NoteMesh

Name of the Tool:  NoteMesh

URL of the Tool:  www.notemesh.com

Please select the one, primary category for this tool: This tool is both a productivity and collaboration tool.

Please describe this tool in your own words in about 150-250 words.

NoteMesh is a free, Web 2.0 tool that provides an online forum for students to work together to create notes for the class material.  NoteMesh is a simple tool requiring users to register with a valid .edu address .

NoteMesh notes are visible to the public so if as a student you know you will be taking a class, you might be able to look up the course and preview the notes and content of that course.  You will not be allowed to add content or contribute unless you are a registered user. 

NoteMesh is a tool that was created in 2006 by 4 students attending University of Texas at Austin.  After cramming for finals one semester, one of the four students developed a Wiki for his friends to help him complete his notes for study.  Within a few months, the webpage NoteMesh was created for all students at UT and a few months after that, it was open to the World Wide Web!

What do you need to know before using this tool? (What skills do you need to have?)

Before using this tool you need to know the course name provided by the teacher or the course name you want to create if you are the teacher, and how to navigate through a basic webpage. 

What do you need to have before using this tool? (Resources)

As a student, before using this tool you need to have a computer with internet access, be enrolled in a course and have notes that you want to add to the course. You will also be required to log in with an .edu address.

How do you use this tool? (Write the basic steps using a numbered list)

After going to www.notemesh.com you will click on the right side of the screen to log-in or register to the website. 

This is the registration screen:

 Next, you will be taken to a screen that allows you to add a class or go through a series of tutorials: 

After the tutorials, you want to create a class:

After you create and add a class, you will follow a series of steps to begin putting notes on the course's NoteMesh. Please watch this SlideRocket presentation to see the steps for creating a class and then adding the first notes to the class:

http://portal.sliderocket.com/CAYVY/BDF50312-44D5-48FD-BC6D-C802F5E6FDFE

Once the course is developed, you may edit the entries you make.

Students should be given the course name/date (since that will not be accurate).  At that time, students can register, enter the class and begin adding notes.  Students are able to edit others entries and there is a history button so that you can see what has been changed.  


If you would like, you may register for NoteMesh and use the class that I've already created with the following informaiton:

Please describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment (150-250 words).

     

     As an Instructor, I can create a course for students, making sure to tell them the dates will be incorrect.  I can assign students to work on a group project or in the case of Public Speaking I can assign the groups to use NoteMesh to develop their group outline. 

This tool can be used to conduct brainstorming sessions for topic selection.

     

     I think the way I’d use the tool (although maybe not what it is created for) is to post class/lecture notes for students to have.  Students could then ask questions regarding the notes posted on the NoteMesh page.

   

    I think this tool might be best used from the view of being a student.  Students can set up their own course and create the notes independent from the class.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment? 

The advantages in using this tool:

A.   Students have a place to come together and share their notes about a specific course.  They may create group study guides or other lists of information.  If students work together, this could be a great tool.

B.   The look of the program is uncluttered.

C.   The program is easy to use.

D.   The tool can be edited- with a history of edits available.

E.    There is a place for Discussion boards is needed.

F.  The website creates a nice Table of Contents on the left of the screen for the information that is posted. 

As a student the disadvantage are:

A.   Some students will only sign up to get the notes without adding anything of value to the discussion.  Since the notes are public, there would be nothing in place to keep this from happening.  I know in a group project I do not mind to do my part but I do not want to be the only one working!

B.   The website does not easily return to the homepage.

C.   Although the opening screen states that a .edu address is no longer required to use this product, upon trying to register/log-in with both a hotmail and gmail account I was told that ‘your school has been ruled invalid’. 

This picture above  is hard to read but it states that International and non .edu users can register. The picture below shows what happened when I tried to log in with my hotmail address.  I also attempted to register with my gmail account.

As an instructor the disadvantages are:

A.    The dates for the courses are for only 2008 and 2009.  I emailed the creators of this program to inquire about this issue and I did not receive a response (6 days later).  Although the website is active, it seems no one is attending to it or updating it.

B.   The notes that are posted may not be accurate.  Might require monitoring of the NoteMesh page  or pages which results in extra work for the instructor.

C.   The website does not easily return to the homepage.

Would you recommend this Web 2.0 tool to others, or suggest that they explore a different tool? 

I do not think I would recommend this tool considering that there are other resources that can be used that do not require a .edu account and that are more up to date. I did not find that it was extraordinary in any way.