What do you want to do?
With tools like these proliferating faster than anyone can keep up, how do you know what to try? Especially if you have a project or paper due and don’t have time to try out and learn a lot of new tools.
Don’t try more than one tool per project/paper unless you really have to. I suggest starting with some of the Search tools. You need to search anyway, and most of them aren’t so different than what you are already using. Next, try either an online word processor (Presentation Tools) or a link saver (Note Taking). Then try a few other tools, depending on your projects. Don’t feel you have to use a tool just because it sounds cool–if you don’t need audio in your project, don’t bother with Odeo.
Here are some suggestions for tools to use for common academic research tasks:
I need to find scholarly materials, especially journal articles: read through the Searching section to learn how to refine your searches and for new search engines and databases to search for quality materials.
I’m traveling and I need to be able to work on my paper while I’m away from my computer: try an online word processor (Presentation) or, if you’re not sure about Internet access, a Portable Application on a USB drive.
I’m on three or four different computers during the day and I keep finding good sites, but not being able to find them again on a different computer: use any of the Note Taking tools to capture the URL and some notes about the sites as you find them, then just log back in on the next computer to review your previous finds.
One of the computers I use doesn’t have Word…PowerPoint…Excel…Instant Messaging…Email…etc., but I need it for my classwork: use a web-based or portable tool on that computer. Don’t forget to backup your files to your main computer or USB drive every so often.
