Collaborative Tools

Coursesites:

I used Coursesites to build my class for CED 592 course last fall.  Coursesites is a product of Blackboard.  Coursesites is designed to be used via the internet as opposed to being located on the school's server.  I this way, teachers may use Coursesites without having the whole institution using it.  Teachers wanting to use Coursesites may do so for free.  There is a limit to how many free courses you have.

The positives of Coursesites are as follows.  Coursesites can be used by individual teachers wanting to organize their class vie this web tools.  Like Blackboard, you can post files, discussion boards, tests, grades, etc.  It can manage your entire class information.  Also, if a student or teacher has used Blackboard in the past, it will be easy for them to navigate.  It can be used for collaborative learning through the discussion boards.

The drawbacks are that there is a bit of a learning curve for teachers and students.  The ease of the navigation depends heavily on how the teacher sets it up.  Coursesites is so customizable, it can create problems with unorganized or inconsistent instructors.  Also, if your school uses a specific grading program, grades would have to be duplicated into your schools data system.  Another drawback is that once the class is over, students can no longer access the file, information, and pertinent discussions on the boards.  Accessing for future reference does not apply.  I also teach middle school.  They could learn how to us it but I feel they may find it somewhat difficult.

Again, I have used Coursesites for an entire semester.  I think it is a wonderful tool and would use it again if I was teaching high school and beyond.

Edmodo:

Edmodo is a online classroom terminal that mimics the Facebook "news feed" style. Students can access class information, participate in online discussions, polls, and retrieve class documents.

The Pros:  My students would be very familiar with this format.  Thinks would be easy for them to find, understand, and participate in.  The familiarity may even promote participation as opposed to other similar applications.  Students can submit assignments through Edmodo and grades can be posted there.

The Cons:  As with Blackboard, if your school uses a specific data management program, grades would have to be duplicated.  Units and assignments cannot be organized and clustered together as easily as Blackboard. 

Collaborize Classroom:

 Collaborize Classroom is an interactive tool that allows students to collaborate it ideas, discussions, and feedback in a social networking style of interface.  It is similar to edumodo be seems to be more discussion tool focused.  Teachers can pose questions to the group and students can give feedback as well as build off of other comments.

The pros include ease of use, questioning tools/formats, and greater focus on class participation.  Some of the drawback are that the tool is primarily focused on discussion only and less tools from which to choose.

Building Our Online Presence

 

     In today's education., with today's web tools, there is really no reason why one can't produce a website.  In this module we were given the choice of webpage design tools and instructed to create a website we could use.  I chose to use Wix.com. It creates a Flash-based website and I had never used it before. 

     I decided to create a website for my students to view on the Vikings.  Our World History textbook only discusses them briefly but they had a profound effect on western culture for two centuries.  Like most web-based page design programs, it was easy to use.  I selected a template I liked and then started to customize it for my uses.  I had a view issues with the program transferring pictures onto multiple pages.  I am not sure if a setting was toggled or it was a mistake with Flash but after taking out the graphic and inserting it again, the problem when away.  After getting everything laid out, I began to add my information.  Once that was complete, I added some fun details that can be done in flash.  I added animated flames and crackling fire sound to the home page. 

     It was very easy using this program but I would probably be more apt to use other webhosting to control have more control over the content.  In a pinch or for a specific purpose, I think it is great.