Tools:

Blog's

Blog's are a great way for student to collaborate and some site offer free accounts. I use
http://www.blogger.comfrom google. It is simple and easy to use. Students can create their own blog or contribute to a class blog. Blog's are an excellent substitute for journal's. Another option is http://kidblog.org/home/ it is safe and easy for younger students. It also does not require the students to have an email address to access it. Blogs are a tool teachers can use to check student comprehension. They also allow students to reflect on there learning and the learning of their classmates. Student can question each other or simply encourage each other.

Wiki's

Wiki's are an excellent tool for authentic assessments and collaboration. One site www.wikispaces.com is easy and free. Whether students collaborate on a class wiki or a group wiki they will be able to add edit and work as a team. Even as an individual student wiki can show understanding.

Webquest's

Wedquest are a great way for students to discover learning on their own or as a group. There are many sites that offer free accounts but my favorite is www.zunal.com. It is free and from what I've see from other sites, it is very easy for teachers and students to use. Webquests allow students to visit prescreened site for information, and you can upload worksheets for them to complete. They can be set up as a guide to creating an authentic assessment. There is an example of a webquest I created for an 11th grade US History class about the 1920's 
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=160757

Googledoc's

Create and share document, spreadsheets, and images using google drive. www.drive.google.com/ Google docs can be used to create a formative quiz. If you go into google drive you can create a "form". One the form you can pick the type of questions you want to use like; multiple choice, check boxes, short answer, and fill in the blank. Once the form is created the teacher can have the information sent to a spread sheet. The teacher can then share the form with the students. Once the students complete the form the students answers will automatically be viewable on the spreadsheet. The teacher can immediately tell were students may be struggling or if they are ok to move on to the next topic. They can be used for "quiet" class discussions. The teacher can open a simple PDF ask a question and have the students contribute on the same PDF. They can be used for projects as well. If the students are given and assignment and do not complete it in class the can continue to work on it as homework because they will have access to it from their home networks. This works very well for group projects. Students may not be able to get to each others houses to finish a project, but google docs allows students to work together from their own homes.

Digital Story Telling

Digital story telling is a great active way for students to create presentations. Here are a few free options:
http://storybird.com/
http://www.piclits.com/compose_dragdrop.aspx
http://generator.acmi.net.au/storyboard
http://www.slidestory.com/
http://domo.goanimate.com/studio
http://animoto.com/education/
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
http://www.pixton.com/
http://voicethread.com/
http://www.comicmaster.org.uk/
Picture Book Maker
http://www.mapskip.com/about/index.php

This sites range in the level of knowledge needed to complete a digital story. They also address the different types if story telling students can create. They can create a video with voice over or music. They can create a picture slide show with voice over or music, create a cartoon or even a comic strip. This allows for students to create an authentic assessment that will showcase there strengths and interest as well as showing comprehension and critical thinking.

Jing
Jing is a program that allows you capture images and video on your computer.  This is a great tool that can be used to create digital stories and presentations.  Jing can be downloaded to your computer at http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html

Prezi

Prezi's are great for presentations wether teacher based lecture or student presentations.  They are interactive and some templates are 3D.  The movement from one slide to the next is a great way to keep the attention of students.  http://prezi.com/

Example of Technology Integrated into a Lesson

Non-Technology:

At the end of the unit on the Black Plague students will be required to showcase they're learning.  Students will use notes and worksheets to create a poster showing how the Black Plague spread through Europe, how it effected Europe's economy, and what impact it had on the everyday life of Europeans.

With Technology

Students will be given an overview of the Black Plague that wreaked havoc on Europe during the 1300s.  They will be placed into groups and assigned a city or town that was impacted by the plague.  On the internet they will research the effect of the plague on their assigned city or town.  In the groups they will use the green room to record a "news broadcast" explaining how the plague came to they city or town, and how it effected the economy and life of their people.