http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/media/images/free_resources/clip_art/school/notebook.jpg

ThinkTank can help students…

• Create an outline of topics and subtopics to assist research.

• Narrow their research topic so it becomes more specific.

• Export their research topics to NoteStar.

Introduction to ThinkTank

• To build a personal Report Organizer• Define subject• Select a general topic• Choose subtopics• Use the Random

Subtopic Generator• Save Report Organizer• View Report Organizer• Click Begin when ready

Let’s Get Started

• Click the graphic which reads Let Me Get Started

• Click the New link from the yellow menu bar at the top of the screen.

Step 1: Define the Main Subject

• Type the subject of your report

• Choose the description that describes your topic

• When complete, select Next

Subject Field

Select Subject Type Buttons

Step 2: Narrow Your Research

• Narrow your subject by selecting a topic• Click Next, when finished

Select Topic Buttons

Next Button

Step 3: Choose Subtopics

• Help narrow topicsinto narrower subtopics

• Information can be used as body paragraphs

• Click Next, when complete

Select Subtopic Boxes

Next Button

Step 4: Generate Additional Subtopics

• Review current topics and subtopics

• Choose a New Random Topic

• Add New Subtopic when complete

Current Topic List

New Subtopic Field

New Subtopic Button

Add New Subtopic Button

Step 4: To Save and View Your Topics

• To View without saving, click View Your Topics• To Save and View Your Topics, click the button

To View Only To Save and View

Step 5: Save Your Topics

• Record Report ID• Enter Zip Code• Enter and Re-enter

Password• Choose to View or

Save

Zip Code Field

Report ID Number

Password Fields

Save Button

Step 6: Save Confirmation

• Print confirmation page• When finished, click View Topics

View Topics Button

Research Topics

• Review list of subtopics• For a print friendly copy, click Print View

To Edit Subtopic List

• Click on Edit List• Enter Report ID Number and Password• Click Continue Edit List Button

To Modify Subtopic List

• To change subtopics, click Modify Subtopics• Add Additional Topics• To delete a subtopic, select the subtopic and click

the Delete Subtopic Button

Update Subtopic

• To delete a subtopic, select the subtopic and click the Delete Subtopic button

• To change subtopics, click Add New Subtopics

• To choose a different subtopic click New Random Topic

• When finished, click Done

To View Print View

• Click Print View to view how it would like when printed.

• Click Back to export

Export Login

• To export to a Word document or to save, click on Export

• Then type in Report ID and Password and click Continue

Just for Practice

• You are a student getting ready to begin a research project about a current issue.

• Begin working with ThinkTank as if you were a student and enter the above information.

• Print out the final copy

Uses in the Classroom

• Students often have difficulty organizing their thoughts when writing research papers, especially special education students.• ThinkTank offers students the opportunity to organize their topic and add subtopics which can be exported to NoteStar.• NoteStar is a program that helps students organize their note cards and information recorded from outside sources.