EasyBib Done Right, or Wrong

EasyBib is a remarkable citing and writing app that targets the specific needs of research. When a collection of teachers and administrators met with the Google rep to review possibilities, this app was hawked as the researchers dream because it can move from MLA to APA, making research easier than manually citing sources.

Since my gifted program research students work at a higher level than school-age peers, and therefore use APA format, I was especially interested in the possibilities in that area. The rep explained how EasyBib allowed students to make digital notecards, evaluate sources and cite them as in-text citation on 'the card' before dragging them to an outline. I was especially struck how EasyBib led the student to rank sources for legitimacy to see how valid one source is over another.

When going to learn these techniques myself before showing the students I find MLA is free, but to use the APA option I need to purchase the Pro version of EasyBib. That decision is being haggled about at the SBO, hopefully with a decision by next week when Packet 3-Making Notes lessons are taught. Right now I am told that if Pro cannot be purchased, then I have to use MLA. So I get to use EasyBib the wrong way (for my needs) or revert to manual note making with index cards and writing implements or perhaps invent some version in between where a Google Spreadsheet can be a template for the index cards and then use Son of Citation Machine for the citing tool.

The reinvention will keep the note-making digital, still incorporate typing skills, and use a Google app (Spreadsheet) to make the citations, but it does not allow for dragging notes to an outline to build a paper and it certainly does not prioritize sources for legitimacy.

Still, one positive we discovered is that posts appear to be saved automatically as a draft when the laptops shut down without a goodbye or thank-you-mam. Many bloggists have been saved that way!