CEDO 520 - week 3

This week we got a chance to work with our groups.  The main assignment was to analyze some web tools on their potential use in the classroom as they pertain to promoting learning.  We looked at Adobe's online word processor(Buzzword), 280Slides online presentations, some cartooning applications(toondoo, pikikids, extranormal), Google Sites and Forms, along with some survey tools(Poll Anywhere, Survey Monkey).  I enjoyed working with 280Slides and I particularly liked its integration with MS PowerPoint.  The toolbar had huge graphics and was really easy to use so it made me think of its potential uses in grades 1-5.  I like the cartooning applications - they provide a fun alternative to doing assignments or presenting material for students who may become bored with traditional methods.  The survey tools are always useful.  We used survey monkey to get feedback from our staff a few times last year and it worked well but to be honest I really liked the idea of creating some surveys in Google Forms.  I can keep my forms stored in Google Docs and easily tweak them each year to fit my needs.  I especially like the responses being output to a spreadsheet...even the narrative answers.
The second thing we did was look at Tools for Online Classes and Virtual Schools.  ooVoo, AdobeConnect, and elluminate were the reviewed tools.  ooVoo was essentially Skype except with a few variations to their pricing plans and the capability for HD video calls.  I've used vRooms in elluminate before and they work well minus the video capabilities.  The advantage there is that it has classroom management tools that the others don't have.  AdobeConnect was a cross between those two but I didn't get a chance to test it out.  I actually have a new one that I'm going to test this weekend too...Google Hangout.

CEDO 520 - week 2

This week was mostly spent on Internet Search strategies and techniques and looking at ways to evaluate online resources.  I liked playing around with the Noodle Tools website which enables you to focus your search a little bit by providing search tools that match up with your informational needs.  It also provided a nice tool for citing sources in both APA and MLA styles.  It is hard to find a resource that offers both styles...for free.  Another interesting thing that we explored was Google Alerts.  I really liked the idea of getting one central email containing multiple links to the topic of my choice instead of having to check a few sources each day or subscribe to several feeds.  I could see using Alerts for current news on interesting topics or for something that changes often like Interest Rates on home loans.  Wikipedia became one of the topics when evaluating resources and the opinions on its validity as a source are as varied as you can get.  Some educators say it is never to be used, some say that its a good starting point, and some say that an entry can be reliable with proper editing and citing of sources.  In other words the verdict is still out.  Perhaps the most useful tool that we stumbled upon this week was Google Forms.  We created forms for evaluating internet resources and I found it to be extremely easy.  The options were great and the output generated simply migrated to a Google Doc spreadsheet.  They even allow branching of multiple forms, which was great.  I plan on using them for teachers and staff but I also would like to use them with the students.  Add that to my ever-growing list of "things to incorporate this coming school year".  haha

Internet Learning Resources CEDO520 - week 1

This is another class that I am excited to take because of its potential to immediately impact what I use in my teaching and more importantly how I teach.  The 4 week guide of topics include Internet Learning Resources, Search engines and Research, Tools to Support Learning, and Internet Safety, Ethics, Privacy, Fair Use.  I thought the week 1 assignments were a good way to ease into the class by making us evaluate how we perceive Internet Learning Resources and things such as Web 2.0.  I'm particularly interested in acquiring some more resources about Internet Safety, Ethics, Privacy, and Fair Use because that is something that I officially incorporated into the curriculum for the first time last year.  I had always talked about it in the past but now it is a concrete unit.  With all of the new ways that technology allows people to communicate and reveal personal aspects of their life it is important that students understand how to use these avenues responsibly.  Maybe the government and sports organizations should offer some training in regards to that, too, haha.