Text, Voice, and Video Chat:** For getting in touch quickly, the cell phone is a great tool. Increasingly, it can also be used to access the other communication tools. But to save on cell phone minutes, you can use web-based tools to communicate in real time.
 * [|Skype]: THE communication tool of choice
 * Chat built into Facebook and Gmail
 * Free Elluminate room through [|Learn Central] (can have three people at a time, no recording)