Create 2.1.3 – Using Web 2.0 Tools to Differentiate Student Assessment Quest

Aside from traditional assessments, alternative assessments are more realistic and provide far more opportunities for creativity. For example, my number one choice is PowToons, a digital-story creator. 

Directions for the assessment: Create a digital story showing the three methods of heat transfer. 

Having to create their own PowToons, students interact with the content in a different manner than when completing a paper and pencil test.

Create 2.1.2 – Using Web 2.0 Tools to Differentiate Teacher Instruction Quest

Interaction with content and other learners are important to an online learner. In order to differentiate instruction for various learning levels and learning types, different tools should be used. I selected Powtoons for visual/auditory learners and Easel.ly for learners preferring to read. I like both tools for different reasons. Powtoons attracts attention with movement and sound while Easel.ly uses graphic design to attract attention. Powtoons is a video that can be paused or started over whenever the user needs to do so. I like Prezi but have a friend with MS who has difficulties watching because of the zooming. I'm not sure if this is specific to her, or could be an issue with other people as well. I still like Prezi, but like to prepare the material in an additional format to accommodate those who have difficulty with it.

Powtoons

Easel.ly

Create 2.1.1 – Web Tools Quest

Use the internet to research a variety of Web Tools that can be used for student learning or instruction. Then, create three categories and elaborate on the value of the tools referenced. Describe each tool explaining its use, associated cost and how the tool would be implemented in a learning environment.

Create 1.1.3 – Appearance Quest

Please identify ten instructional sites, and isolate five sites which exemplify sound design ideals and five that do not adhere to these standards and document in your blog.

The appearance of a website can repulse viewers, or attract viewers.

Sites following website design best practices:

• PBS Learning Media - text is primary, contrast good for colorblind, no "dancing bears," ample whitespace, text size differences adequate, sans-serif, adequate font size, uses CSS (as seen when viewing source) and has elastic-width
• Discovery Education - text is primary, contrast good for colorblind, ample whitespace, text size differences adequate, sans-serif, adequate font size, uses CSS (as seen when viewing source), but some pages are fixed-width, some are elastic, no "dancing bears"
• FreeRice.com - good contrast, text is primary, "whitespace" is actually green but still contrasts nicely with text, sans-serif, adequate font size, uses CSS (as seen when viewing source), no "dancing bears," fixed-width so some devices would require a lot of scrolling
• eLearning for Kids - text is primary, contrast good for colorblind, ample whitespace, text size differences adequate, sans-serif, adequate font size, uses CSS (as seen when viewing source) and has elastic-width, nice, clean looking site
• http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ - colorful, clean with white background, uses squares for links with images, text is included with image, sans-serif, CSS (as seen when viewing source), flexible width, amlple whitespace, good contrast, no "dancing bears"

Not so great:

• http://www.chemtutor.com/ - serif, good factual information, "Pretty is not our aim, but we think there is a lot of useful information here," white background with blue underlined links, flexible width, no CSS or color 
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html - recently improved colored header with horizontal navigation, white background with blackline content area, many links, difficult to find needed material unless one knows where to look, difficult to use
• http://www.factmonster.com/ - good information, but some of the text sizes are too small, has a new look that is much cleaner and user-friendly
• http://www.refdesk.com/index.html - white background with blackline table, very busy, difficult to navigate, fixed-width, serif, homepage is very long with many links,
• http://www.homeworkspot.com/ - content area white background with blackline table, busy with lots of links, difficult to find needed information, long homepage, bright yellow navigation side-bar could be difficult to see for colorblind, fixed width, does not use CSS

Create 1.1.2. – Creating a Content Map Quest

Using a format explored above, create a Content Map for the chosen topic. Post the completed Content Map in your blog.

created by C. Thornton

Create 1.1.1 – Time Management Quest

By NasimAhmed96$ (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons

List five time management tools in your blog and briefly describe their use and relevance to the online world. Does the tool relate to personal, professional, or a combination of both?

Google Calendar - schedule appointments, view a daily agenda, receive customized notifications, can layer personal and business calendars. This tool can be used both personally and professionally.

Stay Focused Chrome extension - A timer that closes a specific site after spending a specified amount of time there. I would use this personally on games, social media, or other distracting sites when I need to focus on getting some work completed.

RescueTime - Records length of time spent in each app/site/activity. Analyzes where time is spent and creates a report to use for next week's planning purposes. RescueTime could be an eye-opener for a lot of people. Think of using this as a parent on your child's computer when they are supposed to be conducting research for a project. I would use this both personally and professionally for the analysis of where I spend my online time. I am thinking of the Digital Health quest completed a few weeks ago. I can't wait to use it myself and then to suggest its use to others! 

Daily Agenda - app syncs all calendars into one place to view on one screen showing appointments and meetings for the day. I use Google Calendars and have a calendar for school, class, professional schedule, personal schedule and family schedule. This app could be used both personally and professionally to view what is happening in all areas on a specific day.

Remember the Milk - an app I cannot wait to use! I would like to make a grocery list and send it to my husband, send myself reminders of appointments, meetings, and conferences. It is basically a to-do list that can be used with Siri and sent to Gmail, and Google Calendar. Could be used both personally and professionally.

Communicate 4.3.1 The Synchronous Session Quest

How does integrating synchronous learning sessions within the online environment assist in developing a learning community for students? Discuss this question at length in your blog.

Synchronous tools provide humanization in the online world. Students learn better when they know the teacher cares about them and their success. A personal connection can be achieved through real-time meetings. Synchronous meetings allow participants and teachers to develop a learning relationship virtually. Online meetings allow shy students a safe place to communicate with the teacher. Students should be encouraged to share useful information (sites) that would help others with their work or understanding. Through sharing and collaborating a strong learning community can be built and maintained. Another area of interest is that a real-time meeting allows the facilitator to share expertise on the subject that might not be contained within the course module, strengthening the connections in the course learning community.

Guidelines:

• Publish a backup plan in case internet connectivity is lost; gather student contact information to use in case of internet issues; record the session and publish it within the course.
• Have an orientation and welcome session with students. Show learners how to use the features of the synchronous software.
• Begin and end "office hours" or synchronous meetings on time. Participants need to be able to count on the hours being available as published. Weekly synchronous sessions are an effective way to provide detailed instructions, sharing any pitfalls students may encounter with assignments.
• Publish an agenda. Make sure all content windows are open and ready prior to beginning the session.
• Check audio and video to make sure everything is working properly.
• Ask participants to check their settings.
• Stay on topic during the session.
• Keep up with improvements to features of the synchronous platform.
• Use the chat feature to provide individual assistance to those who require extra help, or conduct an additional meeting.

Resources:

Kipp, Kristin. "Thinking About Synchronous Sessions." Education Frontier. N.p., 06 Jan. 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2016. <http://educationfrontier.org/thinking-about-synchronous-sessions/>.

Kelly, Rob. "Build Community, Extend Learning with Online Synchronous Sessions." Faculty Focus. Magna Publications, 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 13 Feb. 2016. <http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/asynchronous-learning-and-trends/build-community-extend-learning-online-synchronous-sessions/>.

Kosalka, Michelle. "Using Synchronous Tools to Build Community in the Asynchronous Online Classroom - Faculty Focus." Faculty Focus. Magna Publications, 10 Aug. 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2016. <http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/asynchronous-learning-and-trends/using-synchronous-tools-to-build-community-in-the-asynchronous-online-classroom/>.