DrawAnywhere

=DrawAnywhere= DrawAnywhere is a Web 2.0 tool that allows the user to easily create a flowchart, diagram, or chart online. This drawing can then be shared and modified by others!

RESOURCES
Sign-up for DrawAnywhere Examples of classroom use

Strengths:

 * Flowcharts, diagrams, and charts can now be easily created online
 * Once diagrams are created, users can modify their drawings from any computer with internet access
 * Drawings can be exported as an image, or pdf file
 * Drawings can be viewed and modified by others given permission
 * The program is free to use
 * No software download is necessary to create diagrams
 * It runs entirely on the web, and thus it is an always-on-access-anywhere solution.
 * No need to install, maintain, and purchase expensive software in order to use it.

Weaknesses:

 * Diagrams can only be edited online; Students would therefore need internet access to modify their diagrams
 * Not all features are available through the free version of this site; Full functionality costs $30 a year
 * Users cannot upload their own images for use in the diagram
 * A limited number of people are allowed to collaborate on each diagram created
 * The free-version only allows for 10MB of storage space for each account

Opportunities:

 * Charts and diagrams can easily become collaborative projects
 * Teacher created charts and diagrams can be modified by students as part of the learning process
 * Digital drawings can be embedded within presentations to illustrate data trends

Threats:

 * Charts can be modified by others to whom permission is given; This privilege may be abused by some
 * Students are exposed to Internet threats whenever using an online program

IDEAS FOR THE CLASSROOM

 * Algebra students could create a flowchart of the process used to determine what type of factoring is best suited for a particular situation
 * English students can create a diagram for a novel, depicting character relationships and plotlines
 * Statistics students share data amongst each other to create charts and graphs during a probability analysis
 * Science students could create a flowchart of the food pyramid in different environments
 * During the study of any particular topic, assign students the task of going online for homework, to correctly place together the different pieces of a flowchart; The pieces are teacher established, and must be arranged to properly depict a certain concept.