Tools & Technology
From Lifelong Learning
(Redirected from Communications Tools)
Contents |
Tools & Technology
- Explanation: The tools & technology page of this wiki is used to inform and evaluate various tools and technologies that impact, extend, or utilize adult learning theories. Please leave comments using the comments tool at the bottom of the page providing suggestions, comments, and other information.
- If you would like to submit a tool or technology please do so at the bottom of this page under the NMC Conference Contributions area. Thank you!
Education Tools/Technologies
- Moodle
- Moodle is an open source learning environment similar to other competitors software such as BlackBoard. Moodle comes as a base package packed with different tools, resources, blocks, and more for creating interactive and well formulated learning modules. In addition Moodle has a vast audience of developers contributing to the open source project creating new tools for installation into the Moodle project. Moodle can be used to create any training, course, or any other group based tasks and learning environments. The base package of Moodle includes tools such as surveys that can be used to analyze the learners needs assessment; anonymous or semi-private feedback that creates safe relationships between the educator and the learners. Additionally allows for sequencing of the content to ensure that the learners are following the best path to effectively learning the content.
Media/Communications Tools
- SecondLife
- SecondLife provides simply a second life, a virtual one with no winner, no loser, no real specific goals (in regards to its basic function); simply just the creation of an avatar and to exist in a secondary environment. SecondLife provides many educational outlets as well; and many universities are opening campuses on SecondLife, even Bowling Green State University just opened a virtual campus on SecondLife. Utilizing a tool such as SecondLife allows for interactions not possible otherwise such as a virtual face-to-face office hours, allows for praxis of knowledge learned in class, and ultimately creates sound relationships amongst the learners and educators.
- Skype
- Skype is a VO-IP (Voice-over IP based telephony software that is used for enhancing communication as it combines text, voice, and video chat capabilities; as well as the ability to phone normal mobile phones and land line phones. Additionally there are features known as Skypecasts that allow large groups of people to collaborate or listen in on conversations related to specific topics. Skype in education can enhance communication potential as well as address the specific needs of adult learners by providing communication methods that are familiar (such as telephones), allowing for collaboration amongst the learners, as well as providing visuals with video calling, etc.
- YouTube
- One of the most popular social video sharing websites on the internet today; while it is often times amassed with short clips of homemade antics or pirated television shows it also has quite a large repository of educational content. Delivering content via video enhances the engagement of learners, and can be included into a learning environment such as Moodle. Universities, groups, and even politicians are utilizing this as a method of delivery that can be easily integrated into other environments.
- ProjectEDUCATE
- YouChoose - Election 2008
- Coull.tv - Reactive Video
- Voice Thread
- Voicethread allows for users to upload and integrate flickr uploaded images and other media into an interactive audio & image based presentation. Also allows for the user to add comments and annotations into the slideshow; other users can also comment on the presentation. This tool is great for asynchronous conversations, digital storytelling, and more. The use case for this software in the classroom environment is quite obvious and even the company itself is looking for users to submit how they use it in the classroom.
- ChinSwing
- From ChinSwing.com - "Chinswing is a global message board where anyone can add voice messages to ongoing topical discussions. Share your personal interests or hobbies, debate hot issues or find answers to questions. We've combined features of podcasting, text forums and live voice chat to create a whole new way to talk."
- ChinSwing is a very interesting website that can be used for enhancing knowledge on topical discussions through innovative methods (as opposed to simple text based discussion boards, chat rooms, etc. This tool can be utilized for enhancing the sound relationships that must be formed in education, as well as allowing for learners to share their ideas and feelings in an innovative and engaging method.
Social Networking
- Tools such as the below three social networking environments can be used to enhance communications between students, faculty, alumni, professionals, and more. While they also provide a generally deemed as fun and enjoyable (and sometimes distracting) environment they also create the social links necessary to really build healthy and meaningful relationships. They connect people with others that are have the same interests, job functions, are in the same courses, and more.
Information Sharing/Productivity/Collaboration
- FURL
- FURL is essentially an enhanced and collaborative bookmarks manager based on tagging systems for organizing and searching information stored inside of the tool. FURL allows for both public and private tagging so you can share some of your resources with other FURL users and embed them into other websites as well. Using FURL is an educational environment follows on the need for conversation and collaboration amongst learners. They are no longer limited to their own research through a traditional search engine such as Google; instead they can search through all public tags of a specific type expanding their scope of available resources.
- Del.icio.us
- Essentially the same purpose and use case as the above FURL resource.
- Google Docs
- Google Docs is a set of tools including an online, collaborative word processing environment. The tools include a document editor, excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint slideshows. This tool can be utilized to enhance educational environments by addressing the adult learners needs for teamwork as well as engagement.
- Wikis
- As there are many wiki technologies to choose from we chose to simply discuss the method in which wiki technologies can be utilized in the classroom. Wikis are becoming increasingly utilized in both the educational and corporate realms; they allow for quick and easy editing to content without the knowledge that creating a website may; as well as allowing for collaboration amongst users.
- ReFrameIt.com
- From reframeit.com "Reframe It is a web browser plug in that creates a space for comments in the right hand margin beside any web page. In this space, you can read and write comments alongside news stories, campaign websites and anything online that interests you. Share your comments privately with only friends or colleagues or share them publicly for the world to see. Reframe It lets you read, discuss, and interpret the web with anyone you choose and lets you place the web in context."
- Using a browser plugin such as ReFrameIt allows for collaborative notes, comments, feedback on a previously unable to be annotated environment (outside of Blogs with comments and other features for readers to submit their feelings, etc. Using a tool such as this allows for ideas and feelings of the learners to be shared as commentary delivered through the reframeit.com service directly on the content itself. This allows for immediacy in addressing any knowledge or skills that the learners may be missing in order to move forward properly in the sequence of the curriculum.
- Google Reader & other RSS feed aggregation
- RSS aggregation allows for a variety of related feeds to be collected and reviewed. This allows for a real time analysis of news and new information about a given topic.
- 37Signals applications
- 37Signals has a set of several web based applications that have many applications for both business, personal, and educational use cases. Their software line currently consists of Basecamp, Highrise, Backpack, Campfire, & TaDaList. These applications range from to-do lists, consumer relationship management software (CRM), group collaboration, and project management and development. Utilizing tools such as these in an educational environment enhances communications amongst the group members; providing clear roles and the development of those roles. Additionally a tool such as Backpack allows for accountability of team members and the tasks they have been assigned. Campfire allows for the learners to express their ideas & feelings collaboratively with the rest of the team; creating sound healthy relationships between the team members as well as the leader (or educator).
NMC Conference Contributions
- If you would like to contribute any tools or technologies please submit them here.
