Technology+Tool+box

__Introduction__

The technology toolbox includes tools explored in the Web 2.0 Tool packet. Four criteria were used to evaluate each tool. The first criterion is instructional value. Second is user friendliness. Third is the cost. Finally, the fourth criterion is security. An example rubric is provided below along with questions to be considered when evaluating the tool.


 * Criteria  ||||||||||   Scale   ||   Questions   ||
 * Instructional Value || 1  ||  2  ||  3  ||  4  ||  5  || How well does the tool facilitate learning? ||
 * ^  |||||||||| Least Most ||^   ||
 * User Friendliness || 1  ||  2  ||  3  ||  4  ||  5  || How easy is it for novice users to access and use? ||
 * ^  |||||||||| Easy Difficult ||^   ||
 * Cost || 1  ||  2  ||  3  ||  4  ||  5  || What is the financial cost associated with the tool? ||
 * ^  |||||||||| No Cost Expensive ||^   ||
 * Security || 1  ||  2  ||  3  ||  4  ||  5  || How secure is the tool? ||
 * ^  |||||||||| Not Secure Very Secure ||^   ||

1) Browser Set-up: Mozilla Firefox


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 5  || Great for all web users. Allows access to instructional media on the web. ||
 * User Friendliness || 5  || Easy for students and parents to use. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free download. ||
 * Security || 2.5  || Web browser does not require login. ||

2) Aggregators: RSS


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 5  || Great for staying up-to-date on instructional media that is continually updated. ||
 * User Friendliness || 5  || Great way to push information to a personalized home page. ||
 * Cost || 5  || No cost. ||
 * Security || 5  || User chooses what content is aggregated. ||

3) Social Bookmarking: del.icio.us


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 5  || Great for all web users. Allows access to a list of favorite web pages from any computer. ||
 * User Friendliness || 3  || Not fool proof. Takes a little of navigating to be comfortable with the tool. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free. ||
 * Security || 5  || Requires secure login. ||

4) Internet Search Tools: Google


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 5  || Great for all web users to search the web. Also includes Google Images and Google Scholar. Better than Yahoo or Bing. ||
 * User Friendliness || 5  || Easy for students and parents to use. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free. ||
 * Security || 2  || No login required. Some risky information can be pulled up by internet searches if one is not careful. Computer and internet filters should be in place so questionable content is not accessed. ||

5) Webstart: School/ Class Website


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 5  || Great for students and parents to have a common place to go to find information about course content. School website provides links to instruction as well information about grades. ||
 * User Friendliness || Variable  || Depending on the school district, the website could be strong or weak. Ideally it would provide an excellent platform of information with links to further learning. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free. ||
 * Security || 4  || Can require login or be open. Only administrators allowed making updates to the site. ||

6) Weblogs: Blogger


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 5  || Great for all web users. Allows access to instructional media provided by the teacher. ||
 * User Friendliness || 5  || Easy for students and parents to access and use. Easy for bloggers to update their blogs. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free. ||
 * Security || 5  || Can be locked down securely and be viewable by invitation only. ||

7) Wikispaces: Wikis


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 5  || Great for all web users. Allows access to instructional media prepared by site administrator. ||
 * User Friendliness || 5  || Easy for students to use. Students can also make edits to the Wikispaces. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free. ||
 * Security || Varies  || Can be wide open or totally secure. ||

8) Web-based word processing: Google docs


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 3  || Useful for creating documents, but not a good method for instruction. ||
 * User Friendliness || 5  || Easy to access and use. Good for groups to use and make edits to one document. Must have a Google login. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free from Google. ||
 * Security || 5  || Must login to Google and be invited to share the document. ||

9) Web-based databases and spread sheets: Excelets


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 5  || Useful for data analysis and pre-formulated excel worksheets. ||
 * User Friendliness || 4  || Very interactive simulations. Kind of easy to use. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free. ||
 * Security || 1  || No login required. Can use and save to other location. ||

10) Creative Writing: Fanfiction


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 2  || Useful for creating documents, but not a good method for instruction. ||
 * User Friendliness || 2  || Google docs seem easier to me. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free. ||
 * Security || 5  || Must login to create or make edits to stories. ||

11) Assessment Tools: Survey Monkey


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 5  || Useful for creating surveys and short quizzes. Can be imbedded into a blog. ||
 * User Friendliness || 4  || Easy to access and use as an educator and as a student. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free. ||
 * Security || 5  || Requires login. ||

12) Podcasting: Audacity


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 3  || May be useful in some learning environments. ||
 * User Friendliness || 3  || Somewhat easy to access. Difficult for me. I’m sure usability increases with use to create or convert audio files into different formats. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free versions. ||
 * Security || 5  || Requires download and login. ||

13) Screencasting: CamStudio


 * Criteria  ||   Rating   ||   Comments   ||
 * Instructional Value || 4  || Useful for online learning environments where students may not be able to meet in class. ||
 * User Friendliness || 2  || Not so easy to create a screen cast, but easy to access one such as those posted on YouTube. ||
 * Cost || 1  || Free. ||
 * Security || 3  || Requires login. Can be copied off of YouTube if screen cast is uploaded there. ||