On Your Mark, Get Set, Jog

On the 2010 list of  Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning, a branch of the ALA, the  American Association of School Librarians, under the heading of Manage and Organize, meeting Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, 2.1.2 Organize knowledge so that it is useful, 2.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to analyze and organize information, and 3.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use and assess, a web application known as JOG THE WEB was named.  As stated on the Home page: 

JOG THE WEB is a web-based tool that allows anyone to create a synchronous guide to a series of web sites.  Its step by step approach of taking viewers through web sites allowing the author to annotate and ask guiding questions for each page is unique.

Without registration a user can try out a jog by using the form on the Home page.  Web page addresses are already in place but they can be changed.  There are also seven jogs on that home page which can be viewed.  This gives you an idea of what a jog is without registering.

By toggling right to the Explore tab, viewers can look through  jogs in the following categories:
education, news and politics, pets and animals, entertainment, film and animation, comedy, gaming, music, people and blogs, science and technology, sports, autos and vehicles, howto and style and travel and events.  If a narrower search is desired simply go to the Search Jogs box on the far right of the page.

If you locate a jog that you want to view you can click Jog it.  Prior to viewing the jog though, you can view the index, list, of items in order.  The title of each, any comments by the creator and the URL are all included along with the option of going to any of the pages individually.

To become a track-building user (create a jog) registration is necessary but it is free unless you desire the benefits of a premium account.  Enter in your username, first name, last name, email address and password as well as accepting the Terms of Use.  You will quickly receive an email which includes a registration confirmation link.  That link sends you to the My Jogs page.

Jogs can be listed by most recent, oldest, most viewed, most commented and by name.  To begin creating your jog click the green plus sign box labeled Create new Jog.  A screen pops up asking you for the title, a description of the jog and to tag it in one of the Explore categories.

Once that is complete a new screen appears asking you to enter in the first web page title, the URL link and any comments relative to that page. You can continue adding as many pages to your jog as you desire by clicking save after completing the information for each one. Page order can easily be changed.  At any time you can edit individual pages' properties or complete the editing.  When you click on complete the editing you are taken back to the My Jogs page.

Your finished  jog will be listed with the following options:  edit jog, share, duplicate or delete.  You can view it in index format or view it as others will (Jog it).  When selecting the share option a URL link and HTML code are provided which can be copied and pasted.  Duplicating your jog is only allowed under the Premium choice which has a fee. 

When viewing a particular jog navigation is very user friendly.  Small icons at the top allow the viewer to go back where they started, to the Explore section, view the jog in index format, and share it on a variety of social networks.  All finished jogs are public, to have the jog be private a Premium account must be opened.

We are in the middle of a study of the Caldecott Award winning book, Snowflake Bentley written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin illustrated with woodcut printing by Mary Azarian with our third grade students.  I set up a jog for a small online scavenger hunt that we complete. 
Snowflake Bentley

UPDATE:  As of January 18, 2015 I became aware this service is no longer available.