Course Content: Emerging Formats

Over the past few years, many new technologies have emerged for distance learning. Below you'll find lots of options and suggested tools.

Be sure that end users have the plug-ins and other tools that might be needed to make use of these special features and formats.

Go to Multimedia Technology from Information Architecture for the Web for the basic plug-ins needed for online projects.

Audio

• Audacity. Open source software you can download and record your own audio.
• Evoca. Create, organize, share, and search voice recordings.
• Vaestro. Audio forum software that can be placed on your website.
• YackBack. Record your instant audio conference.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating audio and podcasting into your projects, go to Audio & Podcasting from Information Architecture for the Web.

Blogs

• Blogger
• Wordpress. Most comprehensive. You can also download the open source version on your own server.
• Edublogs. Annoying ads make this educational tool less desirable. Go to edublogawards for lots of exemplary K-12 blogs.
• Google Reader. Use this tool as your feed reader.
• Book Club Blogs
  • Blogger Book Club from Roselle Illinois
• Course Blogs Examples
  • Extreme Biology by S. Baker, Staten Island Academy

Learn more from Blogging, Podcasting, and Vlogging from High Tech Learning.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating blogs into your projects, go to Blogs from Information Architecture for the Web.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating RSS and Syndication into your projects, go to Syndication from Information Architecture for the Web.

Citation Tools

• BibMe
• Bibomatic
• Citation Machine
• End Note
• NoodleTools

Collaborative Concept Mapping

• Bubbl.us
• Creately
• Gliffy
• MyWebspiration. Example: Civil War Project
• Thinkature

Collaborative Productivity Tools

• Google Docs. Users can collaborate on word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• ThinkFree. Alternative to Microsoft office.
• Titanpad. Collaborative word processing. Example: Digital Child Titanpad
• Zoho. Tools for writing, spreadsheets, shows, notebook, etc.

Collaborative Timeline Tools

• Dipity, TimeRime, Timeglider (Middle School Titanic Timeline), Preceden

Collaborative Whiteboard and Sharing Tools

• Scribblar, Scriblink, Scibl

Learn more from Collaborative Web and Wikis from High Tech Learning.

Comic Makers

• Comic Life (software to purchase)
• MakeBeliefsComix, Pixton (Fire Safety)

Course Management Systems

• Drupal
• Moodle
• Nicenet

Learn more from Course Management Systems from High Tech Learning

Desktop Learning Spaces

Learn more from Desktop Learning Spaces from High Tech Learning

Email

Learn more from Email from High Tech Learning

Feedback Tools

• TodaysMeet. Connect in realtime. Example: Bookclubs
• Wallwisher. Post ideas. Examples: School Administration Wallwisher, Share a Professional Resource, Arthur Example
• Answer Garden. Gather thoughts. Example: What word best describes the US relationship with China?

Forums

• Good Reads
• Google Groups
• Yahoo Groups

Learn more from Forums from High Tech Learning.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating forum into your projects, go to Forums from Information Architecture for the Web.

Graphing Tools

• e-Tutor Graphing Calculator
• FooPlot

Image Sharing

• Flickr
• Photobucket
• Snapfish

Interactives, Animation and Multimedia Presentations Elements

• AuthorPoint. Allows people to share PowerPoint presentations.
• Expressr. Create and share slideshow.
• Slide. Create and share slideshow.
• SlideShare. Create and embed your slideshows. You can create original presentations or upload PowerPoint.
  • Math Example
  • Math Exam Review
• VoiceThread. Create and narrate slide shows. Also involve participants in commenting.

Learn more from Interactives from High Tech Learning.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating Flash into your projects, go to Flash from Information Architecture for the Web.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating PowerPoint into your projects, go to PowerPoint from Information Architecture for the Web.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating Slide Shows into your projects, go to Slide Shows from Information Architecture for the Web.

Multi-User Virtual Environments

• Second Life

Learn more from Social Networks and Virtual Worlds from High Tech Learning

Off-computer Environments

• Artifacts
• Physical Activities
  • Field trips
  • Lab assignments
  • Observations
• Print Materials
  • Notebooks
  • Textbooks

Online Documents

You can incorporate many types of online documents into your projects including both application files (i.e., Microsoft Excel, Inspiration) as well as PDF (Portable Document Format) files.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating documents into your projects, go to Documents from Information Architecture for the Web.

Poster Maker Tools

• Glogster (Tessellations)

Print Publishing

• Lulu
• Createspace

Research, Bookmarking, and Notetaking Tools

• The Awesome Highlighter
• Backboard
• Delicious
• Diigo
• Evernote - Capture information, organize it, and locate it
• Postica
• Springnote - Online notebook based on wiki (cybernauts)
• Webnotes
• Zoho Notebook - online notebook for storing a wide variety of files and information
• Zotero (browser-based)

Screencasting Tools

• CamStudio. Open source software for recording screen and audio activity on your computer to create videos and Flash files.

Social Networking

• Ning. Place to create a social network including discussions, blogs, and sharing spaces. Be sure to learn about FREE Nings for educators. You can convert existing Nings.
  • Ning in Education
  • English Companion Ning
  • Teacher Librarian Ning
• Linked In. Place to make professional connections.
• Facebook. Place to make personal and local connections.
• Google Wave. Tools for writing, discussing, sharing, brainstorming, meeting, etc.

Video

• Animoto
• Blip.tv
• Google Video
• SchoolTube
• TeacherTube
• YouTube
• Vimeo

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating Video into your projects, go to Video, Videocasting, and Screencasting from Information Architecture for the Web.

Virtual Conferencing

Learn more from Virtual Conferencing from High Tech Learning

Web pages

• internal linking
• external linking
• images (thumbnails, full-sized)
• linking to audio and video
• embedding media elements
• embedding widgets
• Google Sites (Cybernauts, CyberCircus)

Learn more from Information Architecture for the Web.

Wiki

• Wetpaint
• Wikispaces & Wikispaces for Educators
• Wiki Project Ideas
  • Wiki Workshop from eduScapes.
  • Tips on Developing a Wiki Community from Teaching Hacks.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating Video into your projects, go to Wiki and Collaborative Spaces from Information Architecture for the Web.

For many more Web 2.0 Tools, try Go2Web 2.0.

Explore How to Embed Almost Anything in your Website (Jan 2006) at Digital Inspiration.

Create a concept map or list showing those elements you may consider for a class.

Mark those elements that are priorities. Consider items that you would use for instruction versus those students would use for projects or presentations.

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