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.

Virtual Post-It Boards-Remember The Milk

The Best Websites for Teaching and Learning (25) have been selected by a committee comprised of members of the American Association of School Librarians for four years.  Websites on this list are grouped under Media Sharing, Digital Storytelling, Manage & Organize, Social Networking & Communication, Content Resources and Curriculum Collaboration based upon certain noted items within the Standards for the 21st Century Learner.

Standards, 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, fall under the category of Manage & Organize for websites chosen in 2012 which includes Remember The Milk.  Registration and use of Remember The Milk is free of charge.  Some, but not all, of the ways this service can be used are apps for iPad, iPhone, add tasks with Siri, Android, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Blackberry, Twitter, Google Calendar, iGoogle Gadget, a Mobile version and a quick add bookmarklet.

This web 2.0 application is no new-kid-on-the-block, having blog archives back to October of 2005.  Posts on this blog fall under the headings of tips and tricks, new features, updates, behind the scenes, interviews and buzz and features apps.  Under the Help tab at the top of the home page is an extensive FAQ section searchable by keyword.

To register for use of Remember The Milk enter in your first and last name, email address, username and a password.  A link to confirm your email address is sent immediately.  Log in and you're good to go. (You can also sign in with Facebook and Google.)

For the first log in you are taken to the Tasks screen.  The bar in the upper right-hand corner lists option tabs; Overview, Tasks, Locations, Contacts, Settings, Help and Logout.  Beneath those are
List, Share and Publish folders.  To the left is the working area, which under Tasks provides tabs (folders of task lists) for Inbox, Personal, Study, Work, Sent and All Tasks.

I clicked on the Try out Remember The Milk heading to begin.  On the right the screen image changed to reflect a series of nine choices.  I decided to add some tasks of my own by moving back to the task line and typing in a phrase.

Once the title is typed in, simply press the "enter" key.  As you mouse over your list of task titles, the options (task details) on the left shift accordingly.   If you want to make changes click on the task title, giving it a check mark.

To help you in entering in the information for a detail correctly, for some when you click on one of the options, a hint will appear below the box. For example enter in your date as August 5 or tomorrow or next Tuesday. Time must be entered in as 30 minutes or 2 hours. 

One thing to note is tags are separated by commas.  Two words can be joined by placing them within quotation marks.  Personal names (first and last) cannot be tags.  They either appear as two separate words or one word joined together.

To add a location to your task you must first go to the top of the screen and click on Locations.  Enter in the address of the location.  When the green tab appears on the map, click on it naming your location and save.

One URL link can be added to that detail.  Your task can be shared with contacts, contacts with groups you have created or you can invite people to become a contact or member of a group. (See list of actions below or click on Contacts at the screen top)

Once entered in tasks can be selected by: all, due today, due tomorrow, overdue or none.  When a user is looking at the tasks in one of the folders those can also be ordered by priority, due date or task name.  If you should happen to put a task in the wrong folder click on more actions to not only move the task but to read all of the other choices available.

Moving up to the upper right-hand corner, choosing Overview shows you tasks for today, tomorrow and overdue as well as the ability to click on a weekly planner enumerating your task lists.  A task cloud is shown which is a visual depiction of your task lists giving you the choice of clicking on one of those words to direct you to related tasks. There are two separate buttons on this screen that will take you to your tasks.

Under the Settings button you can alter your name, password, email address, date and time format, how tags are shown, your country and language or time zone (to name a few).  More specific settings can be made for your lists, tags, and locations.  Under the reminders settings several formats are available for sending notices to your email address about specific tasks.

Remember The Milk covers all the bases when it comes to managing tasks.  The image of sticky notes on every available surface will be a thing of the past.  The variety of apps coupled with the share feature make this a smart, easy pick for group projects.  The ability to edit at all levels is a huge plus.  Being able to print notes for individual tasks in another nice added feature. I can understand why this web 2.0 app made the 2012 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning list.

Below is a screen capture of a task list in progress.