Below is an example of a Google form embedded in a blog post using an iframe. The idea that I am exploring, is the possibility of including assessment for courses in a blog using Google forms.Thanks to Kent Brooks at Casper College for the idea!

Comprehensive guide to Google free tools for Teachers and Students

What an excellent presentation. Here is an overview of all of the tools that Google provides for teachers and students in one place. Google Documents, especially documents and forms are of a great deal of interest in putting together lessons, assessments, and content in a universal format that can be read in any browser. Check out the presentation: http://educationaltech-med.blogspot.com/2012/03/comprehensive-guide-to-google-free.html

101 Web 2.0 tools for teachers and another 100 just for good measure!

I'm just starting to wade through this list. Most I have heard of, but  there are many here that I have not actually explored. Good list with descriptions. http://www.goedonline.com/101-web-tools-for-teachers

And if that isn't enough to go through,  C4LP (The Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies) has its list of top 100 tools for learning: http://c4lpt.co.uk/top-100-tools-for-learning-2011/

Creating educational videos for Youtube (cheaply)

This post is from Wes Fryer's blog. It details a presentation by Marty Brandl on producing inexpensive and yet meaningful math lessons on Youtube. One of the things that was most intriguing to me about this was how little technology went into producing these lessons. Some of the text here is a little difficult to read, but it is easy enough to get the important part of the presentation, that these lessons were produced with a cheap microphone and a $35 Wacom pad. Check it out here: http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2012/03/09/creating-educational-videos-for-youtube-by-marty-brandl-swwc2012/ and then have a look at what Marty Brandl has posted on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=mbrandl11&view=videos

One of the things that struck me the most about this approach is that it does not rely on any elaborate graphics or animation. From the standpoint of reducing cognitive load through distraction, this is a marvelous approach!

Google Documents and BYOD

It really does seem like a no-brainer, but over the last two days I discovered the joy of Google Documents and presenting in a course using BYOD. The participants in the classroom had access to my PowerPoint (complete with links), and the assignment that I would normally hand out on paper through two links from Google Docs posted to my other blog. They could access my PowerPoint instantly and so have access to the items that I was discussing, including the very links that I was using in the presentation!

A simple thing perhaps, but it did make the experience much more seamless. The added benefit was in not having to be concerned about the device that they were using. Since the files were available in Google Documents, they were device independent. No more worrying about whether or not everyone in the classroom had the proper software (or version of the software).

Universally accessible documents AND no support issues, what's not to like?

BYOD?

Increasingly, what I have been reading lately has revolved around the concept of BYOD (bring your own device) in the classroom. Basically the idea is to allow students to bring in their own smart phones, tablets, notebooks, etc. and use these as a means of engagement and feedback using web pages, as polling devices, and for viewing and interacting with other web based material. This is as opposed to having a computer lab or other formal structured computer experience. One school of thought advocates that the device is an extension of the individual, and that allowing the use of these devices in the classroom increases student engagement and also allows the instructor to spend less time overseeing devices. The argument goes that since these are personal devices, learners already know how to use them, and so the amount of time supporting the device is reduced.

The other side of the argument is simple. Personal devices allow learners to be more easily distracted and the ability to use them for purposes other than classwork automatically raises the likelihood that they will be abused. A secondary argument is that the use of these devices could pose security risks if unsecured devices have access to personally identifiable information.

Here are a couple of articles that I have read in the last few days that address this issue:  http://plpnetwork.com/2012/03/09/pocket-based-learning-my-cellphone-classroom/ , and an interesting take on Polleverywhere from THE Journal (check out the comments at the bottom of the article) http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/03/07/byod-teachers-talk-classroom-use.aspx?=THEMOB
and finally http://www.ryanbretag.com/blog/?p=2767

What are your thoughts?

WebQuest PPT

This is the Introduction to WebQuests Powerpoint. Download this file if you are in the course and would like the original PowerPoint while you build your WebQuest. Here is the link to the Powerpoint

If you run into problems, your first stop should be Bernie Dodge's webquest.org. Almost any question can be answered there.

The assignment for the WebQuest itself can be found here.