= Tools and Technologies = ''** Page Name = ExpTools **'' [[PageOutline]] Given a particular tool, or type of technology, what sort of learning activities can it support? Look here for ideas and examples of different tools and technologies to inspire your own lessons... '''Note:''' This list of tools is provisional only. ''** Design notes: **'' [[BR]]''** Do we want to single out tools for collaboration as a separate section? **'' [[BR]]''** Subdivide this into sections? What if there's overlap...? **'' [[BR]]''** To what extent do we want to mention actual products? It may be unavoidable, esp if the tool name is synonymous (i.e. defines) with the genre... **'' [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Generic template == The following is a generic template for different tools: * Brief description of tool * The sorts of activities in which it might be used (student-focused, teacher-focused), and the advantage that this tool can bring wrt 'traditional' techniques. * The sorts of learning outcomes that use of the tool might support (possibly not -- can get to this via activities...?) * Example(s) of use: * Full sequences or case studies * Tips (lightbulb moments) * ???? Technical info, including a link to specific tools e.g. Writely, Zoho for collaborative writing tools???? [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Blogs == Include the terms Weblogs, audioblogs ''** Text from LTG: **'' [[BR]]A weblog (or blog) can mean any authored content with an underlying chronological basis that is published on the Worldwide Web. At its simplest it is just an online diary that allows other people to comment on your entries. The content may be about any topic and consist of any media, including audio, images and video, although at present the majority of blogs are largely text-based. The blog can be ‘owned’ (i.e. authored) by more than one person. Owners are responsible for maintaining their blogs. Blogging is a very easy and useful way to maintain a record of activity; for project work, it can cover thoughts and ideas, notes following meetings, further reflections and so on. It is ideal for a research diary or for writing up a conference, providing content that can be written up later on for more formal documentation. The only obvious drawback is that blogging is an inherently public activity, not suitable for private or otherwise confidential material. Getting started[[BR]] To start blogging, you first need to find somewhere that will host your blog, i.e. a blog server. Fortunately, it's easy to experiment with blogging by using one of the many public services. A popular choice is [http://www.blogger.com Blogger]. If you’re blogging in a group, then you can each have either individual or a shared blog. For a project team, Blogger provides ‘Team Blogs.’ Once you have started blogging then use a syndicated newsfeed reader, such as the Bloglines service to subscribe to a feed (or channel). [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Voting tools, clickers == Include the term audience response systems [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Writing tools == Include word processing, **** collaborative writing tools **** X-refs to discussion forum, wikis [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == e-Portfolios == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Chat; Instant messaging == Not just text, but also voice communications. Need to mention Skype. SMS too? [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Learning objects == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Mashups == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Podcasts == ''** Text from LTG **''[[BR]] Podcasting is a method for distributing multimedia files, such as MP3 audio files and video files, over the Internet, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term podcast, like 'broadcast,’ can refer to both the content and the method of delivery. Linking to a podcast directory allows you to find new material quickly. The most popular directory service is the one provided by the Apple Itunes software, which is a free download from http://www.apple.com/itunes/. How can podcasts be used in education?[[BR]] As downloadable audio and video, podcasts enable teaching staff to make course components such as lectures, scientific experiments, expert interviews or student assignments available outside a conventional classroom environment. Students can access the material either on- or off- campus and, by downloading it to a portable media device (such as an iPod) can listen to or view the material anywhere at a time to suit themselves. Academic commentaries, interviews, or public lectures could also be published as podcasts and made available either publicly or to a restricted audience (e.g. internal to the institution or to registered researchers from outside). Podcasting technology uses either the RSS or Atom syndication format, the RSS format making podcasts especially useful for lecture series. Individual users can subscribe to the podcast feed and thus receive alerts to download the latest presentation in a series. A particular advantage of podcasting is that the media can be easily created by most recording equipment (an iPod with an additional microphone adaptor, a computer, a DV camera etc.) and is encoded into an industry standard (MP3) that is universally read by computers and portable media devices. Broadening the perspective, podcasts can be created and published by students themselves. For example, they might document their learning experience, the development of their knowledge, the course of experiments or progress in their research. [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == RSS == ''** Text from LTG **''[[BR]] RSS is a simple notification system that is used on the Web to provide news, announcements and blogs. You can set up RSS newsfeeds and easily add news or announcements items to them. The newsfeeds can then be presented within departmental websites, portals, VLE pages, content management systems etc. [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Social bookmarking == ''** Text from LTG **''[[BR]] Sites such as del.icio.us (http://del.icio.us/) and FURL (http://www.furl.net/) are becoming popular as places to store website URLs in the same way as ‘favourites’ in Internet Explorer and ‘bookmarks’ in Firefox. However, the advantages of social bookmarking are that the list is available on any computer (not just the one on which the bookmark was made), the ability to categorise lists using tags, and — most important — the ability to share lists with friends and colleagues. It is well worth checking a bookmark site to see what others with a shared interest may have already found and categorised on the internet. [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Virtual learning communities == Elgg [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Virtual learning worlds == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Games == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Modelling tools == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Simulations == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Digital cameras, Video cameras, !WebCams == Good for process capture: PI01 example, also RDM sailing course, teaching practical skills (yoga positions) Performance portfolios [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Digital audio == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Wikis == A wiki is a very simple Web-based tool which was originally intended for online collaborative writing. The name is derived from the Hawaiian word for 'fast.' The best known example is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikipedia] encyclopaedia, and Phoebe itself uses wiki technology. Wikis tend to have very simple formatting, so they're also a very quick way to create and maintain simple Web pages. '''Learning activities''' which can be supported by wikis include: * Collaborative [wiki:ExpActGen#Writing writing] and [wiki:ExpActGen#Editing editing], especially for assessment tasks such as group [wiki:ExpActAss#Projects projects] and [wiki:ExpActAss#Reports reports]. They can be useful in helping students to understand that they are writing for an audience, not just their tutor. * [wiki:ExpActGen#Collectinginformation Collecting information] to create student-generated resources * Conducting [wiki:ExpActGen#Discussingdebating discussions]. Here, a wiki can act as an alternative to a [wiki:ExpTools#Discussionforums discussion forum], as all the contributions to a particular topic can be seen at once. By restricting who can see and/or contribute to a wiki, you can preserve your students' privacy and the integrity of their work. Examples: * [wiki:ExpExamples#Problembasedlearninginlaw Problem-based learning for law students] * [wiki:ExpExamples#CollaborativewritinginEnglishliterature Collaborative writing in English literature] * [wiki:ExpExamples#Usingawikitodevelopresearchskills Using a wiki to develop research skills] '''Technical notes:'''[[BR]] Although wikis run on open source software and are Web-based, they have to be downloaded and hosted on one of your institution's own Web servers (i.e. there's no hosting facility 'out there' on the Web as there is for blogs). So if you want to use a wiki with your students, contact your IT support staff. They can tell you whether there's already a wiki in your institution, or whether they'll have to set one up for you. [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Spreadsheets == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Databases == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Statistical software == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Mind-mapping, Concept-mapping tools == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Email == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Discussion forums == Also being used to 'scaffold' students emergent analytical writing skills [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Survey, questionnaire tools == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Presentation tools == Include the term PowerPoint [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Web authoring tools == Also use wikis as simple Web authoring tools. [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Interactive whiteboards == Include their accompanying software. [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Search engines == See recent NS feature on social software [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Assistive tools == TextHelp, Inspiration, Simple things you can do with ordinary, common-or-garden tools. PI05? [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Mobile devices, PDAs == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Assessment tools, assessment banks == [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == VLEs == Include the term Virtual Learning Environment These are a bit problematic: if the institution has one, then it should(!) have an implementation policy. If the practitioner is working alone, then a VLE is irrelevant. Could include a note to encourage them to start by using VLE as repository, but then move on to use the different activities that are available. [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Learning Design systems == Oooh dear. Is this where we put LAMS? [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ---- == Repositories, online resources == Include reference to images, Flickr? Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/) is an informal online image-sharing site with millions of photographs contributed by users. However, you can use other people’s photographs without having to making your own available as well. How can Flickr be used in education?[[BR]] Flickr is well worth a look if you’re looking for photographs that can be used in teaching or research. The key thing is to search for material that is released by others under a Creative Commons licence that allows you to reuse the material for non-commercial purposes. See http://flickr.com/search/advanced/ [wiki:ExpTools#ToolsandTechnologies Top of page] | [wiki:ExpStructure Sandpit page] ----