Pirate Pad
Today's 'Idea a Day': Pirate Pad
Website: https://www.piratepad.ca
Grades: 1 - 8
Notes: Online, Collaborative, Real-time Word Processor
So, what the heck is an online, collaborative, real-time word processor?? If you have never used something like this before, wow - this is so cool!!
Let me explain how it works......I'll explain one of the words above at a time.
- Let's start with the most familiar part of the phrase. A word processor, as you know, is something like Word or Pages. Pirate Pad is a word processor.
- Something different about Pirate Pad is that it is ONLINE - it's on the web; it's not software on your computer. The beauty of this feature is that it is saved ON THE WEB, so you can access it from any computer, anytime! And.....it saves automatically!
- The other amazing feature of this is that it is collaborative. This means that more than one person can be typing on the document at the same time - very cool!
- Finally, the document is created in real-time. This means that the text appears as you type - just like in Word or Pages - but unlike when you are typing into an online 'chat', as there is no need to push 'send'. ALL of the collaborators' text also appears in real time, making it quite 'busy' and maybe even a little confusing if you have a few people contributing all at once.
So how do you tell each other apart??
Each contributor signs in and chooses a colour for her/his text - this is how they can tell each other apart.
To make your own Pirate Pad:
- Go to https://www.piratepad.ca
- I recommend not to click on New Pad - if you do this, a name will be created for you. It's better to choose your own name in the window, then click 'OK'.
- This will take you to your pad (document).
- Sign in at the top right and begin typing.
- When you're using any new piece of technology, it's a good idea to browse around a little. Look at all the editing tools available and click on all the buttons across the top. Check out what options you have. Become familiar with what it can do!
Now, invite your students!
- To invite students to collaborate, you need to give them the URL. Once they type it in to their own browser on their computer, they can sign in as well and begin collaborating >> from ANY computer, ANY where, ANY time!
- If you want to do this with your whole class, I recommend creating a few pads and having smaller groups work on each. It can be a little overwhelming to collaborate with a large group! The pads could be called Room10-A, and Room10-B, or something like that.