6 • Skype and Google +
Group meeting synopsis posted to wiki, due 10/3.
Team Members
Adam & Alia
Group meeting synopsis posted to wiki, due 10/3.
Team Members
Adam & Alia
Synopsis Summary
During your Skype call with your team, please discuss the following:
Consider the strengths and weaknesses of some of the tools we're covering including.
Blackboard Collaborate
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Skype
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Laulima
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Jing
Strengths:
Online Library Searching
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Blogs
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
E-Mail
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Twitter
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Web-Based Content
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
While in Skype, explore Google+ as a team.
Which of these tools seem particularly suitable for web-based instruction and why? Be specific when considering these tools. Have your team consider some specific situations in which one or more of these tools might be used instructionally.
Adam
While there are technical "kinks" in both Blackboard Collaborate and the Laulima portal, I believe both of these tools are adequately suited for web-based instruction. Blackboard provides the synchronous and asynchronous connectivity needed for real-time and delayed communications. The features within this online instructional program provides a wealth of interactive tools that caters to teacher-centered and student-centered teaching. There are a number of improvements that should be made in order to make the program more intuitive and effective. One example in particular would be document sharing. When compared to the synchronous features of Google Docs, there is a noticeable difference in the intuitiveness and robustness that "Docs" has over Blackboard.
When it comes to educational portal sites, I have experienced my share of "Good, Bad, and the Ugly." Compared to previous educational portal sites, professionally speaking, I would rank Laulima in the "Bad" zone. As much as I like the "tabbed" interface, there is a lot that can be said about the sites performance speed (page rendering) and lack of continuity between facilitator pages. There doesn't appear to be a set "standard" that everyone follows. Over the past few months I have found myself at times lost and confused. When I look over at the menu bar to the left there is little consistency. From an intuitive standpoint, I feel like I'm looking at the menu for the first time every time I glance over at it. For example, some instructors use the "Weekly agenda and assignments" and "Mailtool" sub-menus, while others don't.
Overall, I believe in spite of said annoyances and limitations, both of these tools are very useful in conducting synchronous and asynchronous online instructional sessions. Blackboard and Laulima provide the means to collaborate within a classroom setting and keep track of vital pieces of information pertaining to each course within the ETEC/OTEC program.
Alia
Personally, I can see how blackboard collaborate, email, blogs and laulima could be useful instructional tools for me. Several students have emotional, family problems etc that cause them to miss many days of school. Students often have trouble meeting after school and become so buried in makeup work they feel lost and overwhelmed. Using these tools could help me better help these types of students. The downside is students may not be able to have access to a computer or internet. I think it would be best to combine all of these tools, but tools like laulima would still be valuable if students had limited access to a computer and internet. We could still communicate, provide feedback and instruction through asynchronous tools. I think this combination of tools provides the most versatility and flexibility to address whatever issues, needs students may have. They work together and individually.
Google+ Team Evaluation
During your Skype call with your team, please discuss the following:
Consider the strengths and weaknesses of some of the tools we're covering including.
Blackboard Collaborate
Strengths:
- Real-time collaboration (Synchronous Communication).
- Easy to adapt and modify for diverse learners.
- Adequate selection of instructional tools (i.e. whiteboard, polling, audio/video, application sharing, et al.).
- Session recordings and playback.
- Ability to break meeting attendees into groups.
Weaknesses:
- There is a technical learning curve that may be intimidating to some.
- Requires hardware configuration (i.e. webcam, audio, microphone, et al.)
- Effectiveness does somewhat depend on an instructor's preparedness.
- Requires a paid account for meetings in excess of three attendees.
- Document sharing is very weak compared to Google Docs.
Skype
Strengths:
- Can conference up to three people with free account.
- Make free Skype to Skype audio and video calls for free.
- With Microsoft's acquisition of the company, Skype's features will be incorporate into Microsoft's products.
- Skype is currently available on multi-hardware platforms (i.e. PC, Mac, iOS Devices, and Android Devices).
- Ability to share data files between users.
Weaknesses:
- Based on Microsoft's history, there is a strong chance that the free model will be removed or stripped of current features.
- No instructional tools (i.e. whiteboard, polling, audio/video, application sharing, et al.).
- Paid model is fairly expensive in comparison to other telecom services.
- Video calls are limited to one person with free model.
- Tight integration with Facebook can present privacy and security issues.
Laulima
Strengths:
- Organized "tabbed" interface with access to course lessons.
- Has a schedule program that allows for assignment and meeting reminders.
- Cater's to asynchronous forms of online communications.
- Convenient portal for all course and program resources.
- Supports embedded HTML sites within the site.
Weaknesses:
- Interface is dated and sluggish in performance.
- Access to course information is not consistent between instructors.
- Requires paid subscription.
- Mailtool is glitchy and lacks a few fundamental features.
- Interface appearance is different depending on browser used.
Jing
Strengths:
- Very easy to download, install, and use.
- It's free model provides adequate features.
- Excellent means of creating instructional lessons.
- Good for students who may have learning barriers such as ELL or difficulties hearing etc.
- Provides a number of quick methods for posting recorded videos to the web.
- Requires a paid subscription for additional features (i.e. removal of time cap, format types, et al.).
- Free model limits saving of video to one file format (SWF).
- Resizing video to fit specific size dimensions requires website building experience.
- Requires a software client in order to work.
- Is not as intuitive as Screenr.
Online Library Searching
Strengths:
- Extremely useful for conducting research or finding reliable peer reviewed resources.
- Direct access to real librarians who can assist with your search.
- Supports the industry standard PDF (Portable Document File) format.
- Information from this resource locator is deemed valid for research projects.
- Provides an easy method of location journals and articles from the same author(s).
Weaknesses:
- There is a technical learning curve that can be difficult to grasp.
- Finding information can be tedious, timely, and costly.
- Way too many re-directions to advertisements and solicitations.
- Unless you are not a student, OLS requires a paid subscription to viable resources.
- Too many database indexes to search.
Blogs
Strengths:
- Provides an outlet for personal expression and reflection.
- Great source of entertainment and informative commentary.
- Provides restrictions that help prevent unwanted comment posts.
- There are many free blog sites (i.e. Blogger, WordPress, Tumblr, Weebly, et al.).
- Great way of receiving constructive feedback and/or additional insight from visitors.
Weaknesses:
- The content is often biased commentary.
- Many people mistake blogs for content that is deemed "true" journalism.
- Difficult to gain user following unless you're part of a blog circle (global consortium).
- Some blog sites are jumbled and unorganized with far too many links and ads.
- Many blog sites require enrollment in order to post comments.
Strengths:
- Cater's to asynchronous forms of online communications.
- There are many free email services.
- Useful way of sharing digital files and documents (via attachments).
- Provides an excellent way of tracking conversations.
- Completely replaces the dated fax machine.
Weaknesses:
- Way too much spam and solicitations.
- Excellent means of spreading viruses.
- An individual's personal email address can be easily shared by an ignorant or malicious mailer.
- Many times there are caps on inbound and outbound file attachment sizes.
- The context of an email can be easily misunderstood.
Strengths:
- Provides quick personal updates and shared information.
- Very effective at spreading information in rapid time.
- Creates an avenue where fans and idols have a more "personal" relationship.
- Helps to build social communities around the globe.
- Can post "tweets" on mobile devices.
Weaknesses:
- Limited number of characters per "tweeted" post (140 characters).
- Another means for global mindless chatter.
- Is often an issue with employees within the business sector.
- Has been proven to attract individuals with malicious intent.
- Twitter accounts are often hacked creating security and privacy issues.
Web-Based Content
Strengths:
- Excellent source of educational resources posted by educators with proven success rates.
- Provides visceral instructional tools that utilize video and flash animations.
- There is an endless supply of web-based sites to choose from.
- Very quick way of accessing information without having to go to a library or consult with fellow educators.
- Fairly easy to use with very low learning curve.
Weaknesses:
- Requires Internet connectivity.
- Some websites are poorly written making navigation and viewing difficult at best.
- Third-party advertisements can create confusion increase risk of viral infection.
- Many sites require additional browser plug-ins to view (i.e. java, activex, flash, et al.).
- Access via mobile devices is spotty depending on the way the site was written.
While in Skype, explore Google+ as a team.
Which of these tools seem particularly suitable for web-based instruction and why? Be specific when considering these tools. Have your team consider some specific situations in which one or more of these tools might be used instructionally.
Adam
While there are technical "kinks" in both Blackboard Collaborate and the Laulima portal, I believe both of these tools are adequately suited for web-based instruction. Blackboard provides the synchronous and asynchronous connectivity needed for real-time and delayed communications. The features within this online instructional program provides a wealth of interactive tools that caters to teacher-centered and student-centered teaching. There are a number of improvements that should be made in order to make the program more intuitive and effective. One example in particular would be document sharing. When compared to the synchronous features of Google Docs, there is a noticeable difference in the intuitiveness and robustness that "Docs" has over Blackboard.
When it comes to educational portal sites, I have experienced my share of "Good, Bad, and the Ugly." Compared to previous educational portal sites, professionally speaking, I would rank Laulima in the "Bad" zone. As much as I like the "tabbed" interface, there is a lot that can be said about the sites performance speed (page rendering) and lack of continuity between facilitator pages. There doesn't appear to be a set "standard" that everyone follows. Over the past few months I have found myself at times lost and confused. When I look over at the menu bar to the left there is little consistency. From an intuitive standpoint, I feel like I'm looking at the menu for the first time every time I glance over at it. For example, some instructors use the "Weekly agenda and assignments" and "Mailtool" sub-menus, while others don't.
Overall, I believe in spite of said annoyances and limitations, both of these tools are very useful in conducting synchronous and asynchronous online instructional sessions. Blackboard and Laulima provide the means to collaborate within a classroom setting and keep track of vital pieces of information pertaining to each course within the ETEC/OTEC program.
Alia
Personally, I can see how blackboard collaborate, email, blogs and laulima could be useful instructional tools for me. Several students have emotional, family problems etc that cause them to miss many days of school. Students often have trouble meeting after school and become so buried in makeup work they feel lost and overwhelmed. Using these tools could help me better help these types of students. The downside is students may not be able to have access to a computer or internet. I think it would be best to combine all of these tools, but tools like laulima would still be valuable if students had limited access to a computer and internet. We could still communicate, provide feedback and instruction through asynchronous tools. I think this combination of tools provides the most versatility and flexibility to address whatever issues, needs students may have. They work together and individually.
Google+ Team Evaluation
- Hangouts is a very useful tool given the fact that you can have up to ten (10) users connected via video conference.
- The automated switching of the main screen to the current speaker is a very cool feature to have.
- Circles provides the user with a lot more control over the way information is sent and received.
- The tight integration of Google Docs is added value to the overall collaborative experience.
- The social networking aspect of Google+ makes for a very robust alternative to other communication services (i.e. Skype, Twitter, Blogger, Facebook, et al.). It is an all-in-one package that will continue to push the boundaries of what can be done via remote online sessions.