Citelighter is an assistive research tool that lets you gather facts and materials and arrange them in an orderly fashion. It takes only three easy steps to use Citelighter in your research. Create an account, and download the plug-in, begin a project with the toolbar or website, and you are good to go. Citelighter is also handy while you scour the Internet for suitable or appropriate information.

Website: http://www.citelighter.com/

What Users Love About the App

“1. It automatically creates bibliographies for information directly captured from the Internet. 2. Because it is built directly into the web browsers, it is easy to use by limiting the necessity of switching between windows and tabs. 3. It allows the addition of information from books and websites without the ability to highlight! 4. It gives users the ability to comment about their captured information right away so they don’t forget any connections made or insight learned. 5. The paid version for educators offers the ability of teacher to monitor their students’ research so that they can re-direct them right away if needed (and not later in the process when so much time and energy has been wasted).”

“First, it can be used by students of all ability levels. Second, it gives teachers an opportunity to review progress both for individual students and for the entire class. Third, one of its best features is its ability to drag-and-drop quotes and to cite them correctly.”

“Provides an outline for students to write. Allows you to create milestones to guide student pacing. It is preloaded with different assignments and common core standards. Allows students to pull research from the internet into their projects.”

“The capture bar at the top of the page is convenient and easy to use. It is a great way v to scaffold writing and to provide instant feedback to students about their writing.”

“1. It keeps the capturing tool in the same browser window as the internet resources that the user would be citing. 2. It builds the bibliography automatically as information is curated. 3. You can add citations from books as well as websites without the ability to highlight. 4. I love that you can add your thoughts/comments right below the captured information. 5. It has webbased access to your saved projects. 6. There are some fascinating teacher tools that they are developing.”

What Users Dislike About the App

“1. I had technical problems with the Firefox for Mac plugin. 2. Add a possible readaloud function? 3. Include the ability to capture from PDFs.”

“1. Be able to upload my own passages. 2. Be able to do group work have students share passages with each other. Stem into writing pieces. 3. Some other option to color highlight students may be colorblinded.”

“Create writing programs for younger students. The demo version took a long time to load different steps.”

“1. I would love for it to include a read-aloud function 2. It would also be great to offer the ability to have audio comments if desired. 3. I think the ability to capture and cite multi-media would greatly enhance its usefulness for users who are planning on putting their research into an electronic format.”

“More templates are required if teachers were to use this program in their science classrooms. Help with bibliography would help students to cite their work. How do students use this program in creative writing class where the teacher does not provide any template for students to follow?”