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.