I recently came Show Document, a nifty net platform that can be used to facilitate collaborative online meetings. The product features numerous features that can be used together or one at a time. The interactive services you can take advantage of while using this service include the following:

• shared files capability – work with colleagues on any document including PDF, Word, Power Point, jpg files
• an interactive whiteboard – during a web meeting users can write and draw images on the whiteboard
• a shared text editor – an advanced online text editor allow users to work together during the web meeting on text files and save the files on their workstation afterword
• YouTube sharing capability – to share a video during a meeting open the Interactive Whiteboard; then, open a new tab and select Share YouTube video. You can control what the other user(s) see as you pause and draw on the video
• Google map sharing – Begin a net meeting by clicking on Interactive Whiteboard and open a new tab and select Share Google Map
• the ability to share a web page – a user can pull up a web page to share with other users during a meeting

Registration is not required, but is recommended. Once you register for a Show Document account you will be able to save documents you plan to use during an online meeting (think…online storage) and access your files from anywhere. Registered users also have access to a dedicated Net Meeting room address that can be shared with others. A nice bonus…you can upload a document and convert it to a .pdf file.

I found this application intuitive, quick in response time (I have a high-speed Internet connection), and liked the interface. The more I play with this application the more I like it. However, I will admit that I did not have an opportunity to collaborate with anyone while I reviewed and explored the application. Here is a screenshot of the invitation screen that appears when you first start a meeting…

I wonder if you could use this application if you had a student who was absent, but still capable of participating in class. A teacher could actually upload his/her material and use this application like a remote whiteboard. Then, the absent student could participate, download notes from the session, etc. It would also be an opportunity to explore if you had students who need a scribe. A teacher could open the whiteboard and write all notes using the computer and then save the notes to .pdf format and/or email them to the student. I can see where this application could also be used for remote parent conferencing. Check out the application and share your ideas for online collaboration using the comment link below. It’s really hard to believe this marvelous application is FREE!

I just came across a new (to me) startup called Storybird. Storybird is a service that uses collaborative storytelling to connect two (or more) people. You can use the collaborative nature of this online storytelling application to create a Storybird in a round robin fashion by writing your own text and inserting pictures generously provided by a number of gifted illustrators/artists. You have the option to share a Storybird privately or publicly on the network. As the daughter of parents who were involved in publishing, I am intrigued by Storybird.

Some of the things I especially like about Storybird include….

• the ability to collaborate…great for bridging parents and their children.
• the ability to keep books private.
• the fact that collaboration does not equate to added chat features or public profiles (thank you Storybird).
• the fact that all Storybird books that are shared publicly are reviewed before appearing in the library.
• the marvelous talent shared by many of the artists/illustrators….Wow! (I’ll share links to some of my favorite illustrated books later in this post)
• the fact that library media specialists and elementary teachers can display public books in full screen mode as they read the books to students (the books are great for interactive whiteboards).
• the fact that you can easily add public books to your reading list or email friends with a link to the book (I know that elementary teachers will be anxious to share some of their great “finds” once they start to explore the books posted on this site.
• the fact that writers and artists can use this simple publishing platform to experiment, publish their stories, and connect with fans.

With so much to like, I really struggled to come up with suggestions that might make this already great product even better. The only ideas I could could come up with include…

• the ability to print a finished book (that feature is coming).
• the ability to embed a book on a teacher website or blog.

This site holds great promise (and opportunities for collaboration and public exposure) for young artists and writers alike. You simply must check out this marvelous application and take time to peruse the books that are available on the site. Then, put on your thinking cap, look through the art work and write a story of your own. Better yet…encourage a parent/child collaboration party. Ask parents to write a story with their child that can be shared during a show and tell story time. High school art teachers could encourage their students to create art work for this site as well. Once the art work is available, collaborations between high school students and elementary students could easily be facilitated using Storybird as a vehicle.

Here are a few of the books that enchanted me as I reviewed the books on the site (click on an image to go to the book)….