All Atwitter for Twiddla

This month, I start a new job. I'm really elated about this new job, as idealist-type folks like myself are wont to do. I'm still teaching technology next year, but only part time. The other part of my time, I'll be consulting with US and international schools on distance learning. Basically, teaching folks how to use cool Web 2.0 tools to connect and collaborate on projects. In an effort to be the very best I can be, I'm checking out a bunch of new tools (thus the last, like, four posts) and I have another new crush. This time, it's Twiddla. According to their own site you can:
"Mark up websites, graphics, and photos, or start brainstorming on a blank canvas. Browse the web with your friends or make that conference call more productive than ever. No plug-ins, downloads, or firewall voodoo - it's all here, ready to go when you are. Browser-agnostic, user-friendly."

I have tried it out with a colleague who I had asked to help me edit a lesson plan. All I had to do was click a SINGLE button that says "start a meeting" and send my colleague an invitation. She joined me in about 10 seconds and bam! we were editing the document and chatting about it as well in real-time audio.

Later, by clicking My Account (which I don't even recall creating--wait, is that scary?) I was able to see a TRANSCRIPT of the whole gosh darn event!! I'll say it again: It's a crush but it could be true love. This could be the tool of which I've been dreaming that will allow our students in developing nations to collaboratively develop projects and presentations. We shall see.

Google Wave: The Future of Email

Wouldn't it be great if I could see into the future with some quartz crystal ball or tea leaves? Fortunately for me, all I needed today was YouTube. The video link came from GoWeb 2.0, which is a visual web-apps index. I saw this video below, which captures a Google presentation to developers at a conference. They are highlighting and previewing their new email service called Google Wave. It really does change the way that communication happens. Check it out:

Doodle Meeting Scheduler

For those of us who must frequently schedule meetings with folks outside our organization, it can be challenging to try to schedule a meeting amongst a variety of people with varying schedules. This month, I've been tinkering with a new tool called Doodle. I'm not sure about the name, because it suggests a drawing or sketching tool, right? Well, it is actually a meeting scheduler. This free tool allows the user to enter in a range of possible dates and times and then "poll" invitees as to which ones would work for them. Once everyone has responded, the tool will then show where the intersections in availability exist. I used it just this week to schedule a meeting and it worked like a charm without 15 emails back and forth with phrases like "what about an hour later?" The folks you invite to respond to the poll don't even have to register! The only thing you have to think hard about is time zones...I'm not sure Doodle accounts for that. Last but not least, Doodle does offer an Outlook plugin so you can sync meetings set using Doodle with your Outlook calendar and a mobile plugin for your phone. And voila! Pretty darn neat.