3. 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.

4. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. Step 2: Narrow Your Research Narrow your subject by selecting a topic Click Next, when finished Select Topic Buttons Next Button

9. Step 3: Choose Subtopics Help narrow topics into narrower subtopics Information can be used as body paragraphs Click Next, when complete Select Subtopic Boxes Next Button

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Step 6: Save Confirmation Print confirmation page When finished, click View Topics View Topics Button

14. Research Topics Review list of subtopics For a print friendly copy, click Print View

15. To Edit Subtopic List Click on Edit List Enter Report ID Number and Password Click Continue Edit List Button

16. 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

17. 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

18. To View Print View Click Print View to view how it would like when printed. Click Back to export

19. Export Login To export to a Word document or to save, click on Export Then type in Report ID and Password and click Continue

21. 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

23. 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.