I am hoping that you check out the site http://edu.glogster.com soon!  It is a place where students can create online digital posters for any subject and topic.  Audio, video, pictures, links, animation, and text can all be placed together in a digital collage.  You can set up classroom accounts for each of your students and monitor progress.  Below I have copied an explanation directly from the website on why it is worth trying.

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Why Glogster EDU? ( http://edu.glogster.com )

For Educators:

1. A creative, dynamic, and innovative digital outlet that captures learner's excitement for online creations, keeps learners engaged in course content, and makes teaching and learning more fun.
2. A private and safe platform, monitored directly by teachers. Teachers control all the activities of their learners.
3. A valuable teaching tool that integrates diverse core subjects including math, science, history, art, photography, music and more for individual learner portfolios, unique alternative assessments, and differentiated instructional activities.

For Learners:

1. A fun, imaginative, and powerful learning experience which fosters independent creative self expression, positive learner-teacher relationships, and teamwork on collaborative class projects.
2. A vibrant, multi-sensory learning experience which integrates learner’s knowledge and skills into traditionally text-oriented subjects and motivates learner’s desire to explore topics in which they may previously have been less interested.

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Here is the process to get started:

1. Register at http://edu.glogster.com
2. Create student accounts.
3. Become familiar with the site and build your own glog.

Odds are your students will become more creative than you.

My first glog:  http://richmondetc.edu.glogster.com/glog-2057

4. Assign a project to your students.

I am currently using Glogster with my students for an Amendment project.  Each student is creating a glog for one of the Amendments and will then explain/present it to the class for 3-5 minutes.  Unlike traditional posters and collages, online glogs mean you can put away the poster board, glue, tape, scissors, magazines and newspapers.  Your students have the web 2.0 world as a resource.  No barriers with supplies…..just possibilities.    

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Be sure to check out the “idea of the week” and “website of the week” at www.energizetheclassroom.com .

-Paul Richmond

 E.T.C.