Chapter 7: Distance Learning Tools and the Role of the Internet in Education

Using an Online Organizer

• http://del.icio.us/ allows you to access bookmarks at any location by saving your websites online in one place

Other Search Engines to Consider

• http://www.dogpile.com
• http://clusty.com
• http://www.hotbot.com
• http://www.kartoo.com
• http://www.mamma.com

Current Pitfalls in Internet Use

• Cookies-small text files placed on a hard drive by a web server contacted on the internet. The purpose of cookies is to provide the server with information that can help personalize web activity to your needs. But cookies also may track behavior on the internet in ways to violate privacy.

Strategies to Prevent Computer Viruses

• Keep virus protection software up to date
• Download only from reputable sites
• Never open email attachments from unknown senders
• Never open email attachments until you confirm their intent

Strategies to Address Copyright and Plagiarism Problems

• If the site is clearly copyrighted request permission from owners
• If the site has no copyright statement reference this site by its URL and owner name
• Plagiarism prevention website: http://www.turnitin.com http://www.mydropbox.com

Communicating on the Internet

• Listserv- an electronic list of email addresses, everyone on the list gets a copy of the email sent to the list address
• Bulletin Board (BB)- Electronic area set up in a distance course to post messages and hold asynchronous discussions
• Video Conferencing- allows those involved to see and hear each other. requires a camera, audio in put device (e.g. microphone) an output device (e.g. speakers) and a shared program such as Microsoft's NetMeeting.
  
• MUDs, MOOs, avatar spaces- MUD stands for multiuser dungeons (or dimensions or domains), and MOO stands for MUDs object-oriented programs that allow many users at different sites to interact at the same time via avatars and typed text in a graphical, VR-like environment

Characteristics of Effective distance Courses and Programs

• Knowledge is constructed, not transmitted.
• Students can take full responsibility for their own learning.
• Students are motivated to want to learn.
• The course provides "mental white space" for reflection.
• Learning activities appropriately match student learning styles.
• Experiential, active learning augments the website environment.
• Solitary and interpersonal learning activities are interspersed.
• Inaccurate prior learning is identified and corrected.
• "Spiral learning" provides for revisiting and expanding prior lessons.
• The master teacher is able to guide the overall learning process.

Tips for Online and Distance Learning

• Participate!
• Form learning teams
• Make the activity interesting
• Don't settle for opinions
• Structure the activity

Chapter 6: Teaching with Multimedia and Hypermedia

Instructional Software

• Tutorials
• Drill and Practice
• Simulations
• Instructional Games
• Problem Solving

http://mchmultimedia.com
http://www.educate-me.net
http://www.lynda.com

Interactive Books and ebooks
http://www.grimmfairytales.com/en/main
http://www.alleductionalsoftware.com/interactive-storybooks.html

Collections of Development Resources

• Collections of clip art, sound effects, photos, fonts, video clips

http://www.flamingtext.com
http://www.animationfactory.com/en/
http://www.freesound.org/
http://wwwistockphoto.com

Effective PowerPoint Presentation Tips

• Use large type
• Contrast the text and background colors
• Minimize the amount of text on each frame
• Keep frames simple
• Avoid using too many fancy fonts
• Avoid using gratuitous sounds
• Use graphics, not just text
• Present in a dark room
• Avoid reading text aloud

Video Production and Editing Software

• FinalCut Pro: http://www.apple.com
• Avid Xpress Pro: http://www.avid.com
• Video can be imported onto a computer from a source such as a camcorder or a VCR with a USB or Firewire connection converted into digital format or it may be transferred in digital form from a digital camera.
• Quick Time movies- digital video that is stored on a computer resulting in digitized video clips that are inserted into a multimedia package or uploaded onto the Internet.
• Examples for applying in the Classroom include: Video portfolios, Video lectures, Student created presentations, demonstrations of procedures, & Video decision making/problem solving simulations

Hypermedia Authoring Software Tools

• Student created presentations
• Student designed websites & mini-games

http://www.adobe.com/prodcuts/dreamweaver/
http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/

Virtual Environments and Immersion Tools

• Virtual Field Trips
• Google Earth
• Full immersion systems require headset or goggles and helmet
• Wii
• SecondLife

Web 2.0 Authoring Tools

• Blogs
• Wikis- a collection of web pages located in an online community that encourage collaboration and communication of ideas by having users contribute or modify content
• Podcasts- digitized audio files saved in MP3 file format created, played, & shared by users on the internet
• e-Portfolios
• Social Networking sites
• Video and photo sharing communities

Chapter 5: Teaching with Software Tools

Types of Software Support Tools

Materials generators

• desktop publishing software http://www.adobe.com/ http://www.microsoft.com/
  
• test generators http://www.testshop.com/ http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ http://www.centronsoftware.com/
  
• worksheet/puzzle generators http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/ http://school.discoveryeducation.com/teachingtools/worksheet%20generator/
  
• IEP generators http://www.publicconsultinggroup.com/education/Technology/EasyIEP/
  
• graphic document makers http://www.broderbund.com/
  
• PDF and forms makers http://www.adobe.com/ http://www.colorpilot.com/pdfmaker.html

Data collection and analysis tools

• electronic gradebooks- http://www.classactiongradebook.com http://www.gradekeeper.com/
  
• statistical packages http://www.spss.com/ http://www.ncss.com/
  
• student information systems http://www.powerschool.com/ http://www.excelsiorsoftware.com/
  
• computer based testing systems http://www.exambuilder.com/
  
• student response systems http://www.h-itt.com/ http://www.qwizdom.com/

Graphic Tools

• Image editing tools http://www.adobe.com/ http://www.gimp.org/
• Charting/graphing tools http://www.teachtsp.com/ http://www.serpik.com/
• Clip art, animation, sound, video, and font collections http://www.teachingheart.net/graphic.html http://www.flamingtext.com/http://www.animationfactory.com/en

Planning and organizing tools

• outlining and concept mapping software http://www.storymind.com/ http://www.inspiration.com/
• Lesson planners http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Pagehttp://www.teacherplanet.com/
• Scheduling and time management tools http://www.handshigh.com/http://www.thecalendarplanner.com/

Research and reference tools

• Electronic encyclopedias http://encarta.msn.com/ http://www.encyclopedia.com
• Electronic atlases and mapping tool http://worldatlas.com/ http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/
• Electronic dictionaries and thesauruses http://www.webopedia.com/ http://thesaurus.reference.com/ http://dictionary.reference.com

Content Area tools

• Computer assisted design (CAD)- allows users to prepare sophisticated, precise drawings of objects such as houses and cars. Useful in vocational-technical programs. http://usa.autodesk.com http://www.alibre.com
• Music editors- provides blank musical staffs on which the user enters the musical key, time, and notes that constitute a piece of sheet music. Music sequencers- software packages that the creation of music scores with several parts. MIDI tools- Musical Instrument Digital Interface http://www.tomdownload.com http://www.emagic.de
• Reading Tools http://www.readabilityformulas.com http://www.renlearn.com/ar
• Microcomputer-based labs, graphing calculators, and calculator based labs http://education.ti.com/ http://www.vernier.com/
• Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems http://earth.google.com http://www.magellangps.com/
  

Web 2.0

Technology Ideas for the Classroom

Photo -sharing & Clip-art

• http://www.flickr.com/- create a class flickr account to upload pictures
  
• be sure to tag photos
  
• check on copyright information of shared photos
  
• get permission from people of photos posted on web
  
• try not to take pics of businesses or other identify details

Blogs- can be used as interactive journal. Students can read a passage and then post their thoughts on the passage and comment on other students posts.

• Be sure to discuss confidentiality of blogs with students to not reveal personal information

Blogs to check out:

• http://elearnqueen.blogspot.com/

• http://www.teach42.com/

• http://www.jakesonline.org/

• When allowing students to create a blog, be sure to set rules. These rules include no bashing or disrepestful words against other students. Keep family problems out of your blog. Stick to the topic of discussion on your blog.

Virtual Learning Environment- http://moodle.org courses created are controlled by teachers

- http://www.elgg.net learner is at the center and is given ownership

Podcasting resources:

• http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/ict/podcast/
• http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/infolit/edupodcast/
• http://www.epnweb.org/

Podcasting Tips:

• Podcasting can be used for teachers to record themselves during a lesson and students can replay the lesson later on for more clarification.
• Negative Aspect of Podcasts- They can take up a lot of room on your server.

Reasons for Video Blogging in the Classroom:

• Record lessons for students and parents to access in their own time
• Enable students to do a presentation about themselves rather than only sticking to PowerPoint.
• Enable students to submit work in the form of a video.
• Find and use videos as part of project research materials.

Wikis:

• web page you can edit, add links
• Capture idesa for strategy
• Create a resource for others to use

Wiki Links:

• http://davidwarlick.com/wiki/pmwiki.php
• http://westwood.wikispaces.com/Westwood+wikilinks+page