Google Reader

Google Reader (www.google.com/reader)

The tool I love to use these days and would like to describe is Google Reader (I seem to be fun of Google tools)

This tool allows me to not waste time visiting the web sites I am interested in, but to subscribe to the news and updates for each of the site I am interested in and read those in one Google Reader window.

Main features:

1) Once you find an interesting site you can subscribe to its news and updates by clicking just one button or via Google Reader interface.
2) You can easily browse all the news in one Google Reader window and thus save your traffic and time.
3) You can tag the most interesting items so that to get back to them later\
4) You can also share this or that news with your friends, but you all need to be somehow connected via google.

Level of difficulty

It is rather easy to use the tool and it requires no specific knowledge or settings adjustment.

Potential application in classroom

Sometimes it could be useful to know what your teacher is reading to stay updated on this or that topic, so a teacher could allow students follow his/her subscriptions, so that they could also stay tuned.

Conclusion

I really like this tool because it saves my time and I do not need to visit each of the sites I like separately and have all the updates on one page.  However this tool lacks connection with other google services (for example, if I like something in Goole Reader, I would love to share this in my google+ profile, but I can’t. Though I think that this should change as Google is experimenting and upgrading its services.

Link


One of the sites I am following has an interesting video which I decided to share publicly
http://www.google.com/reader/shared/gamayunster?

Google eBooks

Google eBooks (http://books.google.com)

The new tool I decided to discover is Google eBooks. This is a library of more than 3 million scanned books/articles/magazines/documents/publications on different topics that you can read online on any type of electronic device.  There are both free and paid books (the number of free books is either limited or of a very specific theme).

Main features

1. You can search for eBooks by name, topic, etc.
2. You can read eBooks online using any type of device that is available for this or that book (PC, iPad, smartphone, etc).
3. Before buying the book if it is not free, you can read some extracts to see if this book worth buying.
4. You can build up your online library and have access to it from any place where there is internet. This library will show the books that you are reading, read or plans to read, all your comments and reviews on the books you read.
5. You can read people’s reviews on this or that book and also write your own reviews
6. You can share your library with other users
7. Based on your preferences Google eBook suggests books that might be of interest for you, so this could help in your search.

Level of difficulty

Like any Google product this service requires a little above average level of computer literacy, to be more exact Google literacy. Not all the features could be easily found from the first glance and only by experimenting you can get to know this tool better. Also while navigating from one page to another it is very easy to leave your library and find yourself in some other Google service, so you need to be careful and control where you are, so that to be able to get back.

However there is Help system which could help if you like to read HelpJ

For me, even though I consider myself a Google fan, it is sometimes hard to understand how to navigate through Google eBooks.

Potential application in classroom

Provided that the books are free or have at least limited access to some pages, teachers could build up the libraries for their students to read, giving them the link to either the book or links to certain pages.

However this service doesn’t provide any collaboration within a specific dedicated group of people for this or that book, so this service could be used just to advise students to read this or that set of book for this or that topic.

Conclusion

Provided that you are ready to spend money on paid books and can read online this service could be an excellent online organizer for your readings. You can select the books you want to read, you can build up your shelves for the topics that are of interest to you and have access to this library anywhere where there is internet.

Link

I tried to build up a sample library for the Power of Media course here http://books.google.com/books?uid=101732579755064769500&as_coll=1001&hl=ru&source=gbs_lp_bookshelf_list

A link to a specific page on advertising for children

http://books.google.com/books?id=B4SjcOL43esC&lpg=PP1&hl=ru&pg=PT19#v=twopage&q&f=false

EasyBib.com

I can not figure out how to start the inital post for a comment. When I click 0 comments link it just goes to the first page of the blog, where as links that already have comments I can post in. I wanted to comment on the EasyBib.com

I’m glad you added this to our encyclopedia! I only found out about this site recently and I wish that I had known about it in high school. It is important to understand how to cite, but to remember all the different notations for books, articles and journals can be difficult.  It provides a way to check your work and assist when you are unsure. The site still requires students to understand where to find the information required to site, for example, the author, edition, and publication date. You stated, “Therefore, students must understand that tools don’t replace skills, they only aid them.” I agree, this is true with almost all media tools.

Facebook

Main Features;

Facebook is the most popular social networking sight in the world and it took the place at the top from Myspace. Social networking is a place online where people go to socialize. The most popular use of Facebook is to  share things like;

• What you are doing "about to hit the gym"
• Inspirational phrases "Its not about how many times you get knocked down but how many times you get back up"
• What you are thinking "Starving right now"
• Things that are frustrating you "why do some people drive like such jerks"
• Places you are currently visiting "checking into atlantic city casino"
• Places you are going  "on my way to florida"

These things can be shared on a very secure level. Meaning you can share these tidbits of your life with one or two people, a small group of close friends, a small group of family, everyone in your network, or the whole Facebook community.

And speaking of network you have to invite people who use Facebook to become your friend on Facebook. If they accept they are a part of your network. If they do not accept or accept and later cancel that friendship you are not part of that persons network any more and you cannot see the hings they share  like comments or pictures, because most users today keep their information private.

Another popular use of this tool is to find people and reconnect with them. For example many people are using Facebook to find old high school, college, and old work friends they have not seen in ages. I have reconnected with people from most of the part time jobs I  had from high school until I graduated College.

You can also share picture, and organize pictures into photo albums.

Level of Difficulty;

It might take a little while to learn this tool. It is hard for me to answer this as I have worked with computers for some time. But there is a larger and larger group of adults participating in this site. I think it would be much easier to hop on start finding and adding friends to your network and post comments to all of them or individually, than say start uploading and organizing photo's into albums.

Potential classroom application;

The two main uses in the classroom are 1) connecting with experts of a certain field 2)collaborating with your classmates.

1)If you are somebody in your field and wish to share tidbits of your knowledge, papers or research you are doing, or writing, talk about events you believe in, speaking engagements you will participate in, or wish to post clips of your lectures, Facebook is THE place to post this information.

So for example I am interested in web 2.0 technologies so I do some research to find ten prominent figures in that community. I will friend them on Facebook or follow their fan page ( a page designed to have a larger number of friends) so that I can stay up to date with what they are doing, read the newest articles they write, learn about events they will speak at, and learn about other prominent figures in the industry that they speak highly of. By following these figures on Facebook I am now a part of their social network and can learn more about the group they travel in. Some call the accumulations of these prominent figures, 'building a network of experts".

2)Facebook has a private group feature that can be used by a class as a private space, where everyone in the class can post and communicate in an open way with each other but it is closed off from everyone not invited into that group. This can be a place to share ideas, collaborate, work on group projects, and form discussions.

For example the TV Club at my College has just created a private group like this so members of the club can collaborate with each other on ideas for tv shows they will create. The students do not have to wait until the club meets to talk to others in the club. Instead they can post ideas as soon as it hits them, online, for everyone in the class to see in a space that is private.

Conclusion;

While many see Facebook as a game to waste time with and share every silly tidbits about their personal life like "hey guys just visited  7-11 in manhattan, so many slurpee flavors to choose from", I think this tool has great potential in the classroom. It is a great way to follow experts in many fields as a home base where they keep the users/followers up to date on their work. You can also create a private classroom space online to work, create, write, collaborate, and discuss ideas in an asynchronous manor that is also very private. Lastly it is a tool 99% of college students know and love. They will have a very easy time assimilating this tool into their classroom activities.

Ian

ToonDoo

ToonDoo is a website that allows you to create cartoons. It supplies images and features that you can add to animate and make your cartoon more appealing.

It does not have a particularly hard level of difficulty, but users will find it easier if they are proficient in using the mouse and if they are familiar with other creative softwares. I have only used the make your own cartoon part of the website. Now ToonDoo offers a way to make digital books and characters.

Students or teachers can create comics to express thoughts, ideas, or even use as a fun way to display research that was completed. I like to use it as an introduction to a lesson or have it up on the Smart Board as students enter as a focal point. Teachers can use it as a creative homework assignment also.

The tool is worth learning because it is an exciting, different way to display knowledge in the classroom. It can be used by teachers to excite students about a topic or it can be used creatively by students.

Here is a link to a cartoon that I created...

http://www.toondoo.com/Search.toon?searchfield=dm937831&searchFrom=toon

Khan Academy

www.khanacademy.org

Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that has a website that supplies a free online collection of thousands of video micro lectures in mathematics, history, finance, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, economics and computer science. The organization highly relies on donations for funding; however they are backed by several giant companies.

Main Features

The main feature of this website is the video library which is a collection of academic videos made available to visitors of the site. The website also allows users to track their recent activity and progress on the website using a bar graph and measured “energy points.” Users can also earn achievement badges for completing proficiency quizzes in different content areas.

Level of Difficulty

The website is definitely user-friendly assuming you know how to navigate a simple website and required video plugins are updated. Users can become members of the website; however it does not prevent users from viewing the content. The website also allows users to comment on videos that are posted. To use this feature, users are required to create an account either with Google or Facebook.

Classroom Application

This is definitely a great tool to use for finding educational content and subject specific videos for teachers and students. The videos could be incorporated into the lecture or even used as a supplemental tool for homework. Because the website tracks student’s progress in a particular subject, it is a useful tool to inform them of their content deficiencies.

Conclusion

This tool is worth learning because it will take about 15 minutes to figure out the website. A majority of the time spend on the website is going to come from watching the videos and taking the assessments. I think that this could be a very instructional tool, especially in Biology, due to the nature of some topics that are tough to comprehend for students. Videos are helpful for explaining and visualizing topics, such as cellular replication, because it is on a scale that is too miniscule for the human eye.

Google Docs, Take Two

I apologize for repeating a digital tool, but my digital tool use is rather limited and by the time I got a chance to post a blog all the tools I use had already been used. Hopefully, EStott and I can give you all a good idea of what Google Docs is all about.

When using Google Docs, you can upload projects that are in progress or ready to share. After documents are uploaded – PowerPoints, Word documents, etc. – the creator can share the document with other individuals through Gmail. The creator also has the ability to decide what others can do – view, edit, or view and edit the project. All parties can simultaneously view and edit the documents. There is a slight delay of action, but it is rather quick to adapt. On the right-hand side of Word documents, participants can chat about their edits.

I have used Google Docs for a few months now and I have to say that I really enjoy it. I have upper-intermediate computer skills and was able to navigate the tool rather well after just a few uses. However, I am still discovering new elements every time I log on. It does take a few visits to understand the different icons, tools, and formatting elements. For me, the best way to figure it all out was trial and error. One of the features I really like is importing slides. I like to create my slides in PowerPoint and then import them into the collaborative slideshow. I can maintain the same format when I do so.

The other nice thing about Google Docs is that it is accessible anywhere because all one has to do is log into their Gmail account and open the document. This is one feature that will play a pivotal role in my classroom. I can create slideshows at home and access them at school without carrying my laptop or flash-drive. Also, when students are doing group projects they can all access and contribute to the projects whenever and wherever. I believe that this tool is worth learning and using because it is an easy way to make projects more accessible to all.

The following is a link to a Google Docs slideshow I did for one of my summer courses, Adolescent Development. https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AQBZrgEL83TBZGY3aHBkbWNfMTB0bWJrM2Zoag&hl=en_US

Skype: http://www.skype.com

Main Features: Skype is an instant message, voice chat, and video chat service that is free when used between other Skype members. At its most basic level Skype provides an instant messaging system similar to Facebook chat or AOL Instant Messenger. However to get the most out of Skype, one would most likely need some kind of microphone/headset such as: http://tinyurl.com/3u9by7q , and ideally some sort of web camera as well.

Level of Difficulty: Skype is extremely easy to use considering how useful it can be. The most difficult part is not even in using the program itself, instead it is buying and installing the necessary accessories to use it effectively. Those who are interested in using it just need to make sure that they buy a headset and camera that is compatible with their computer and install the necessary software. Once all the accessories are all set up, it is just a matter downloading the program directly from the Skype website, adding contacts, and essentially that’s all there is to it.

Potential Classroom Applications: Skype is a great way for students and teachers to communicate outside of the classroom (especially in online classes). Students can collaborate with each other by using the program for projects, note sharing, leaving messages for one another, and really anything you can really think of. It is also a way for students to keep in touch with their teachers. Teachers and students can set their availability status for appropriate times to talk.

Conclusions: Skype is very easy to use and a cost effective way to keep in touch with classmates regardless of the distance. It has the flexibility to be as formal or informal as you need it to be and is a worthwhile tool for teachers to consider when attempting to build a classroom community for either a physical or online classroom. Even if you aren't interested in using it for a classroom, it is still a useful tool to learn to keep in touch with friends and family across long distances.

Wordle

http://www.wordle.net 

Main Features

Wordle is a website that allows you to create word clouds. You can type in/paste in as much text as you like and in a few clicks, you will have a word cloud made up of the text you inserted. You have some control over the way the text gets shaped, the color scheme, and there are a host of artsy fonts to choose from. All of the word clouds are posted in the website gallery. When you create the word cloud it gives you options to print or open it in a new window that you can too print from. You can also take a screen grab to capture your Wordle. The site also allows you to embed your word cloud into a blog or website. The down side is that you no longer have access to your Wordle on the website once you have left, unless you save the url.

Level of Difficulty 

Wordle is very easy to use. It contains a few advanced features for shaping your word cloud, but those are easy to use as well. The directions are very easy to follow. The most difficult part comes if you are trying to save. The amount of time spent creating your Wordle depends on how much text you type in or if you copy & paste, and how much you want to experiment trying to find the exact perfect layout/font/color scheme combination. It is very easy to get lost in it - so be warned.

Potential Application In the Classroom

Wordle has many applications in the classroom. It can be used in any content area and 3 grade and up. It is a great way to have students personalize notebooks. They can be used to introduce a topic, brainstorm, poetry, vocabulary, and any number of creative additions to reports and projects. Being creative with words can go a long way to getting students enthusiastic about writing. The longer the text, the bigger the word cloud. 

Conclusion


Wordle is definitely worth trying. It allows everyone to be an artist. Over are the days when students complain about drawing a picture for something. Wordle can be your alternative.

My Fake Wall

Title: My Fake Wall http://myfakewall.com/

Myfakewall.com is a website that allows users to create fake Facebook like profile pages for fun and entertainment purposes. I think this could be used as an instructional tool because of the popularity of Facebook and it gives students a chance to be creative.


Main Features:

The Myfakewall.com webpage is modeled after the popular social networking site Facebook. Users can create fake profile pages for anyone or anything they choose. The Myfakewall.com site allows users to upload pictures and create dialogue. The profile page also includes a space for biographical information, a friends list, and a photo book. The final product is very similar to that of an actual Facebook page.

New users will need to create an acount. The accounts are free but an email address is required. The only draw back of the webpage design is that it only allows for single user editing. Only the creator of a fake wall page can change or edit his/her profile. The website is not designed to be collaborative like a social networking site. The website generally works well but is sometimes a bit slow.

Level of Difficulty:

The website is pretty user friendly. Users who have basic or intermediate computer skills should be able to navigate the site and create a fake page fairly easily. The Myfakewall.com graphic interface is set up like a template so users do not need any advance html skill. Everything is pretty well labeled and formatted. Facebook users should find it very easy to create a profile page. Non-Facebook users should be able to point and click their way through the profile making process fairly easy. I would say that new users could create a fake wall in less then 30 minutes depending on level of creativity.

Potential Applications:

I think this could be a great instructional tool especially for Social Studies teachers. I could see a fake wall being made and used by a teacher in a lesson to provide information about a person, group, or event. I think it would be an excellent tool for an assignment where the student has to research an individual, group, or event.

I have used this as part of a research project where by my students created a fake wall for Pericles of Ancient Greece. The students had to use the profile page to show biographical information that would indicate information about Pericles such as he; lived in Athens, was the leader of the Athenian democracy, and built the Parthenon. I could see how this tool could also be used in English classes for creating a profile for a character from a book. It could also be used to teach grammar and etiquette or netiquette.

link to the myfakewall post above http://www.myfakewall.com/w/Pericles_31

Conclusion:

I do believe this tool is worth learning. It is fairly easy to use and most students will be able to create profiles in no time at all. I think it is a great tool for getting students engaged and it allows for them to be creative. I think it is important for educators to consider the culture of the students they are teaching. Students today live in a very technological based world. Social networking is very important and I think this tool could be very useful for combining curriculum with student interests.

GoogleDocs

GoogleDocs
http://www.docs.google.com/

GoogleDocs is a form of online storage in the "cloud." It provides the capability to upload documents to your account (free account) and modify them once they are there. GoogleDocs is capable of handling documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings (depending on your browser). Once in GoogleDocs, these documents can be converted into several types of files including text, .pdf, and Word. I find this incredibly useful as a teacher. I have yet to purchase the Microsoft Office Suite, however I can create documents at home in GoogleDocs and then modify them on any computer which has access to the Internet. In my school, I am capable of then converting them into Word to make any necessary adjestments I see fit.

As a teacher, the best part about GoogleDocs is its sharing capability. Once a document is uploaded, the user can choose to share that document. There are two options for sharing the link. The first is that only people with the link (even without a Google account) can access the document, and the second is that anyone on the Internet can view the document. For the link-only option one may also choose whether it is read only or if it can be edited. This is great for a department of teachers that would like to give the same test. Everyone in the department can have the link and each member can actively work on the test to make it satisfying for all.

GoogleDocs is very user friendly and very easy to become comfortable with. Taking just one hour of your time you can figure out exciting and useful possibilities that GoogleDocs offers. Without a doubt it is worth giving a shot. It can save immense amounts of time and effort. One item to note though is that GoogleDocs saves after each keystroke or change to the document. This allows several users to interact on the same document at once. Just be careful what you type in or take out!

Please feel free to access this link and edit a GoogleDoc for yourself.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Np6-XMpd3GUjYJ6vgUWUFFbubOS-5O9TTmEDoC8wWeY/edit?hl=en_US

Audioboo

Audioboo

http://audioboo.fm/

Main Features
Audioboo is a technology that can be utilized on the internet or on your mobile phone. It allows you to upload voice recordings of your very own as well as listen to other people’s recordings. A microphone is required on computers, a lot of new laptops have them already built in. With a phone, you simply turn on the Audioboo app and speak directly into the phone. You can put forth any message you would like and share it with the world. With Audioboo you can listen to anyone’s recordings in the world. The application allows you to choose if you want to listen to a certain recording, most listened to, or from people nearby. With your recording you can add a picture and comment so the people listening can see what you are seeing or what you want them to look at. It also fits with all other social networking sites.

Level of Difficulty
It is fairly easy to use even for people with basic computer skills. You need to have a microphone working or audio device, and then it is as simple as going onto Audioboo and clicking the record button. You need to set yourself up an account so your recordings get sent to one are that people can find. From there, it easy to search for people and network.

Potential Application
This would be a nice tool for a teacher in the classroom. A teacher could record his or her voice and have students access it. It could be a way to give students information, as well them show them an image and explain it to them. It could also be away for students to communicate with each other outside the classroom.

Conclusion
The tool is worth learning as it can be helpful way to connect you with people all over the world. You can be somewhere far away and be able to record things for friends and family. It is also a way to podcast and social network.