Smart Applications
Before that though… I thought it might be helpful to share a run down of the main tools I am using with my students this year. You can check out most of these through learningsmart.org, and I would be happy to give you a guest login to most of the private spaces. What applications do you use with your students?
Wordpress
Tool website - http://wordpress.org
My version - http://learningsmart.org
Use – Main portal for all online activities. Contains introductory material on courses, a talent gallery of student work, contact information, and the blog function is used for news and homework updates.
Reason for selection – Most popular blogging software on the net. Easy to set up and many themes to choose from (easily customizable). Provides rss feeds and option for e-mail subscriptions. Easy to post pages and posts. Could even be used as a content management system if I need to post public documents.
Moodle
Tool website - http://moodle.org
My version - http://classroom.learningsmart.org
Use – Password protected content management system for World History and World Religions. Contains separate areas for both subjects. Areas include course materials. A news forum for updates (they get e-mailed to students). Forums are available for student discussions and there is a chat function for synchronous communication.
Reason for selection – Most popular open source CMS on the web. Lots of support at http://moodle.org. Much cheaper and more versatile than Blackboard. It has lots of themes and plugins making it fully customizable. Logs on the website allow the administrator to follow every mouse click of a user. Versalite editors allow uploading of all file types and embedding of html code. This allows posting of every type of resource you can think of. Since the site requires a login all resources are private and the environment is secure for educational purposes.
Google Apps
Tool website - http://www.google.com/educators/p_apps.html
My version - http://docs.learningsmart.org/ & http://calendar.learningsmart.org
Use – Online calendar accessible to all students and parents. The calendar can be used to plan lessons, post student deadlines, and provide reminders to students and parents. Online document authoring (wordprocessor, spreadsheet, presentations, and forms). Documents can be submitted to the teacher without the need for e-mail. Documents can be collaboratively authored by students. This allows for powerful peer editing and novel forms of group projects.
Reason for selection – Google offer their suite of applications for free, without advertisements to educators. Student logins can be created en masse and students can have access to the calendar, e-mail, documents, wiki, websites and chat functions. It is also possible to limit the applications they can use. I have blocked their use of e-mail, and chat. I may use the website and wiki functions later in the year. Zoho provides a similar suite, but does not supply the same ad-free or administrative privileges for educators.
Wikispaces
Tool website - http://wikispaces.com
My version - http://wiki.learningsmart.org/
Use – The wiki is used for a-synchronous activity online. It provides a wiki function where pages can be edited by individual students, or groups of students. The discussion board on each page allows for a second means of interactivity. Wikispaces allows for rich text editing and the embedding of images and flash objects. The wiki will be used for collaborate notetaking in World History AP classes, online lessons, collaborative encyclopaedia pages and other activities.
Reason for selection – I have been using wikispaces with my classes for two years. They provide a private wiki free of advertisements to educators. Wikispaces also provide an easy way to upload student accounts without having to give a student e-mail. While google apps and wetpaint provide comparable products this has the best customer service and has been focused on education for three years.
Wordpress MU
Use – The blogs is used for students to reflect on their learning and to have a place to publically post classroom work. Each blog is individualized for each student. Students can post work and then comment on the work of others. The blogs are an opportunity for students to learn how to post work safely in an environment that is not secure, or password protected.
Reason for selection – Word Press MU is powerful software that allows for the easy creation of multiple blogs on one server. Each blog is individual but can be maintained and monitored by an administrative account. I have found no other software online that allows for multiple blogs with this level of control from an administrator. However, it is not possible to monitor the blogs from the control panel. I use a feedreader to monitor RSS feeds from each blog for posts and comments allowing for awareness of all activity.
