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Hardware/ Electronic
Devices
Wireless Internet Learning Devices (WILD)
What are they? How do they work? Why are they important?
Many 'Fortune 500' companies are sponsoring projects to improve
student learning using WILD. They may change learning in important
ways in mathematics, science, and other subject areas by enabling
flexibly adaptive learning activities. http://ctl.sri.com/projects/displayProject.jsp?Nick=wild
Lower cost and easy portability of handheld's (compared to laptop
or desktop computers) may make 1:1 student-computer ratios affordable,
and thus enable frequent integral use of computers in classroom
learning.
http://ctl.sri.com/publications/displayPublication.jsp?ID=121
Future classrooms are likely to be organized around Wireless Internet
Learning Devices (WILD) which resemble graphing calculators, Palm,
or Pocket-PC handheld's, connected by short-range wireless networking.
WILD learning will have physical affordable that are different from
today's computer lab, and different from classrooms with 5 students
per computer. These differences may lead to learning activities
that deviate significantly from today's images of K-12 activities.
http://www.websitetips.com/wireless/#devices
- This site highlights some of the major mobile devices
http://scil.stanford.edu/research/projects/collaboramath.html -To see wirelessly connected handheld computers
http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/learningcenter/articles/displayarticle1/0,4065,1087z1,00.html
The above Verizon website discusses how Wireless Adaptive Protocol
(WAP) works. Making a Web site accessible through a wireless device
is quite a challenge. So far only a small portion of the more than
a billion Web sites, about 1.5 million, provide any wireless Internet
content. As the use of WAP-enabled devices grows, you can expect
that many more Web sites will be interested in creating wireless
content.
Tablet PCs
Another "hot topic" as far as technology and education
is the tablet PCs. Here is a link to something interesting being
done in a high school in Columbus, OH. http://www.tabletpctalk.com/reviews/everydesk.shtml
Software and Applications
MasterSolution Vision 5
For any teacher that works in a class where the students have computers
and wants more control - this seems like the ideal product. I remember
teaching a small lab of users Search and Rescue software and I was
amazed at how far off track they could find themselves--Some would
be with me, some jumping ahead, some using the calculator in Accessories,
some playing Hearts or Freecell (what is that game?)
I am all for constructivist learning especially with computers where
people like to do the "trial and error" thing, but as
a teacher there are times one needs to exercise control. A teacher
should want the students attention and competing with a computer
is hard. This product gives the teacher the following abilities:
Control
Control student PCs by locking the keyboards, mice and blanking
student screens during lessons or discussions.
Supervise
Supervise student screens remotely to monitor progress or web browsing.
Demonstrate
Broadcast your screen or any screen in the classroom to one student
or everyone.
Assist
Help any student individually through a tough problem right from
your desk.
Communicate
Communicate with students by sending messages, holding a class chat
or letting a shy student ask for help without raising their hand.
I think they make sense. More info at http://www.mastersolutionus.com/downloads/vision/visionds.pdf
Apple's QuickTime
Here's an aspect of Apple's QuickTime media player technology that
many people are unaware of: chapter tracks. You can "bookmark"
sections of videos and provide the user with a drop-down list of
the chapters.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/tools_tips/tutorials/chaptertracks.html
This way, instead of developers having to split up a video into
many sections, which is time consuming and prevents any sort of
linear usage of the video, one video file can be used in many ways.
There are commercial tools for helping with chapter creation as
well, such as:
http://home.netvigator.com/~feelorium/feelorium/Textation/
Here is an online example:
http://larcdma.sdsu.edu/dma/languages/french/BusinessFrench/c_radishesButter.html
WebEx Training Center
WebEx has a lot of neat features in their Training Center software
that allows you to show presentations, do file transfers, talk to
your students through teleconference or VOIP technology and share
documents. Training Center also has hands-on labs and break out
sessions.
To see a free demo, go to http://webex.com/
1. Click on Interactive Online Classrooms
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Live Demo
3. Select a Region then sign up for a demo.
4. I recommend you choose Training Center
Any questions, email me - sarah.ryanroberts@webex.com
Free PowerPoint Templates
Go to the following site and you can download different PowerPoint
backgrounds. You will need to give your e-mail address to download.
Great site to help enhance your presentation and show some diversity.
http://presentersuniversity.com/downloads_registration.php
Spymac
1 GB e-mail account for free
250 MB of space to upload pictures in the Spymac Gallery (free)
100 MB free space on Spymac Hosting with WebDAV access*
Free iCal Hosting (both public and private)*
Access to the Spymac Forums and Shoutbox
Your very own Spymac Blog*
Access to the Spymac Auctions
The ability to create your very own personal Gallery and Forum
http://www.spymac.com
Connecting Learning Objects with RSS, Trackback and Weblogs
This informative 36 slide presentation (using Macromedia Breeze)
explains how customized collections of learning objects from multiple
repositories can be achieved with simple, existing RSS protocols,
creating access to a wider range of objects than a single source.
The presentation demonstrates the approach of two instructors who
create RSS views into the collections from different organizations.
Their blogs are connected to the RSS feeds and provide a component
of object contexuality that is beyond the meta-data.
"Connecting Learning Objects with RSS, Trackback and Weblogs"
by Alan Levine, Brian Lamb and D'Arcy Norman
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/show/nmc1003/
The presentation makes logical sense of a new instructional tool.
It will be interesting to see this evolve and how it will be incorporated
into both traditional and online courses.
Movie "Fog of War" Technology
http://www.sonyclassics.com/fogofwar/indexFlash.html
Check it out. It uses a different method of dial navigation that
I haven't seen. I was in awe and my curiosity got the best of me,
so I just used trial and error to navigate. I was especially impressed
by the technology, graphics, real sound clips, clarity of video
and audio, and check out lesson plans. WOW what a way to capture
the attention of your audience. Lesson Plans: http://www.sonyclassics.com/fogofwar/_media/pdf/lessonPlanFOG.pdf
This type of teaching tool could make history a real adventure.
I recall the 8mm films we watched in school... poor quality video,
B/W, audio that was barely understandable. I think I would of enjoyed
my history classes if this tool was available.
Wiki
After reading Melissa's tool on e-library research I realized that Wikis actually build on this concept. Wikis are a threading device which allow community based learning and participation. the concept is that someone will post something the have researched and while another person is reading the information the create a link (hot button) from that person's wiki to another. For example, if a class was doing research on Antarctica and one student begins researching the climate and discusses what types of animals can survive in that climate, a wiki link could be added to talk about that animal in particular. It's a great way to teach people how there research matters and where it fits into a bigger picture!
Here is the EDTEC comprehensive exam Wiki: http://www.organicallydigital.com/compswiki/index.php
The students use it to share resources and course materials. What a great way to share stress and build a supportive community.
Technology in the News
MIT OpenCourseWare
This one was in the news and stirred some good discussions.
A free and open educational resource for faculty, students, and
self-learners around the world. OCW supports MIT's mission to advance
knowledge and education, and serve the world in the 21st century.
It is true to MIT's values of excellence, innovation, and leadership.
Check it out yourself: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/index.htm
How is it going to impact education?
Controversy Regarding PowerPoint in Classrooms
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1467589
Website Resources
Learning with Technology Profile Tool
Learning with Technology Profile Tool is a website located at http://www.ncrtec.org/capacity/profile/profwww.htm. The website asks you questions about your current teaching practices and asks you to basically fill out a survey. From there, it plots your practices along a continuum and provides recommendations that should engage students more and incorporate more technology in the classroom. It is not meant as a rating system for teachers, instead it can be a useful tool in helping teachers and their strategies evolve.
Feature Comparison of On-line Teaching/Learning Systems
This site compares (ICARE, WCB, Web CT, Blackboard, TopClass, Learning
Space) on-line teaching/learning products based on the following
categories:
Administration
Content Creation Capability
Teaching, Assessment and Class Management
Learning, Communication and Resources
Other Features
http://pride-i2.poly.edu/docs/PRIDE/icaremarket/compare.htm
This product comparison resource could be used by:
1. Instructors creating online class content (allow instructor to
verify tools/options available for creation of his or her class)
2. Institutions selecting an on-line learning product for implementation
(easier to evaluate products based on the same categories and criteria)
One point worth mentioning is the omission of the product version
(for example WebCT 4.1).
Survival Kit
http://sll.stanford.edu/projects/tomprof/newtomprof/postings/252.html
--Check it out! A great piece on writing tips, tools, and ideas.
Atomic Learning
Great website for you to visit! Atomic Learning has short quicktime
tutorial movies on many of the popular programs we use (PC and Mac).
The site lets you view some samples, and then you must pay to get
the rest. Well worth the price of admission.
http://www.atomiclearning.com
United streaming: videos for teaching
New and Emerging Technologies/Communities
Learning Management Systems
- Moodle
- Blackboard
- Capitivate
- ANGEL
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