In looking to create my Non-LMS toolkit, my first thought was that in order for this to be of use to me I needed to enquire as to what, if any, restrictions my school district has, in relation to students use of tools and services. I talked to our technology person and found out that students can use any tool or service where they create their own account. However, if they and/or their parents decide they do not want them to use the resource then I will need to look to other options. If I wish to use a management system or resource, in which I register students and create accounts for them, then it must be Canada based or hosted on our own server, as those hosted in the US are not subject to the Canadian privacy act. Add to this my personal preference, which is for free tools and resources. With these guidelines in mind, I began creating my toolkit.
In looking to build a sense of community one needs to look at offering students the opportunity for discussion, communication and collaboration.
In looking to build content one must have a dashboard for students to go to first as well as a resource for building content/lessons/presentation and we must not forget the calendar.
In the building of any course one key focus area is assessment, both summative and formative.
My Non-LMS toolbox is now built. With technology changing at an ever increasing speed I know it will evolve. I look forward to using these resources with my students, as I continue on my journey as a 21st century educator.
In looking to build a sense of community one needs to look at offering students the opportunity for discussion, communication and collaboration.
- Discussion: I am interested in looking to use Twitter Hashtag https://twitter.com/ , Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/ and WordPress. I have had the opportunity to use both Twitter and Facebook during OLTD and found both to be a great way to host discussions, although Twitter did not allow for as much reflection as Facebook. I will talk further about WordPress under content.
- Communication: I presently use Skype http://www.skype.com/en/ and find it a great way to communicate with my students, and if they have the functionality, to see students who are at a distance. Skype also allows me to share my desktop. If looking to group discussions it is free up to a certain number of students and for a small fee you can increase that number. Wikispaces http://www.wikispaces.com Choices are direct communication in the wiki or you can create a two-way conversation, by using Google forms. Add a survey and get feedback from students on a particular unit. http://blog.wikispaces.com/2013/03/tips-and-tricks-embedding-google-forms.html . Snagit http://www.techsmith.com/snagit.html is new to me, but caught my eye right away as it gives you all the tools you need to create eye-catching images and videos for easy sharing, just what I have been looking for as I want to create instructional videos for my courses.
- Collaboration: I would not hesitate to suggest Google Docs, as I have experienced what a wonderful tool it can be for collaboration. I would inform students that it is hosted in the US, so they and/or their parents can make an informed decision about whether to use it or not. Titan Pads http://titanpad.com/ caught my eye, as it is free collaborative workspace where users can work on their documents in real time. It provides a chat window so that users can chat with one another while working on their documents. Bonus, there is no sign-up required and one can start right away. Corkboard https://corkboard.me/OyqYSrf4Pg . First I liked that registration is not required to use the service, simply visit the site and create a corkboard. A URL will be assigned to your corkboard and from there it can be shared with students/colleagues so that they too can add notes to the wall. I could see myself using Corkboard as a central place for my students to share their thoughts and/or links to websites they have referred to in relation to a specific topic.
In looking to build content one must have a dashboard for students to go to first as well as a resource for building content/lessons/presentation and we must not forget the calendar.
- Dashboard and Building content/lessons/presentation: WordPress http://wordpress.org/ is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. It offers free software that you can install on a web server. You can upload and install themes and plugins, and edit the database. This can be hosted on our district server; as such it meets the requirement guidelines. I am looking forward to using this tool in the future.
- Calendar: Facebook Events If I chose to use Facebook with my students I would include the calendar. I would use this to post extracurricular events. The invitation function allows you to request RSVP’s. As those of us who use Facebook have seen, along with its other functions, the use of the calendar can create community interactions and relationships. I have just confirmed my attendance at my 35th high school reunion through Facebook Calendar.
In the building of any course one key focus area is assessment, both summative and formative.
- Reflection/Journaling Tools: I have learned what a great reflection/journaling tool Weebly www.weebly.com is during OLTD. Students will need some guidance creating their own Weebly sites but then they can begin sharing their thoughts as we have, and receiving feedback from others through the comment function. Facebook www.facebook.com ,as I said before, allows time for reflection whether it be a response in relation to a post made by a friend or colleague or one posts as a reflection of something they have read or viewed. Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ , it is wonderful to see a resource listed that allows students the opportunity to give a verbal reflection. I could definitely see myself listing this, as a choice for my students to do their course reflection assignment. Photostory is another great way for students to reflect or journal in place of the written reflection. I love the idea of students who are travelling during the school year creating a journal through Photostory.
- Gradebook: Of the tools listed all are hosted in the US, this negates me from being able to use these tools, unless we hosted them on our own server.
- Presenting: I was thrilled with the tools I found listed. I would not hesitate to suggest these to my students as ways to present their learning, as well I could use them to create presentations for the students. Great alternatives to word documents, Xtranormal http://www.xtranormal.com/ allows students to create movies, giving them a different avenue in place of word documents. You pick characters from people to cuddly teddy bears and add different voices and scenes. You cannot insert anything other than what they provide. It is best fitted to a word document type of format where you are talking about something you have done or want to explain. Soo Meta http://www.soometa.com/ create a short movie/story by downloading to each slide right from YouTube, Google, or your computer. You can also insert sound tracks right on the slide. You cannot add personal videos from your computer. But you can create your background, video, and type in three easy steps. You can move each slide around or delete one of the items on the slide to only have a picture and words if you want. Vuvox http://www.vuvox.com/ three different formats: Express, Collage, and Studio. Express is a really quick and quite simple format. A downfall of the Express is that you are choosing from items that are ready made and there is no place to put text. The “Collage” allows you to upload personal pictures and videos. You can also rotate and overlap pictures. The “Studio” format is a lot more robust. You can collect media from the “Web” and from your computer to store and use or you can use what others have uploaded. You can also add sound tracks and text on the slides.
- Assignment Hand-In: Two sites that have appeared already in the creation of this toolkit and appear here again are Wikispaces http://www.wikispaces.com/ and Weebly www.weebly.com/ . Students create their own sites and then post assignments. To give feedback in Wikispace you must be invited in. Weebly has a comment button with each post. Both are open to the web, so marks need to be shared elsewhere. One other site listed is WordPress. This can be used similar to Wikispaces and Weebly, see comments under content heading.
- Feedback: https://www.blackboard.com/platforms/collaborate/overview.aspx Blackboard Collaborate is an online communication tool that we have used extensively in OLTD as a communication tool, which has been used successfully by teachers as a way to give feedback. It allows you to meet with students and physically see them and talk to them, and share documents and go over them together. The breakout group allows for student to student discussion and feedback. My coworkers and I have used Skype http://www.skype.com/en/, the same as with Collaborate we meet with students and share and go over documents together. If both students use Google, then Google Docs is an excellent tool for students to student sharing and feedback.
- Self-Evaluation/Quizzing: I can see myself directing my students to use Quizlet http://quizlet.com/ http://quizlet.com/math-and-science/ . As an online creator for flashcards students can use it as a study tool, as well as a self-assessment tool. Rubistar http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ I have explored this site previously, teachers can use either use pre-existing rubrics or create and design one of their own for both teacher and student self-evaluation. Hot Potato Quizzes http://hotpot.uvic.ca/index.php is a site I would like to explore further. It includes six applications, enabling you to create interactive multiple-choice, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ordering and gap-fill exercises for the Web. I am interested in using the interactive multiple-choice, short-answer and matching/ordering for student practice tests and self-assessments. Using Google Forms you can build an online quiz, which you can then embed in a wiki, that students can answer online. Or you can create a practice quiz for your students to do at home in preparation for a big exam. By embedding the quizzes in a classroom wiki your students will always know where to head, to find the latest test. http://blog.wikispaces.com/2013/03/tips-and-tricks-embedding-google-forms.html
My Non-LMS toolbox is now built. With technology changing at an ever increasing speed I know it will evolve. I look forward to using these resources with my students, as I continue on my journey as a 21st century educator.