This document discusses the educational uses of Livebinders, a free web application that allows users to collaboratively organize and store websites, documents, and other resources online. Livebinders functions similarly to physical binders with tabs and allows resources to be accessed in one digital space. The document outlines how teachers can create Livebinders to store lesson plans, class materials, and homework resources for students. Teachers can share Livebinders with students and allow for collaboration on projects. Livebinders supports simultaneous, real-time collaboration from multiple users.
1. Christina Carrion
CI 350 Web 2.0: Livebinders
Dr. Harold Blanco
26 April 2014
Every Web 2.0 application shares three basic elements, they must be free, allow for
collaboration, and have real time elements. Livebinders is an example of a Web 2.0 application.
Livebinders are virtual 3 ring binders that streamline record keeping. It’s like having a favorites
bar or bookmark, but it goes beyond just saving frequently visited websites. Livebinders can
store websites and documents in one, paperless place. Everyone can use it, and it’s free. Every
Livebinder is public under the free profile. Members have the choice to upgrade their account for
more features and storage, and educators receive a reduced price.
Teachers can use Livebinders as easy, available storage for lesson plans, supplementary
instructional material for students, blogs, videos, lesson ideas, interesting/relevant information
for students, differentiation techniques, Webquests, etc. Each subject could be a different
Livebinder, or it’s possible to make one Livebinder with multiple tabs and subtabs; the tabs even
look like tabs in a file cabinet. Livebinders members can upload their own documents and PDFs
to their Livebinder. Users have the opportunity to use a Livebinder bookmarking tool to make it
easy to add URLs to their Livebinders account. Otherwise, Livebinders members must sign in,
and copy and paste the URL into the insert bar. Livebinders can be private or public, and can be
shared (private livebinders will need to be viewed via an Access Key the user created).
Teachers can share their Livebinders with students. For instance, a teacher could have a
livebinder dedicated to one single class, full of supplementary material. The teacher could have a
homework help tab with links to websites for additional help, helpful videos, games for practice,
2. etc. There could be a general tab for websites with interesting information and career
applications. Different tabs for homework, for project submission, for homework submission, the
list could go on and on. In general, the teacher can share course materials, resources for help, and
allow collaboration.
Livebinders members can allow other users to collaborate on the same Livebinder. The
creator must invite the other collaborators using their Livebinders’ account email address.
Therefore, if a teacher wants students to upload homework or projects to a Livebinder, all the
students must have a valid email address connected to a Livebinders account. Once collaborators
have been added to the Livebinder, they have the ability to edit that Livebinder. They can add
links and documents, they can edit existing tabs or create new tabs and subtabs, change tab
colors; in short, collaborators have the same editing power as the original creator. Collaborators
are able to input text onto different tabs. However, Livebinder does not allow members to
collaborate on a single text document in one tab, unless they use an editable Google Doc.
The website allows users to collaborate simultaneously rather than in turns, making this
website real-time. This feature is important because it allows students to collaborate in groups.
Instead of having only one person working a computer, every person in the group can be
involved in the project, and encourage accountability. This also allows teams to multi-task on a
project.
Livebinders are extremely useful to a variety of professions. The Livebinders website
advertises that livebinders are helpful for businesses, for education, and for portfolios. Members
have reported using Livebinders for new hire/intern materials, customer service packages, and
marketing materials. Members with portfolios can include the URL on their resume for potential
3. employers to access. Teachers can create Livebinders for substitute teachers full of instructions,
lesson plans, seating arrangements, etc. In conclusion, Livebinders embodies collaboration, real-
time, and accessibility for its members.