Module 3: Saying Hello to Some New Tools!

Another week in the books! I've enjoyed exploring new apps and tools this week. I especially liked working with Padlet because I had tried using it in the past and my first attempt didn't go so well. However, this week I realized that this site is fairly easy to use and I really like the layout of it. The only downside of it is that you can only create three Padlets before you have to start paying for a membership, which is $8.25 a month. It's a new way to create a blog and I love it! I just wish it was free because I would definitely use it more!

Some of the tools that I looked at were familiar to me, such as Tumblr. I blogged on Tumblr throughout my high school years, but I used it mostly to connect with other people that liked the same bands and music I did or the same books. I loved Tumblr but then with all good websites the ads invaded. I was seeing more ads then posts! I know it's hard for tools and apps to make money if they are free but the ads just always ruin it. I also have experience with Pinterest and Goodreads. I want to use Pinterest again now that I have heard about the different ways my classmates use the site. I love Goodreads even though it has also changed a lot over the years as well. Keeping track of my books and my reading goal for the year just makes me feel good. I also like being able to look at the books I read each year and organizing books in whatever ways I want. I have one bookshelf that just includes fantasy books another that just includes books that take place in the summer. You really have the freedom to do whatever you want with your books on Goodreads and I love that. I had never heard of Library Thing so I made an account on that site this week. It's still a little confusing to me but I'm going to try to get the hang of it! I feel like on this site the actual books and the information about the book are important, rather than the reviews. I feel like on Goodreads that reviews have become the main focus of the site, rather than the details of the book or discussion about them.

I also took a look at LiveBinder and  Diigo but I wasn't crazy about them. I wish I was organized with all of this stuff and that I could organize my bookmarks but sometimes I just feel like a I don't have the time. However, I my goal is to try to make more time for this!

I liked looking at some new tools this week and revisiting some old ones!

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