Group+2-Spr+2013

__Tools of Technology—Wiki Assignment __ ===__Two technologies chosen from all those generated by our group are Google Drive/Forms and Moodle. __===


 * 1. Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service (wikipedia). It allows allows users to save, share, and edit files such as documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Google Drive can be accessed from any device. **

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 * 2. Moodle is a full CMS (Course Management System) that allows you to completely design and execute a course. It provides forums, quizzes, wikis, and databases for free. **

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__Application of tools in practice as part of an instructional design/lesson: __
**Google Drive/Forms:** -Group collaboration with peers from within the classroom and/or elsewhere (across state/country/world) helping students to build a learning base. -Spreadsheets, surveys, documents, graphs, charts, calendars, document sharing/editing, schedules -A paperless classroom. Teachers can provide handouts, homework, and other paper resources through a shared classroom drive. -Easy online publishing of project work

-Online collaboration between students, teachers and parents; basic tool that would enable the introduction of blogs, wikis, forums, and other Web2.0 tool. -Links to websites, PDFs of worksheets/packets/units, online textbooks, homework board, webquests, online quizzes, tests, assignment uploading, video embedding-Connect home and school to enable parents to participate in instruction and see students' progress in the class
 * Moodle: **

__**Additional opportunities for teaching and learning using these tools: **__

-<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Google Drive can provide a robust environment for individual foreign language instructors teaching rarer languages with very little pre-made language material. As the teacher takes on more students and evolves her coursework, her word databases and lessons will also grow. These teachers might have little teaching experience and even less computer and internet experience. A tool like Moodle may be a bit too intimidating for them.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Google Drive and Google Forms: **

-<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Websites, like [|Glovico.org] give individual language instructors a place to find students and for students to find them. They currently have a virtual textbook template they offer to their instructors to try and encourage a more structured approach to their lessons. Glovico, and other similar organizations would really benefit from this free, open source CMS. If they were able to get their freelance teachers to develop coursework on Moodle, it would surely increase the quality of the individual learning that is currently taking place there. It could also open up the freelance teacher to better group lessons capabilities.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Moodle: **

Click HERE to see our Lesson Plan utilizing these tools!

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 200%;"> Group 2: Collaboration on Five Tech Tools:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. Prezi <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description__: Prezi allows for a different spin on powerpoint presentations and allows for more animation and customization of information. It easily allows for embedding of videos, images, and other helpful tools in relaying information. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Application:__ Prezi can be used by students or teachers. Teachers can use it to relay information to students and students can use it to share acquired information to peers and teachers to demonstrate understanding of a topic. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Prezi from edshelf)
 * <span style="color: #5900ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 200%;">Dee's Tech Tools **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. EasyBib <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description__: easybib is a web based tool that allows for easy creation of a works cited page in proper format (and an array of formats, i.e. MLA, APA, etc). Information regarding the source is merely entered into the appropriate blanks OR the ISBN number of the book is entered and a proper works cited is generated. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Application__: Students can use this web based tool to ensure that they are properly citing the sources of their threads of information as they gather and build knowledge in their personal learning networks. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of easybib from edshelf)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3. Blogger <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description:__ blogger.com is a free blog website where anyone can establish a blog. Blog allow for sharing of information, communication, and building of knowledge through linking media, articles, etc and then conversing with others about the contents of the media/posts. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Application__: Teachers and/or students can use blogs. Teachers can use blogs to teach students how to initially blog, building literacy skills and proper blog etiquette. As students grow and develop as virtual learners, they can then create their own blog sites and post/share/build knowledge as they discover and explore various websites, media, and other blogs. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Blogger from edshelf)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">4. [|Read-Able.Com] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description__: A coworker informed me of this particular website, which enables a person to determine the reading level of any given website. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Application__: This tool can be useful to teachers and students. Teachers can use it to ensure that websites used in class are coinciding with the reading levels of his/her students. Additionally, students can use this website to determine if a website they are hoping to use in research, etc is going to be too difficult to comprehend. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Read-Able.Com from Webutation)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">5. ToonDoo <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description:__ ToonDoo is a website that allows for custom cartoon drawings which would allow a person to draw an illustration using premade cartoons or custom made cartoon characters to portray or represent a topic discussed/learned in class. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Application:__ Teachers can use ToonDoo as an option when asking students to demonstrate mastery of a topic. Students who may not excel in writing may choose to masterfully create a visual representation of the concept/incident to demonstrate their understanding. ToonDoos can be saved, printed, or share electronically, so they can be kept for future reference, portfolios, etc. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of ToonDoo from edshelf)

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 200%;">Dana's Tech Tools

1. Google Docs __Description__//:// Google docs <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">is a free <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0b0080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|web] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">-based <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0b0080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|office suite] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"> offered by <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0b0080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Google] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">. It allows users to create and edit documents online. It contains hundreds of templates for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Work automatically saves and projects can be shared with others and also edited by others. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">__Application:__ Students can create and share documents that will be saved to their drive. This takes away from having to use a flashdrive or Dropbox. Settings can be adjusted to allow sharing or allow sharing and editing. It is also user-friendly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">(a review of Google Docs from edshelf) 2. Moodle __Description:__ Moodle is a free, virtual learning environment. It is a tool for teachers to create online websites for students. __Application__//:// Moodle is an excellent tool to create a virtual classroom. Homework is posted nightly, worksheets, pdf, links to websites, textbooks, blogs, forums, quizzes, webquests,and tests can also be posted on Moodle. Teachers can also easily control what is open to students and what is not. Since students can access it from home and school, materials are always available to them. (Edmodo is a similar virtual learning environment than many may choose over Moodle.) (a review of Moodle from edshelf)

3. Fakebook __Description:__ A website for creating fake profiles of characters in novels, historical icons/events, or timelines for educational purposes. (example: []) __Application__//:// Can be used to describe characters (traits), a creative way to write a biography, plot diagram. or timeline of events. Videos are also available. It can also be used for students to become historical characters and debate issues, or fake characters to debate issues. (a review of Fakebook from TeachersFirst)

4. Socrative __Description:__ A student <range type="comment" id="410421278_1">response system that allows students to use their own device to interact within a class. </range id="410421278_1">(laptops, smartphones, or tablets can all be used) __Application__//:// This application allows for online quizzes/tests, exit tickets, games in real time. The teacher creates the activity and the students log in to their accounts and complete the assignment. It encourages student engagement and interest. (a review of socrative from edshelf)



5. Lino __Description__ - A free site to create presentations with videos, photos, and sticky notes. Laptops, SMARTphones, and tablets can all be used. __Application__//:// Take notes, create presentations, group discussions, and reminders are all uses of Lino. This, like Prezi, can take students away from Powerpoint presentations. Presentations can include, text, videos, and pictures. Several different canvases can be created and settings can be adjusted to share, or to share and allow editing. (a review of lino from edshelf)

<span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; vertical-align: baseline;">Matt's Tech Tools 1. Diigo __ Description __ : A social bookmark organization site used to share annotations with classmates __Application__: Instead of class discussion on one reading assignment, multiple discussions could take place simultaneously in the room in real time. Conversations and comments could also be done with other classes instead of just with that class period. (a review of Diigo by edshelf)

2. KidBlog __ Description __ : A student blog site designed to be simplified for younger students. The site features enhanced privacy and is designed with the classroom and students in mind. __Application__: Writing assignments could change from isolated journal writing to community writing. Students would comment on each others' ideas and create community within the class. (a review of KidBlog by edshelf)

3. GoogleForms __Description__: A response system that allows students to enter data into a form and then have that information stored in a spreadsheet for the teacher to analyze. __Application__: Handouts could be transformed into digital forms so that data can be collected and scored without paper and pen. Summary data could be used to interpret community performance and perhaps collect survey and poll data. (a review of GoogleForms by edshelf)

4. VoiceThread __Description:__ An online presentation service that allows students to combine visual presentations with sound and voice recordings. Students can also comment with text or audio on students' projects. __Uses:__ Students love to use PowerPoint, but there's never enough time to present to the class everything that's created. VoiceThread would allow interaction between classmates with their presentations and also allow students to work without the PowerPoint software installed. (a review of VoiceThread by edshelf)

5. PollEverywhere __ Description __ __:__ A survey and response system that allows students to use either a computer, smartphone, or their own handheld device to interact with a poll question on the screen. __ Application: __ This application would enable students to participate in instant polls and see the calculations live on the screen. This would be a great "do-now" at the start of each class, or even used as an assessment at the end of class to see what students have learned. An open-ended question would also allow students to ask questions in class without stopping the class flow. Students could also provide feedback based on prompts and see students' opinions on a topic instantly. (a review of VoiceThread by edshelf)

=<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #3ce73c; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 180%; line-height: 1.5;">Ryan's Tech Tools =

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">1. [|Piktochart] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">__Description__: In the last two years I have seen an explosion of infographics. I have noticed their ability to quickly explain information using simple graphics with a large amount of information. Piktochart has a great interface where you can jump in and start creating your own infographics <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">__Application__: To be able to create these graphical information packets students need to be able to gather information, understand it, and be able to explain both context and connectivity. Students could use these in many different applications; for a history report, or a social studies report the infographic could be used as a visual aid. It could also be used to show connectivity or comparisons between topics. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Piktochart from TeachersFirst)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">2. [|Wordle] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">__Description__: This program can create beautiful tag clouds. It can also be used in other ways as well. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">__Application__: This is a great program to help students assess their written words. A few examples are; in blogging or for personal memory it can be used to find keywords to tag with, in their own writing it can be used to see if you use a word too often, or it can help you discover themes of a chapter and book. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Wordle from edshelf)



<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">3. [|Popplet] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">__Description__: A great piece of multi-use software. This software allows you to add images, text to create inspiration boards, plan out ideas, or even show family photos in a gallery type arrangement. With the ability to add collaborators a group of people can get things accomplished easier. __<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">Application __<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">: Multiple students can log on together or at separate times and add edit and work collaboratively. Working on group projects and putting down ideas for papers, or projects are great ways to use this tool. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of popplet from edshelf)



<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">4. [|Prezi] __<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">Description __<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">: This cloud based presentation software uses the presentation idea of powerpoint, but with an infinite space that moves, zooms and pans. It has a great ability to show connections and movement through time. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">__Application__: Students are constantly asked to create presentations. With this software students can work on it anyway with any computer. They can also present matters and ideas that never worked on a flat slide. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Prezi from edshelf)



<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">5. Timeglider <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">__Description__: This program can create detailed timelines that are viewable and sharable. I like it’s ability to zoom in and out and show more detail as you zoom in. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">__Application__: This program is great for students to create and see how events overlapped and connected with each other. This would be great both for teaching, presentation, or even personal study. The ability to zoom out and see the whole of the events and then zoom in to see a specific event or day can be very helpful. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Timeglider from edshelf)

= = 1. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5;">[|Prezi] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description__: I love the ease in creating small presentations. You can share them quickly and imbed them into blogs (well maybe not our free Penn State Wordpress Blogs). I love the zoom in and “mind mapping” layout of the presentation. It is integrated well with google images! <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Application__: Single author course teachers without design teams, can create guided and coherently laid out classes and courses. Students can later explore the prezi like a map in an order that might make more sense to them. It can also be used to for students to provide a check on learning or to brief other topics to other DE classmates. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Prezi from edshelf)
 * <span style="color: #5900ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 200%;">Rob's Tech Tools **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. [|Wizehive] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description__: WizeHive is a suite of tools that is similar to Google Drive. <range type="comment" id="410421278_3">I used it during grad school and it worked great. It’s purpose is collaboration</range id="410421278_3">. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Application__: I provide it because I wanted to add something other than Google Drive to look at. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">The uses are similar to GoogleDocs. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Wizehive from HeadStartUp)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3. [|Voicethread] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description__: This participatory tech helps “humanize” the collaboration effort. It allows audio threads instead of the standard text threads in discussion groups. I think we are more apt to collaborate and bond when we hear each other’s voices. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Application__: The uses are the same for discussion groups, but could have an in some situations. For example, wouldn't this be a great technology for DE singing lessons, voice over lessons, or even acting lessons? <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of VoiceThread by edshelf) 4. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">[|Skype] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description__: I <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;"> know skype is not the newest tool out there, but it still provides so much value for no cost. You get the human experience of both seeing and hearing one another, you get to share files quickly and send text during video or audio sessions. For single teachers, it is extremely valuable as you can share your desktop. For example, teachers can show powerpoint slides and other images or documents on the screen as they teach. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">__Application__: This might be a way to protect proprietary learning materials. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(a review of Skype from edshelf)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">5. [|Moodle] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Description__: Moodle is a full CMS that allows you to completely design and execute a course. It provides forums, quizzes, wikis, and databases. It is also free. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Application__: This provides a ready way to deploy an entire course. Both organization and single teachers can use the platform. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">(a review of Moodle from edshelf)