Millions of Books and Millions of Ideas, All Found on LibraryThing

 LibraryThing.com

   LibraryThing is an online resource that allows users to create their own book libraries. Users can search for books on the site and add them to their profile, organizing them by creating and naming book collections, as well labeling the books with curated tags. When a user adds books to their library, LibraryThing generates lists of recommended books they think the user would enjoy based on the genres, authors, and languages of books the user frequently views or adds to their library. Users can also search for books on LibraryThing using tags. The tags don't need to be specific. In fact, when a user searches for books using tags, they will be given search results of books labeled with tags curated by other users. This allows for users to connect and share with others their personal interpretations of said books. 

    LibraryThing also has a "Local" tab where users can input their location (user locations are not shared with other users unless one grants permission to have their location displayed on their profile) and discover "Little Libraries" found near them. This can be an invaluable resource to teachers, as both teachers and students alike can create their own libraries of books they've read or would like to read. Teachers can even create a class library via LibraryThing, where the books used in the course are displayed and are built upon throughout the school year. LibraryThing also has a widget--Teachers can use the widget on a class site for quick access for students. 

    It is also worthy to mention that LibraryThing isn't a direct source to read books--it instead offers links to sites and/stores that have the book available to read. Users instead can connect with one another through the LibraryThing community to discuss shared interests in books, book genres, and reading, as well as discover new authors and millions of new titles.

Purdue OWL

Purdue OWL 

    Purdue OWL is the online writing lab for Purdue University. As a student, I have referred to this resource countless times for citations, MLA and APA format, and to develop my writing. The website is open to the public, and I have had many teachers use their information for instructional purposes. I have found this resource to be a lifesaver in my academic writing. Along the left side of the website, there is a taskbar with categories such as citations, research, avoiding plagiarism, and subject-specific writing. Underneath these categories are subcategories such as different formats, the writing process, grammar, punctuation and so much more. The organization of the website allows you to find your writing weakness and target it. Purdue OWL has the most up-to-date information regarding citations, and when I have to write a formal academic paper with a bibliography or works cited page I head straight to the website. There are both instructions for manually citing sources, and they are in collaboration with Citation Machine. In addition, the ‘academic writing’ tab shows students how to formulate an argumentative essay, research papers, and paragraph writing. If you have already finished your paper, and are in the revision process this website can provide tips for voicing, sentence variety, word choice, and adding emphasis. My favorite part about this resource is that the content is put in the simplest terms possible. Examples are abundant and the information covers all the bases of the different types of writing. This website tells you not only how to do a specific writing technique, but also the function of the technique. I can’t say enough good things about this writing resource. My academic writing has improved a great deal since using this tool and I have received better feedback from both peers and professors. I hope you guys check it out at

https://owl.purdue.edu/ 

Blooket

We all remember when Kahoot! made it's way into almost every single classroom in existence in some way, shape, or form several years ago. I was in college when Kahoot! was developed and I had professors using the quiz game for exam reviews and peers using it for their semester end projects. Well, all those classrooms need to make room for the newest quiz game in town named Blooket. 

Blooket is extremely similar to Kahoot! anyone can set up a quiz and invite their students, peers, or friends to take their quiz. There must be a host who provides players with their game code that way it's a safe environment and the host can control participants and participation. 

Blooket has countless default quizzes for anyone to view and play. However, not all of them are educationally based. As I was scrolling through the dozens of preset quizzes I saw several that were math and history related and then right next to it a quiz that was based off of cartoons. While I do think this website offers several very beneficial quizzes, teachers would have to closely monitor if students were hosting quizzes themselves during school hours to play leisure quizzes. 

I decided to try and create my own quiz and the website seemed super user friendly. It's easy to navigate and all settings are clear on the first page. On this first page the teacher or quiz creator can add in whatever image they wish to be the face of the quiz, a title, and a description. The creator then chooses the privacy settings and creates the quiz. 

You can't take a quiz without questions though, right?! Now comes the fun part, creating the questions and filling in possible answers. I truly thought this process would be much harder than it was but it was incredibly simple. I simply had to write my question, give four possible answers, and then select the correct response. For each question you can choose the length of time players have to respond and whether or not answers will appear at random.

What makes Blooket stand out from Kahoot! is there are different game play modes available for players. This is where the true element of fun comes in for students. They feel as if they are playing a video game but the only way they can progress to this game play is by answering questions correctly. Game modes can be changed when beginning the quiz. 

Overall, while there are many quiz sets that are not educational. Blooket is another great resource for teachers to use in their classrooms for exam reviews, pop quizzes, or Friday afternoon activities. Students also have the ability to take advantage of creating sets for course projects or activities. It's a safe and free resource that can be accessed anywhere at anytime by simply entering a game code. 

Click on the link provided to check out Blooket for yourself:  https://www.blooket.com/play