The 5 Best Free Annotation Tools For Teachers

One of the most important tools used in eLearning are those for web annotation. These are social software tools that allow users to add, change or remove data from a web resource without modifying the original content of the web page. Those mentioned above are just among the long list of their uses. Others include capturing screen, drawing on webpage, highlighting elements on the screen, adding notes, commenting, bookmarking, sharing etc.

Below is a compilation of The Best Free Web Annotation Tools. These applications are quite easy and fun to use.

How To Use The Best Free Web Annotation Tools

1. Diigo - Collect and Highlight, Then Remember.
   It’s one of the most commonly used free web annotation tools which lets you bookmark and tag web pages. In addition to that, you would also be able to highlight a part of a webpage if you wish to emphasize something and attach sticky notes to it. Its advanced search allows you to rummage through the text of pages you have bookmarked which includes tags, titles, URLs and even your own comments and highlights. One of the best features of Diigo is your ability to comment on other users’ notes which can be set to either public or private.Once you install the Diigo chrome extension, you will see its icon displayed at the upper right hand of your screen. When it’s clicked, you’ll see the dropdown menu from which you can choose what action to do.Click on Annotate and choose whether to Highlight, attach Sticky Notes or Tag.HighlightSticky Note Tag
2. A.nnotate - Annotate Documents Online
   A.nnotate is not just a free annotation tool but also a collaboration and indexing tool. It can be used to catalogue images and other document formats. It also makes it easier for you to work with a group especially when documents are needed to be sent through email back and forth because of comments of different users. With the use of A.nnotate, you can simply create a single read-only copy of your document and share it with whomever you like so you could all comment on it. Another good thing about it is, it is very easy to use and it works fine in commonly used web browsers without you having to install software or plug ins. You may sign up for a free account which gives you credits for annotating 30 items every month, anything above that will require payment.This is the work page of A.nnotate.To add notes, simply highlight text or images and a box will appear where you can input text.
3. Bounce App - A fun and easy way to share ideas on a website.
   Bounce app is a very simple free annotation tool that works just as effectively as others in the market. You simply log on to their website, enter the URL of the webpage you’d like to comment on and then click on Grab Screenshot. Voila! You’ll have a screenshot of that webpage and you’re now ready to comment on it by dragging the mouse and creating red boxes (like the one you see below). These red boxes are labelled with another box that contains your name and has a space for your comments. One of the best features of Bounce is that you can share your feedback on either Facebook or Twitter and let your friends see it.
4. Markup.io - Markup. Share. Repeat.
   Markup allows you to draw on any webpage using built in tools. Simply go to their website, drag the icon located at the lower right hand corner of the page to the bookmark bar of your browser (Please refer to the figure below).  Whenever you want to use it, just open it from the bookmark bar and the Markup toolbar will appear at the upper right hand of the page just like what you see on the figure below.When you’re done, click Publish and a popup menu will appear.Slide to publish and then copy the link to share it to whomever you like.
5. (Technically not free, but free trial!) Filestage - Easy All-in-One Online Proofing Software
   Filestage is an annotation software that helps you to review and approve your work faster. It enables all involved parties to leave comments and annotations on files like documents, images and videos. As soon as the file is completed it can be approved within just one single click. Therefore, Filestage streamlines, organizes and automates the review and approval process while reducing errors and ensuring high-quality of the content. The usage of the tool is also very easy and intuitive. You simply sign up, upload a file and invite your reviewers via email. They don’t even need to sign up, it’s enough to open the received link in the browser to leave feedback. Filestage offers a free trial so you can test the tool yourself.