Week 3 Blogging Questions
Considering the (far from exhaustive) list of types of online digital tools:
- What types of tools do you think are missing?
- Searching and Evaluating Websites Tools: Instagrok
- Organizing and Bookmarking Tools: Delicious, Zotero, reworks, citationmachine
- Language Learning / Assistance Tools: Kurzweil
- Assessment Tools: Assessment tools: Goobric, Doctopus, Engrade, irubric, rubistar
- Timeline Tools: Timetoast
- Mind mapping Tools: Popplet
- Video Database Tools: TEDtalks, youtube
- Time saver tools: Online-Stopwatch
2. What types of tools from the list have you used as a teacher? (Can you provide examples?)
- Learning Management Systems (LMSs): Moodle, Google Classroom, Edmodo, Class Dojo)
- Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs): Gizmos, Khan Academy, GoNoodle (DPA)
- Learning Object Repositories: Smart Exchange, TIPS4RM, GAINS, BrainPOP
- Resource Storage / Sharing (Google Drive, email, Pinterest)
- Collaborative Workspaces (Google Apps, padlet)
- Scheduling Tools (Google Calendar)
- Multimedia Production
- Document Production (Word, Google docs, Libre Office)
- Graphics and Images (Google)
- Audio (youtube)
- Video Production (imovie, animoto, goAnimate)
- Cartoon making: (Bitstrips)
- Multimedia Hosting / Publishing (Glogsteredu, prezi, Google slides, Powerpoint)
- Communication Tools
- Email (gmail, outlook)
- Social Media (KidBlog)
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Survey Tools (Google Forms)
3. As a student? (Can you provide examples?)
- Screencasting (Screencast-O-Matic)
- Academic and Scientific Databases (Google scholar, Scholars Portal, ProQuest and many more available through the university's library)
- Online Polling (Secretive, Poll everywhere)
- Graphics and Images (Google, Picasa)
- Video: youtube, TEDtalks
- Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Blogger weebly,
- Learning Management Systems (LMSs): Wikispaces, Blackboard, WebCT, Wordpress)
- Environmental Data Collection (Sensors, etc): clickers
- Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs): Aurasma
- Multimedia Hosting / Publishing: slide deck, adobe connect, haiku deck, blendspace, Nearpod, Voki
4. Which of those tools have you found most (and least) useful as a teacher? As a student? Why?
Most useful:
To me, the Google Apps suite are the most helpful tools as both a teacher and as a student.
I get a variety of productivity tools in one place, all linked in the cloud making it available anywhere. As a teacher, I am lucky my students have access to accounts automatically through our board. It provides them with a storage and working place that I have easy access to and can monitor at any time. They no longer have to remember to bring storage devices to school with them and do not have to worry about saving their work as it does so for them. The uses of the platform are limitless with the scripts and add-ons that are available too.
Least Useful:
All of the tools listed above have served one purpose or another. I would have to say that the clickers today are the least useful because we now have similar apps that can do the same thing on your mobile device. There is no additional use for a separate item to carry alongside you
5. Which types of tools from the list have you NOT personally used as a teacher or student? Why?
Some of the tools I have not used from the list are:
Web Authoring and Hosting Tools:
I have not had to create my own e-learning course or site to this day. This is one thing I would like to one day be able to say I have accomplished, but understand that it requires time and dedication. It also seems a bit daunting to me as I have no programming experience!
6. Find an example of that type of tool that might be useful in your personal teaching / learning context.
classtools.net : This is such a neat tool! It enables you to make games, quizzes and easy presentations with the clock of a button! There are preloaded templates that make this VERY user friendly. What is nice is that you can then embed what you have created to other sites! I had no idea things like these existed and were so easy to use.
7. What would be your first questions / steps when evaluating how (or if) you would use such an online tool?
- Can I use this in my class? Is it relevant?
- Will my kids find this engaging?
- Is it easy to use or will it take me hours to create?
- Is it safe/ appropriate?
- Will it save me time?
- Can it enhance my program?
I have enjoyed reflecting on this topic and going through all the tools I use day-to- day. Makes me realize I need to start creating my own organized list to make finding what I need a little easier! There are so many tools and the list keeps growing! I keep remembering other ones I want to add to my list! No wonder some people don't even know where to start!
Rachel, I have never heard of classtools.net. I went on to check it out, seems very cool. There are sample lesson plan ideas as well. Once every two weeks I give my Grade 5's 20 minutes of free trial tech time. I tell them they are on a mission to try some new apps out and then report back to the class what they thought. I think i'll add this one to my list for next week!
ReplyDeleteRachel, your apps toolbox is impressive! Please find my response to your posting at https://swerdfegereduc5101g.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/week-3-response1-to-rachel/
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel, I really enjoyed your extensive list, and I've already checked out two new tools I've never heard of, so thank you :) I would love to see a demo of how you used classtools.net, and some of the other tools you've mentioned. The application of google apps suite is awesome too. I'm going to think about how I can take advantage of this more in my own asynchronous college classroom.
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel! I enjoyed reading your post and what I found particularly interesting was your preference for the Google Apps. Please find my response at http://janetyg.blogspot.ca/.
ReplyDelete