This blog will detail my experiences evaluating Web 2.0 software as part of the CUIN 7376 class at University of Houston. My intent is to offer insightful information to fellow students and educators that will guide them in selecting Web 2.0 applications for their own professional and personal needs.
This week, I have created a presentation that highlights viable Web 2.0 (and some non-Web 2.0 but free) products for use in corporate or private sector classrooms. The presentation provides video, audio and text commentary regarding:
General observations of corporate/private sector learning development and management
Obstacles that many in the corporate environment face with when looking at standard learning and development solutions
Potential Web 2.0 tools to fill the gaps
Benefits and examples of using such tools
Potential Web 2.0 Risks
Success factors for implementing Web 2.0 solutions
I hope the presentation provided you with some ideas and useful advice. Thank you for sharing my reviews as well as my own journey of learning this semester.
Interesting fact #1: FacebookTM (http://www.facebook.com/) offers not only personal accounts, but also for celebrities, bands, businesses, artists, public figures and even organizations.
Interesting fact #2: FacebookTM has a Community Page feature that allows user to garner support for a cause in the community.
Interesting fact #3: FacebookTM allows Group functionality where people who share a common interest can easily communicate with each other.
(NOTE: Images in this review are small within the formatting of the text. Please click on them to explore the actual detail further.)
Overview:
Most students today have some familiarity with FacebookTM. Regardless of individual thoughts on the usefulness, safety, or even societal impact of this tool, one thing is for sure – it is powerful. Take the personal account for instance. Not only has FacebookTM replaced common email functionality with its own embedded email tool to some extent but the personal account is also packed with features such as:
Organized photo and video albums
Calendars for events and birthdays that allow users to populate them with their individual information
Instant chat with FacebookTM friends
Games
Digital gifting
Group affiliation
Community action participation
Mobile applications for staying connected including SMS capability
Screenshot: FacebookTM Wall
But even more important is the ever present Wall and News Feed. These two features alone give FacebookTM the punch that sets them apart from other applications such as MySpaceTM and TwitterTM. The FacebookTM Wall feature is basically a message board where friends can send instant messages to the owner. Say they want to update the owner on a good grade they received, an assignment question they might have or give details of the most recent episode of Glee; this is where they do it. But what makes FacebookTM so powerful is that other friends can read these posts and add their comments. And their friends can read these same comments and post comments through the News Feed feature that captures all these posts and organizes them into a sequential message board for friends to follow. It is truly an easy way to stay informed and entertained. Not to mention that FacebookTM send notifications of messages from friends and groups to the users external email such as GmailTM .
FacebookTM works with any OS because it is a web-based application. All the user needs is access to a web browser. Furthermore, FacebookTM has mobile applications that work on the iPhoneTM, BlackberryTM and AndroidTM. Access more information at http://www.facebook.com/mobile/.
Features:
So you are probably saying to yourself, “What does this have to do with education?” Granted the use of an email account, the instant sharing that is available to users and the ability to track strings of conversations is useful in any situation, but what else could an educator use it for? In this review, we will focus on FacebookTM Groups. Since the application has so many interesting features for personal accounts, my focus will be on the FacebookTM tools teachers might use to inform students, promote collaboration, or even check for understanding. To do that we must log in to a personal account and then create a FacebookTM Group.
The FacebookTM Group offers functionality not too different from a FacebookTM personal account. To start, the Group can be found on FacebookTM just like a normal user. In this case I searched for the term “course” and found Course in Box.This course is administered by an individual out of Egypt.
Screenshot: FacebookTM Group Info Tab
Further down the Info page, we see that the course is for students that have taken a graphic design and creative advertising course from Mo'men Mokhtar in the College of Fine Arts.
Screenshot: FacebookTM Group Info Tab - Course Information
Clicking on the CIB Wall, notice that past students are able to post comments, not only in English but also in Arabic. Furthermore, the comments are sequential.
Screenshot: FacebookTM Group CIB Wall Tab
Next, click on the Photos tab where students have shared materials they have created or accumulated. Clicking on the photo opens another window that allows closer inspection of the photo as well as the ability to comment on the work.
Screenshot: FacebookTM Group Photos Tab
Sharing photos is not the only collaborative activity that students of this course Group page can do either. On the Discussion tab, students/group members are able to start discussion topics to be discussed by the entire group and logged. More than one discussion can be taking place at a time.
Screenshot: FacebookTM Group Discussion Tab
Within a discussion, individual postings are recorded and organized for sequential viewing.
Screenshot: FacebookTM Group Discussion Example
A course administrator also has the option of including video. On the Video tab, we see a list of videos available to students. Clicking on the videos launches other pages where the video may have originated.
Screenshot: FacebookTM Group Video Tab
Last but not least, Group administrators or instructors can schedule events. This offers teachers to administer their course effectively using scheduled dates that require the student to acknowledge attendance.
Screenshot: FacebookTM Group Event Tab
Clicking on the event, allows students to see the time, date, location of the event. Even more useful, is the student's ability to post questions or comments to the event Wall, to download the event information for population in an email calendar such as EntourageTM or OutlookTM and to respond to attendance.
Screenshot: FacebookTM Event Information
Final Thoughts:
To be honest, I would never have thought of using FacebookTM for educational purposes. As an individual user I find the tool way to "needy" for my liking. The level of privacy it offers is not standard and therefore users are at leisure to offer as little or as is more often the case more than enough information about their personal lives. However, the truth of the matter is that most students are using it these days. And to further that point, most of them have a level of comfort with the tool that is scary to old people such as myself. Nevertheless, I see potential in its use, albeit cautiously.
The ability to form a group, to communicate through instant messaging, email or through a message board is not unlike MoodleTM. In fact, FacebookTM offers a great deal of the functionality that resources such as MoodleTM do. Missing is the server space that stores textual content, though there is room for photos and videos. Absent is the ability to easily control the viewing of content or even what is said. In any case, FacebookTM coupled with other Web 2.0 tools through hyperlinks throughout the Group page might have the potential to imitate a tool specifically meant for online learning. But why waste time, when you have tools such as MoodleTM?
I do however see great potential in allow students to experiment in a collaborative manner. Maybe work/study groups could be set up that with monitoring from an instructor would provide insight into the productivity and status of student projects. Or maybe there is opportunity to use FacebookTM Group pages for project groups to organize, produce and share their final work. The good news is that we don't have to spend too much time thinking about it. The tool is easy enough to explore the possibilities, FacebookTM is adding more tools all the time, and as witnessed in my example from Cairo, Egypt, users are beginning to see its power.
In Summary:
Advantages
FacebookTM is free.
Provides an opportunity to integrate with other Web 2.0 products using hyperlinks within the Group page.
The interface is rather intuitive though it takes a while to acclimate.
There is a mobile component to the tool.
Groups have control over who is included.
Disadvantages
Advertisements. There are a lot of them within FacebookTM. Though they are not intrusive they are still there and possibly a concern.
The administrator has limited control of the environment. Discussions for example do not have start and end times.
FacebookTM has had previous issues with personal data security.
Hope this entry was useful to you. As I mentioned early, I’ve only reviewed the Group page functionality of FacebookTM. Check back next week when I'll provide a comprehensive presentation of how Web 2.0 tools can be used in distance education.
Below is the Week 4 project that Coretta Edwards, Tom Pile and I completed. Check it out.
We used various Web 2.0 tools to plan, construct and share the final product. To start, we used regular, old-fashioned email to schedule rough meeting times. Next, we met online and recorded our meetings using Google Wave. To complete the PowerPoint, a draft template was created using Microsoft PowerPoint for ease because I already own it. But then, the template was uploaded to Google Docs so all of the team could work on the content. Once final, we uploaded the presentation you will see to VoiceThread, shared it to all team members thus allowing each of us to add commentary. And finally, while in VoiceThread, I posted the uploaded document to this blog.
Now that's some serious Web 2.o productivity! Wouldn't you agree?
The only change I would make to the process is my shameful use of Microsoft PowerPoint. Bad reviewer - I know. I could have just as easily, and for a much cheaper price (insert FREE), used Impress form the OpenOffice.org productivity suite of the same name. Next time I will...I promise.
In the meantime, enjoy the presentation below that covers future trends in Distance Education:
I hope you enjoyed the presentation, the commentary and even added some comments. Check back next week, Week 5, when I'll be reviewing Facebook. That is sure to be no simple task.
This week's Web 2.0 tool review is on Creately. Creately is a critical thinking tool that allows the user to create work flows, process flows and technical diagrams by dragging and dropping objects onto a gridded worksheet. It is an amazingly easy tool and better yet if offers collaboration between multiple users through the website - creately.com.
This week I have included two videos. The first is the review of the product. This video includes all of the information you will need to access, create, save (export) and print a diagram. The second video contains a review of the advantages and disadvantages of the product as well as obstacles and benefits to using it in the classroom.
Interesting fact #1: SkypeTM is a free communication tool that can be downloaded at www.Skype.com.Once there, click on Get SkypeTM, then click on the Get SkypeTM for . is determined by the SkypeTM website.
Interesting fact #2: SkypeTM allows users to communicate free over the web using video.Now that’s something to talk about.
Interesting fact #3: The user can also call landlines, mobile phones and instant message friends using the downloaded SkypeTM tool.
Overview:
SkypeTM is a tool that has been around for a while now.It provides normal Joes like you and me with the ability to conference using video over the web, with additional tools for instant messaging, communicating via telephone/mobile phone and various optional features such as faxing, video conference recording, white boarding and linking to Outlook and My Space.In a nutshell this little package provides a great service with no hitch (translation – cash) using the basic tools.The interface, yes there is a downloaded application that stays on your computer, is pretty intuitive with the common attributes of any window-based application.There is a menu bar, with numerous selections, options for configuring the application to the end users preferences, as well as online help, hover text and reminders for guiding the user along in their conference, text session or phone call.
Screenshot: Main SkypeTM window
What is really nice about SkypeTM, other than the fact that it’s free, is that it operates pretty seamlessly (translation: it doesn’t crash a lot).My review was done using broadband at home and I had no real connectivity or speed issues.Additionally, during this time I had the opportunity to download and install the Windows 7 version and compare it to the OSX version I usually use on Mac.And while I can say the functionality is the same and there didn’t seem to be any variation in speed or reliability, I will mention here that the difference in look and feel between the two versions made it somewhat difficult to initially adjust.Nonetheless, after about an hour I was sailing along easily between the two versions.
System Requirements:
SkypeTM works with Windows, OSX and Linux and though the system requirements vary some between the operating systems, the general requirements are:
·Between 800 Mhz and 2Ghz processor
·Between 256 and 512MB RAM
·20 MB free disk space
·Microphone and speakers or a headset
·Internet connection (broadband where possible)
These are the minimum requirements.In my experience with video and audio, the maximum you can get is the preferred mode for things to run smoothly.For more information - http://www.Skype.com/intl/en-us/get-Skype/on-your-computer/windows/.Click on the OS on the right side of the page, scroll to the bottom of the corresponding page and you will be able to confirm the system requirements for your operating system.
Features:
So let me break down a few of the features in SkypeTM.As I mentioned earlier, SkypeTM is a great product if for nothing else that it provides communication over the web for free.I’ve actually used the mobile version to make phone calls for free back to the states while in Europe – a major cost savings.But even with the cost being so wonderful, Skype stays on the mark for the shear usability in conferencing over the Internet using video, text and audio.
Screenshot: SkypeTM functionality – Call, Video Call, Share Screen and more
Making calls whether video or to a landline/mobile phone is extremely easy.In the case of a videoconference, the initiator simple double-clicks on the conference partner’s SkypeTM ID within their contact list and then Video to initiate the conference.
Screenshot: Making a call
For a call to a mobile phone or landline, the initiator simply double-clicks on the desired contact then selects Call instead of Video and a telephone pad appears.Next, the initiator dials the number using the pad and the call is started. Well at least the phone will start to ring, the recipient still needs to accept it.
Screenshot: Dialing a landline/mobile phone in SkypeTM
Screenshot: Accepting calls (voice and video) in SkypeTM
Screenshot: An active conference call in SkypeTM
Users also have the ability to instant message one another within the application.So if you haven’t brushed your hair that day, have a blemish or just don’t feel like putting on a “happy face”, you’ve got options.
Screenshot: Instant messaging in SkypeTM
One feature that is very useful in the classroom is the ability to share desktops.Mind you the conference partner cannot take over the initiator’s desktop, but they can follow them as they move around it opening and closing windows, making calculations or most importantly demonstrating some activity.
Screenshot: Sharing a full screen or a selected window in SkpeTM
Once the initiator shares their screen, the conference partner has the ability to increase the size of the screen by double-clicking on it to watch the activity of the presenter.
Screenshot: A shared desktop
Two final features seem beneficial to mention here. One is the ability to block callers and the other is extra applications that are available to users of SkypeTM that integrate to enhance the application.
To block a caller, the user only has to select Conversation from the menu bar then Block.The application prompts the user to confirm and those pesky Ex’s are history…at least in SkypeTM.
Screenshot:Blocking a caller
To select additional features provided by third-party vendors such as video conference recording, faxing and white boarding, the user selects Tools from the menu bar and then Extras.
Screenshot: Third-party optional features for SkypeTM
Final Thoughts:
In my opinion, SkypeTM is a wonderful tool.It provides a great deal of functionality at the perfect price – nothing.Moreover, it is not a “space hog” requiring copious amounts of the hard drive, nor crashing every couple of minutes because of memory issues.But most importantly I like it because it is evolving.I remember the days when it did crash and did not provide all of the features it does today.In this version, both on Mac and Windows, I am beginning to seem practical uses for it in the classroom e.g. guest speakers from NASA, City Hall, or even institutions far away.More and more we see video conferencing being used on the news with such simple tools as SkypeTM.Why not take full advantage of them in our classrooms.The additional features such as white boarding (Not review this time because it does not come with the base package) and remote desktop sharing have practical uses in the classroom e.g. demonstrations and white boarding during lectures.So my final assessment is that SkypeTM has somewhat arrived.It still has a way to go, but it has practical uses today.
In Summary:
·Advantages
oOptional software such as VODBURNER that allow the student and instructor to be more productive by recording conversations.There is other optional software for linking to My Space, white boarding and faxing.
oSkypeTM provides accessibility options for students and instructors who may need them.
oAccessible on smartphones and television.
oEasy-to-use interface
oAbility to block callers
oAbility to share remote desktops and windows
oMultiple methods of communication (text, voice, video)
·Disadvantages
oInterface in Windows looks significantly different than in Mac, though the functionality is the same.In the classroom this might pose some initial problems getting set up.
oCalls do drop though not a real issue.
oAdd on software is free in some cases but most often at a subscription fee so buyer beware.
oThough you can do one-to-one video conferencing, you cannot to multiple video connections at the same time – or at least others are put on hold while you conference with one connection.What this means is that in a learning environment, the teacher could be remote and conference via video with a classroom in another classroom.However he or she would not be able to teach to a class of students in multiple locations with each student being able to see every other student and the teacher.In my mind, this is a major drawback to implementing it as a full learning solution.
Hope this entry was useful to you.As I mentioned early, I’ve only reviewed the basic functionality of SkypeTM.Check back often for other product reviews and more in-depth reviews of previous stories.
Just wanted to take a quick second to welcome you to my new blog for the UH Summer 2010 course (combined) CUIN 7356 - Issues in Distance Education and CUIN 7376 - Design of Online Educational Resources II. In this blog I'll review Web 2.0 software using the following criteria:
1. Name of the Tool 2. URL of the Tool 3. Please select the one, primary category for this tool: Communication Tool, Collaboration Tool, Productivity Tool, Creativity Tool, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Tool, Reflection Tool, Feedback Tool, Networking/Social Tool, Presentation Tool 4. Please describe this tool in your own words in about 250 words. 5. What do you need to know before using this tool? (What skills do you need to have?) 6. What do you need to have before using this tool? (Resources) 7. How do you use this tool? (Write the basic steps using a numbered list) 8. Please create an example with this tool and either embed in your blog or submit the URL. 9. Please describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment (about 500 words). 10. What are the advantages of using this tool in a teaching environment? 11. What are the disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?
I hope you find the information useful in selecting Web 2.0 applications for your own personal and professional projects. And be sure to check this blog often for updates and the latest review.
This week, I have created a presentation that highlights viable Web 2.0 (and some non-Web 2.0 but free) products for use in corporate or private sector classrooms. The presentation provides video, audio and text commentary regarding:
Welcome back loyal review followers.
