Mixed Ink Gives Voice to the Crowd
Mixed Ink is a free website that allows groups to collaborate on a single text, such as an op-ed article, a mission statement, or a letter to a
public official. Much like a wiki or a Google Doc, it allows everyone who has been invited to the discussion to
access and edit the document. But Mixed Ink’s special
features make it much easier for a group to compose a
single document.
Whether your students are drafting a document to
display their understanding of a historical event, composing a persuasive essay for a writing or civics class,
or creating a group book report, this site will help them
work collaboratively.
Anyone can set up a new topic and allow a community to compose a text together. Students can create their
own texts, edit someone else’s, or mix and match to create an entirely new version. Throughout the process, the
community rates the texts, and the top-rated version
rises to the top.
The Write and Edit tab allows students to create a
draft. They can start from scratch or begin by finding
an idea in someone else’s version to add to their own.
They simply highlight the content they want to use
and then click the Add to Draft button. The text appears in their draft and gives the original writer credit.
As students publish their drafts, the community
rates each one. The version with the highest rating
when the exercise is complete becomes the final draft.
Although the website is free, there is a premium
package designed for educators for $90 per year per
classroom. The premium package is advertisement
free and offers password protection so people outside
the group cannot read or access the content.
Learn more at www.mixedink.com.
—Diana Fingal is the senior editor of L&L.
Steady Filming for Unsteady Hands
Problem: We do not have a tripod, and when my
students film, they don’t hold the camera steady.
It makes me car sick watching their videos.
Here’s a solution: If you do not have a tripod
or anything to set the video camera on to keep
it steady, lean against a wall, tree, or other solid
object and rest the camera hand on it. Nothing to lean
against? Put two hands on the camera, feet shoulder
width apart and elbows tucked to your ribs. This will
minimize camera movement.
This tip comes from Steven Katz, director of educational technology at Country Day School in Escazú, Costa Rica. He maintains three websites: www.teachwithvideo.com, www.stevenkatz.com, and www.cdsnews.net. If you have a tip to share, post it on the comment wall on the L&L group page of the ISTE Community Ning at www. iste-community.org/group/landl, or e-mail it to dfingal@iste.org.
Tip
