photo © 2008 Steve Jurvetson | more info (via: Wylio)Do you have favourite tools that were essential this past semester? (That is, besides cupcake cars?) Maybe something for planning lessons, handling email, explaining concepts, or grading? Add your favourites in the comments with a description of how you used them and what makes them awesome!

My favourites this term:

• Spreadsheets (Excel and OpenOfficeCalc). Spreadsheets are essential for me for grading. I create a column for each category on the rubric with a column to calculate total grade at the end. When the grading is done, I can see the average grades for each part of the assignment – helps me focus the feedback I give in class.
• Youtube. I like to use clips to demonstrate class concepts or contrasting viewpoints. It brings fresh voices to the classroom and can motivate students to create their own. I made a great find this semester too! Nist.tv is a curated collection of Youtube videos on feminist issues – great if you’re in Women’s Studies or a class concerned with social issues (since the generic Youtube search results can sometimes be quite depressing.
• Gmail. I get a lot of email, so much that my UWindsor account was always overflowing. When I was turned down for a bigger mailbox, I decided to route all my mail through my gmail account using POP3. Now I can send and receive all my mail through gmail and my mailbox is never full. (If this idea interests you, stay tuned: screencast instructions forthcoming!)

This is the beginning of my list of favourites – leave your essentials in the comments!