Virtual Post-It Boards-Stoodle

Just a little over a week ago, two guys in the know both posted about a new virtual post-it board.  Richard Byrne, educator, speaker and blogger at Free Technology for Teachers and Larry Ferlazzo, educator, author and blogger at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... wrote about it at Stoodle-Quickly Create Shared Online Whiteboards and "Stoodle" Could Be The Best "Virtual Corkboard" Site Out There respectively.  With endorsements like these I knew I needed to give the site a try myself.

When you access the home page you are greeted with an introduction in the center with the choice of launching a classroom. The upper right-hand corner allows you to follow the Stoodle people on Twitter and Facebook.  Along the left-hand side are six options.

These six options, starting at the top, give you the choice of opening and closing the tool bar (three lines icon), going to the home page, reading about the site objective, features, and benefits for students and teachers/tutors, educational leaders at certain schools, how Stoodle started and key persons responsible and contact information (address, phone and fax numbers, email, spot on map).  I then moved back to the center clicking on the green Launch a classroom! button.  At the next window you are asked to give your name and whether you will grant Stoodle the use of your microphone.

Once you have entered in a name and clicked OK your corkboard is ready for use.  On the left-hand and right-hand side are a variety of choices.  The top selection on the left opens and closes that tool bar.

Moving from the top down on the left you can:

• share a link on Facebook, Twitter or via email
• add the shape of a square or circle or draw a line
• add an image of any size by clicking and dragging 
• clear the board and 
• mute or unmute the speaking feature.

Every time you click on one of these choices the tool bar disappears.  You will need to select the three lines icon to bring the choices back.

When you use the add-an-image tool, a large lists of choices for obtaining files appears.  They are:

• My computer
• Facebook
• Google Drive
• Dropbox
• Box
• Sky Drive
• Picasa
• Instagram
• Flickr
• Link (URL)
• Github
• Gmail
• Take Picture
• Record Video
• Web Images
• Evernote
• Alfresco
• FTP and 
• WebDAV.

When you select Web Images you can type in a keyword; Stoodle will search Wikipedia, Google Images and Flickr.  Once an image has been placed on the board it can't be resized.  Make sure you have your shape close to the shape of the image or it will appear distorted.

The tool bar on the right gives you the following selections:

• drawing on the board
• inserting text (a prompt appears on the screen identical to the box asking you for your name)
• move elements around
• delete elements
• undo
• redo
• colors for drawn lines/text and
• add pages/move among pages.

If you want your text to be a specific color please click on that color (black, purple, blue, green, red or yellow) prior to adding your words.  By clicking on a color before adding any shapes the outline will be in the color chosen.  Each time you use an item on the tool bar to switch to another, make sure you toggle back to it and click.  

Many members of my PLN on Twitter have been talking about the reading of Snowflake Bentley, a Caldecott Medal winner by Jacqueline Briggs Martin with woodcut illustrations by Mary Azarian.  I have created a Stoodle for books on snow which I have used in the past for units and currently own.

Please follow the link here, Let It Snow.  Let me know in the comments below if you would like to add other elements.  I would like to see how the collaboration works. When you follow the link you will be asked to enter in a name, then the collaboration or viewing can begin.

The best part of Stoodle is there is no registration.  This allows students under the age of thirteen to use this website.  Every time you access the site to launch a classroom, a new URL is assigned to your board.  As a word to the wise, make sure you keep track of your created board URL links.  The ease of use is also a major plus.  I concur with Richard Byrne and Larry Ferlazzo; Stoodle should be placed in your virtual toolbox.

Virtual Post-It Boards-Mural.ly

In the summer of 2012 a new application premiere,  Mural.ly.  It was announced by Larry Ferlazzo initially in June at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... and received a position on his The Best Web 2.0 Applications for Education in 2012.  More recently Kelly Tenkely posted about its potential uses in the classroom on her blog iLearn Technology.



Mural.ly states in their Terms of Use Agreement they area robust platform for visual collaboration and problem solving.  Murals ("Murals") are web pages that are like scrolling/zoomable whiteboards.

The site will have three options for accounts: free, premium and business.  It is not designed for children under the age of thirteen but in the Terms of Use Agreement they do say:

Accordingly, in order to use the Services, you must notify parents/guardians of the information to be collected from children under the age of 13 and obtain consent from the parent/guardian prior to collecting and sharing such information.

On the home page Mural.ly provides access to several sample Murals, collaboration ideas, testimonials from users and their blog for updates about the service.  To begin click on the bright pink Sign-up for free button.  You are asked to give your email address, a username and password.  You can use either your Facebook, Twitter or Google account to sign-up also.

Upon signing-up a new window appears, your Home page.  Across the top a bar designates possible actions, specifically in the right-hand corner. The first icon offers links to an FAQ, a list of keyboard shortcuts and anything someone new would need to know about the service.  Moving to the left, any notifications will be posted there.  The final icon is where your settings can be established and you logout.

When you select the plus sign in the center of the page a new window is superimposed on top of the work space.  You give your Mural a title, a place to be stored on the site and determine whether it will be private (indoor Mural) or public (outdoor Mural).  If it is private only those with granted permission can access the Mural.






Upon choosing Create Mural another window asks if you want to add people via email invitation to participate in the making of your Mural.  For the purpose of this post I skipped it.  A short one minute plus video comes on the screen next advising you how to DRAG AND DROP CONTENT SUPER FAST. 

When you close the video your work space appears.  In the upper left-hand corner a series of icons, left to right, take you home, allow you to export the Mural by sharing or embedding, invite people, change the Mural members or settings, and actions such as duplicate, move to... and archive.  The last icon on the left signifies that email notifications is on. 

Along the left-hand side of the work space is your tool bar.  From top to bottom you can add:

• web content using a URL
• images either by searching in Google images or uploading from your computer
• documents from Google Drive
• text in the form of titles, text boxes or sticky notes
• shapes (9)
• stickers, solid or full color, you can search by keyword for a specific item
• spaces (9), templates for layout and
• background (9).

In the lower right-hand corner and along the right side left to right, bottom to top you can:

• comment
• see the online users
• view the Mural activity (all your current actions, comments and mentions)
• chat
• see your position on the Mural with the red rectangle
• toggle to full screen mode
• zoom in and out
• move the screen left, right, top and bottom

When you select add web content the work space changes color giving you additional instructions.  After you add the URL, the item will appear below giving you a preview of how it will appear on the Mural.  Options appear around and inside the item when it is dragged to the Mural.   

You can change the title and the description of the web content.  The thumbnail can be changed or deleted.  You can add your own image if you like.  The entire box can be dragged to a new position, rotated, resized or you can:

• add a comment
• duplicate it
• open the preview
• lock it
• bring it to the front
• send it to the back 
• edit it or
• delete it.

At any time during your work on the Mural you can double-click on any spot to add text instantly. You can also frame specific areas of your Mural (click on the 1, 2, 3 circles on the bottom of the tool bar on the left) to direct viewers from one area to the next.  If you lock an item on your Mural right mouse click to unlock it as well as adding a comment,  open preview, bring to the front, and send to the back.

Upon completion of the Mural, go to the top and click on the Export button.  You can get a URL link or an HTML embed code.  Your entire Mural has a link and each individual item has its own link.

Mural.ly is an amazing new web 2.0 application with endless possibilities.  The results are sharp and clean but it is very easy to use.  I would highly recommend placing this in your virtual toolbox.

Here is a link to my Mural.ly about events during the month of April.  To activate any of the links simply double click.

Virtual Post-It Boards-Lino

Nothing beats the quickness of connecting, of being privy to the instant thoughts of those in your PLN, like Twitter.  We all benefit from the conferences and professional development of our colleagues.  When the following tweet appeared in my feed a month ago, it looked like the type of application which might benefit staff and students given it was coming from a teacher librarian I follow and who follows me.

I need to explore Lino. It looks like it has great possibilities. #ICE13 en.linoit.com
— Donna K. (@akgal68) February 28, 2013

Lino is a free service for those thirteen years or older.  When accessing the home page users note the application can be used on their PC computer, iPhone or iPad and their Android (beta). Some features include:

• taking notes immediately
• reminders of special days or deadlines
• layout of pictures and videos (free of charge)
• create groups for sharing
• files can be attached to the notes and
• use from smartphones.

Popular canvases and recently updated canvases are highlighted.

Begin by selecting the large orange button, Give it a shot!  A new window opens taking you to a board (trial canvas) with a variety of suggestions already posted.  There are no scroll bars for moving within the canvas.  Click and drag to see all the posted items.

In the upper right-hand corner is a square of tools (the palette) to be used in creating stickies for your particular board.  In the far corner are icons for help, login and sign up.  To begin there are four colors for notes.

Beneath those are symbols for adding images from your computer and including videos from YouTube, Vimeo or Ustream.  Files can be uploaded from your computer (attached to a sticky) and transparent notes can be placed over other items.  If you select Highlight New, with each mouse click it takes you to any new items in the order they were added.  If you've marked something private on a sticky it will be shown if you choose Show Private.

In the lower right-hand corner is another transparent box which shows you where your screen is in relation to the overall board plus a calendar; handy for setting dates on notes.  You can click on the square in this box, move it and it takes you to that position on the canvas. Every single sticky has a series of tiny icons in the lower right-hand corner.  They allow the user to edit, choose a due date, peel off the sticky and size the sticky.

In adding items to each canvas I found the uploading of images to be very easy.  When adding a video from YouTube it's necessary to use the URL at the top of the page rather than from the share line beneath the video.  Videos from Vimeo worked perfectly using the link from their share feature. 

It was great to discover that when URLs were added to notes the links were active.  When you pin one of your sticky notes (click in the center at the top), it can be copied but the other options disappear.   You can unpin it to again move, edit, add a date or delete it.

You do need to register to save your canvas by selecting a username and password, entering in your email address and agreeing to the Terms of Use.  When this is completed another transparent box (the dock) appears in the lower left-hand corner giving you a thumbnail of your boards.  New icons will appear in your palette also; from left to right, my page, information, help and log out.

When you click on information, share possibilities appear above in a new window.   On the right you are given a URL for the canvas, HTML code for linking to the canvas and HTML code for embedding the canvas in your blog or web site.  On the left are the basic preferences for this canvas.

You can also name your canvas now by choosing the words Trial Canvas.  Another window (preferences) opens allowing for the name change, selection of backgrounds (you can upload your own), and determining access (private, people can see stickies, people can see and post stickies).  Depending on the access selected you can chose to show this canvas on the dock, create a sticky via email, generate a RSS feed for the canvas, or allow others to copy your stickies.  Be sure to save any changes.

The entire canvas can be deleted at this point.  From here you can go back to your canvas, your page, all your canvases, your groups, favorites, tasks and trash.  I did explore the help section also.  It is very extensive but easy to understand.  Lino does have a bookmarklet which can added to your browser toolbar.

When it comes to virtual post-it boards, I rate Lino with high marks.  It has all the things I enjoy when using this type of  application; ease of use, great help section, active hyperlinks, multiple options in the preference section and collaboration.  Here is a canvas I designed to get ready for a Nursery Rhyme unit during National Poetry Month.

Virtual Post-It Boards-Pinside

Even though I've posted about a variety of note-taking and note posting web 2.0 apps, as of this writing, I have a paper sticky note attached to my laptop screen.  Maybe old habits do die hard or sometimes I like the simplicity of text-only handwritten in pencil or pen.  Some of the easier online services are Wallwisher, Corkboard Me and PinDax (to name a few).  I have posted about each of them; they have subsequently upgraded their features.

A newer choice which has come to my attention through Twitter from posts by Richard Byrne, educator and blogger at Free Technology for Teachers, and Heather Moorefield, Education Librarian at Virginia Tech and former chair of the committee for the selection of the American Association of School Librarians Best Websites for Teaching and Learning,is Pinside.  Pinside is free to use for posting text and images.  Boards can be private (for you and selected board members) or public for all to see.

When you initially access the site, you can sign up or sign in, learn more about Pinside or visit the official Pinside board.  The first board lists what it is, options for use and explains notes and comments.  Contact information, a review of the site and information on the iPhone app are available on the second board.

To sign up enter in your email address and create a password.  Your account is immediately accepted.  A new screen appears with a prompt to enter in a title for your board.  From that screen you can also access the official Pinside board, enter in feedback, contact Pinside, change your password, read a short Privacy statement or logout.


At times when I am waiting for a new title to arrive or get the opportunity to read and review one I already have on hand, I will see points of interest or resources I might like to include in my review.  These items might be scattered between my Twitter favorites, Facebook news feed or timeline or browser bookmarks.  It's only after I've posted a review, I discover I've neglected to add something important.

I've decided to create a board titled Stephen Savage in anticipation of writing a review of his new title, Little Tug.  I entered in his name as the board title and pressed the enter key to begin the board.  What appears is the name of your new board with the option to create yet another underneath it.  To add notes to a board you need to click on that specific title.

To begin select the New Note button.  Type in your text or add an image URL.  To create another note you must first click "add" on the previous note.

When a URL is added to your text it will create a hyperlink which is definitely beneficial. (PLEASE NOTE: At this time I've discovered that once the board is made public the links do not remain active.  I have sent a question to Pinside.) To make the board public click on More... at the top of the screen.  At this screen you can also add specific members who can participate in this board.

Once a board has been made public, click on Public View at the top of the screen to open up another window which shows the opportunities for sharing, embed HTML code, a URL link, Twitter and Facebook.  Also if you wish to have a paper copy of any of these notes move your mouse next to the name of the note creator (You) and click on the tiny print icon.  You can also delete the note from this area by clicking on the "x".

Here is my board titled Stephen Savage using HTML code.  Here is a URL link to the board.




For comparison's sake I also took notes in Corkboard Me, Wallwisher and PinDax.  It will depend on the user as to which they prefer.  In order to actually read the notes in PinDax they need to be opened.

Here is the link for Corkboard Me with the Stephen Savage notes.  Corkboard Me cannot be embedded unless you upgrade to a paying account.  Here is the embedded Wallwisher of the Stephen Savage notes along with a QR code to the board.  Here is the URL link for the Stephen Savage PinDax board.










For simplicity I do not think there is a better web 2.0 app than Pinside.  As I toggeled back and forth between the others testing out the similarities and differences, the ease of use is a real stand-out.  For younger students it would be perfect, providing a first step into the note-taking and note posting online apps. The only thing that would be more helpful is to have an FAQ or basic help section.  Some of the steps for use in this post I learned by trial and error.

Keeping Track Anytime of the Year

Recently the American Association of School Librarians published their 2012 25 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning.   Under the category for Curriculum Collaboration within the perimeters of the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner under 1.3.4 Contribute to the exchange of ideas within a learning community, 3.1.2 Participate and collaborate as members of a social and intellectual network of learners, 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 and 4.3.1 Participate in the social exchange of ideas, both electronically and in person one of the sites listed is Springnote.  At their About section Springnote states:

Springnote is an OpenID enabled web application that combines the elements of wiki, word processing and file organization into an easy, simple, and intuitive experience.

Users under the age of 14 must have permission from a parent or guardian to use the services at the site.  To sign up enter in an ID, password, email address, nickname and agree to the terms of service and privacy policy.  A confirmation registration email will be sent.  A unique URL is assigned to each registered user based upon their ID choice.

When you initially sign in you are taken to your first personal notebook page.  You can create a more collaborative project using group notebook.  Across the top are an amazing array of choices for designing each of your pages.

The tool bar offers:

eight different font styles, six font sizes beginning with 8pt and ending with 24pt, font color, seven highlight color choices, whether to make your text bold, in italics, underlined, or strike through, a bulleted list, a numbered list, an icon list, a series of emoticons, create a link, under style (six heading sizes, superscript, subscript, body, quote, source code or division), alignment, indent, outdent, undo, redo, page background (white or lined), the insertion of an image, file, movie, map, equation, table, template or line and plug-ins including create a calendar, shortcut for paragraph titles, view as slideshow, star rating, create a list of subpages and the ability to create, update or remove a table of contents. Within each of items that can be inserted are several more choices.
For example under insert template the options are: group schedule profile, group member profile, personal profile, monthly calendar, monthly to do list, monthly appointments, monthly schedule, weekly plan, to do list, monthly diet diary, class schedule, weekly report, report, vocabulary list, bookshelf, meeting notes, discussion, guestbook, notification, event, recipe, web clippings, and slideshow.

There is no better way to explore a new web 2.0 application than by developing a way to use it in your respective classroom.  I decided to create a series of pages reflecting the unit of study I have done with third and fourth grade students for many years, The Mock Caldecott.  To begin I added an introductory page.

What I learned is that if you want to add more pages to a single page make sure you are on that page before you click Create a New page.  Then, after you have added the title, click the appropriate page in the tree under which you want it to appear.  If you desire to move pages around you must be in edit mode rather than view mode.

To change from edit mode to view mode click the labeled button.  To go back to the edit mode click on the small icon with crossed arrows or the edit mode pencil.  Clicking on the menu selection gives the user even more options as pictured here.

It was very easy to add a link to whatever you highlighted on any given page.  Uploading images single or multiple was a snap as well as using a URL to insert an image.  What I was unable to do after multiple attempts in IE and Google Chrome was insert a video using the embed code.

To share the pages in your notebook enter in a person's ID or email address.  You can make the pages collaborative or read only.  When you publish your notebook anyone can see it but you have choices about how the content can be used.  You can always switch a notebook back to private, stop the publishing.  I was uncomfortable exporting it to my blog due to the necessity of providing the blog password.

Overall, I give Springnote a high rating due to the array of options, no cost to the user and the short amount of time needed to understand its use.  The one drawback is having questions answered other than those already posted.  The link to my notebook is here.

Just Like Pen And Paper

Recently I posted about an online journal/diary application called Memiary.  This application asks users to focus on five specific thoughts for a given date.  No sooner had I written about Memiary than I read about another web 2.0 service, Penzu.

Penzu is not a new application having been in use for at least four years, including beta.  According to the site:

Penzu is an online diary and personal journal focusing on privacy.  With a unique and compelling user experience, it makes writing online as easy and intuitive as writing on a pad of paper. 

Penzu is free to users over the age of thirteen (13) but can be upgraded to the Pro version for $19.00 per year.  If users are between the ages of 13 to 18 they must have parental or guardian approval with full knowledge of the terms of use and privacy policy.  To sign up for use click on the green Create Your Free Journal button on the home page.

To register enter in your first and last name, email address and a password.  The terms of use and privacy policy must be read and accepted. The next screen hosts a leather bound journal requesting you to select an avatar. 

You are next advised that you can like on Facebook or tweet on Twitter about Penzu.  The Looking Glass feature is offered, on or off, and explained further.  Next a series of email reminders to journal are available.  Finally the settings are completed with twelve fonts listed from which to choose for your default font. 

On the cover of your journal appears your name.  To the left of your name the book icon, when clicked, takes you inside your journal to begin writing.  To the right the gear icon is your settings and the lock icon presents your privacy. 

At the first page (entry) of your journal on the left is a cursive lower case i; signifying access to your account.  Across the top of the page are a series of icons representing from left to right:  new entry, save, print, insert photo, share, lock entry, and format (bold, italics, and underline text, change font, change font size, text color, margin justification, strike through, background color, two bullet options, spell check, insert date, insert link and remove formatting).  The remaining icons are for Pro users only; tag, customize, and versions.  Of course comments can be left on either of the Penzu.

When you wish to insert an image it can be uploaded from your computer or Flickr.  As images are uploaded they appear across the top of the page.  They can be inserted, attached to the left margin of the page or deleted. 

At any time you can toggle back and forth between the pad and all the entries by selecting the pencil or the book icon to the right of the paper.  Recent entries are numbered in the small black tab in the upper right of the screen.  As you work the application is continually saving your work or you can save it manually. 

Be default everything in Penzu is private.  You can also put an additional lock (password) on each entry.  When you choose to share you are presented with several choices, email or public link.



When you send an email enter in one or more addresses and an optional message.  You can send this as yourself or anonymously. The public link can be viewed by anyone but only you can edit the entry.  The link can be sent to Twitter.

Here is the link for the simple Penzu I wrote as part of the Caldecott Challenge in which I am participating.

The overview of Penzu is complete and interesting.  Under the Why Journal heading there are many ideas that could be altered or expanded to make this application work in a classroom setting.  Mobile apps are available.  For more expansive and sophisticated journal keeping than Memiary this comes highly recommended.

Give Me Five...

I am thinking that pretty much everyone has those days when they walk from one room to the next and can't remember why they did.  Too much to do, information overload, constant distractions, it all contributes to moments I have labeled with my students as "brain freeze".  On October 21, 2008 Sid Yadav established an answer to that specific problem with the creation of Memiary.

On the home page Memiary proclaims: 

Record up to five memories of your day and make them memorable forever. 
Memiary is the weightless pocket diary.

To begin type in an email address or username in the text box provided.  At the next screen enter in a password of your choice in the new text box, clicking on done when finished.  Congratulations at signing up appear on the third screen asking you to proceed.  The big font style set in the center of the large area of white space makes it simple to follow each of the directions.

At the top of the next page users can record messages for today as well as the three previous dates.  Changing account settings is a click away.  Browsing can be done by time frame, date, tags (keywords) or at random.  Beneath this is the recording space for listing five things you did on that date.

When an entry is completed click the green check mark.  Entries can be edited and deleted.  If you wish to generate tags place the #hashtag sign in front of a word or words making them searchable.  When all five are completed go to the top and click the record button for the current date.  Please note users can also list five items under the heading What will you do tomorrow?, by selecting the last day on the weekly + one tool bar. 

Beneath the list of five, users can search their pages by week, month, year or all time.  Another type of search can be conducted by entering in a keyword or words into an adjoining box.  When that word or words are found, the next screen will highlight in yellow the entry in which they appear.

When you want to check or modify your email address, set reminders, integrate your account with Twitter, import data, or embed a widget (making your memories public) on a website or blog go to the settings.

In your archives are two small icons near the search bar.  The first represents the ability to import your memories in iCal format to either iCal, Outlook or Google Calendar.  An RSS feed can be created using the second icon.

For educators this free application became even better a little more than two years ago.  With the financial and conceptual support of Mark Warner (UK) of Teaching Ideas the original site was modified with the classroom setting in mind.  Memiary for Education was born. 

On your first visit to the educational version you can log in using your original account information or create a new account.  If you are logging in as a student you will be asked to enter in your teacher's code, if you desire or if it is required as an assignment.  If you are logging in as a teacher you will need to convert your account from a student account to an educator's account. (When first logging in all are considered students.)  When you click on that option you are given a teacher code.

To set up your students' account information click on the settings word at the bottom of the fifth entry.  At this point you can alter and setup:  email address, password, import or export information or embed a widget.  Once your account is converted you can easily monitor your students' written responses.  The questions seen by your students can be either:  What did you learn today? What did you learn on this day? or What will you learn tomorrow? 

If you choose, your memories from your original account can be transferred to your educational account.  Some additional searching revealed that there is a Memiary app available for iPhone and Android users. 
What I do know is, the ease of use will make this advantageous in the classroom; checking for understanding with each individual student.  Whatever the subject area, students will be writing each class period.  This would be a great way for students to give specific reasons for a book recommendation to others.

I really like the idea of thinking of five distinct events, items, in a given day personally and professionally.  Memiary, while not new in the web 2.0 field, is new to me and I really like it.

Memory Spring

As far as I can tell Springpad has been available for about two years.  This service, free (must be over 13 to use), provides an application for saving and accessing anything that a user wants to remember with the ability to do so on a computer or a mobile device; syncing the information between the varied formats.

You can sign in using your Google, Yahoo, Twitter or Facebook account.  If you prefer simply register with an email address and by creating a password; listing your first name and last name are optional.  At the next screen new users are asked to select a theme for their home page (design), change your username and add a photo to your profile if you desire.

The following screen provides an explanation  for Your Springpad Home; where to change your account information and privacy settings, the ability to view all of your saved information (All My Stuff), displaying created notebooks for filing similar bits of information, and the ability to view Public items in your friends' Springpads.  The final screen in this introduction points out how to go Home, Navigate Your Stuff and how to Add New Stuff.

From there click the Let's Get Started! button.  You are taken to your Springpad Home page.  When you click the alerts button you are taken to the navigation screen. (You can also get there by clicking on the notebooks.)

 Springpad provides a note on how to access the apps for smartphones.  Anytime a note is made five icons beneath (depending on the display selection chosen via icons in the upper right hand corner) that note allow for toggling the flag status for the note, toggling the note's privacy, adding the note to a notebook, adding more tags to the note or deleting the note.  A note can be edited and filtered (this I need to explore more). 

Springpad has a checklist of steps to get you started with some of the features.  Checklists can be edited, shared or deleted.  Notes, photos, videos and files can be attached.  As with a note toggling is offered for privacy and flag status, a reminder and tags can be added or a checklist can be added to a notebook.  If the user desires a checklist can be sent via email or printed.

To create a notebook just click on the notebook icon on Your Springpad Home screen.  In the upper left hand corner of the notebook screen is what looks like a tiny wrench.  By clicking on that you can name your notebook, choose to make it public or private and delete it.  If you make the notebook public a URL appears; you can always change the notebook back to private.  When the settings for a notebook are completed and saved, Springpad begins to search for useful links based upon your notebook title as it does when items are added to the notebook.

Items can be added to a notebook by clicking on the plus sign in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
When you Add a Note text in notes can be bold, in italics or underlined.  Margins can be justified left, center or right.  Lists can be numbered or bulleted.  Links can be added or removed to the note as well as images.
Attachments such as those added to a checklist are available; notes, links, photos, videos and files.  Quick links appear such as adding the note to Facebook by making it public.  As with a checklist editing, sharing or removal of the note are options.

When a Task is added the screen asks for a title to that task, due date and description.  All the other options are the same as for notes and checklists.

Look it up allows the user to search the web for whatever they desire to remember.  Add by Type in addition to checklist, note and task includes for example TV show, contact, alarm, recipes, packing list, event, shopping list, bookmark or book.  Add Nearby is for adding locations to your Springpad. 

When items in a notebook are listed they can be sorted by added, modified, popular, name, rating, date, type and tag.

The Board option where you can move items around in a notebook would not work in Internet Explorer.  It was suggested that it works best in Google Chrome.  A Browser Extension can be added to the tool bar in Google Chrome and Firefox so pages can be added as found on the web as well as accessing your account.  I added a Web Clipper to my Favorites so I can perform a similar function in Internet Explorer.

Adding the Springpad application to my smartphone was as simple as going the the Android Market.  It installed successfully and all my work completed on my computer can be now accessed from my Samsung Galaxy. 

Here is a link to one of my created notebooks, Children's Books to Read, Review or Purchase.  I've got to say, having just spent time navigating within Springpad and remembering back to the day when we got our first black and white TV at home, I continue to be amazed at the advances in our technology.

Note:  This site is official closed as of June 25, 2014.