Jotspot

What is it? What does it do?

Jotspot http://www.jot.com/

Jotspot was once a private company, but was acquired and is now operated by Google. It is free to use.

It is a wiki-based tool that provides a framework and templates to create web-based spreadsheets, calendars, documents and photo galleries. It is basically a web based group workspace.

Administrative controls allow sites to be set up so only specific users (typically with email addresses in a certain domain) can have editing or viewing access. Pages can also be open to editing or viewing by anyone.

With the selection of templates and easy to use web based materials, non-technical individuals can create and manage sites for group collaborations.

What are the infrastructure and technical requirements for this tool?

Users only need a web browser and Google Services to use this tool. No special hardware or other software is required.

How can you use it effectively in instruction?

Jotspot is most effective when used for group collaboration. It can be used to set up web pages for class members to record research results, pose questions, add and edit material, add databases, post pictures, and cooperate in collecting and updating information for their project. Because it is a wiki, the pages can be edited and updated by those who are a part of the community.

Since Jotspot allows multiple users to edit a shared document, this type of web tool would be beneficial to group and class writing assignments. Since it only requires a web browser, word processors are not required and greater collaboration in writing projects can occur.

What are the limitations and cautions related to use of this tool?

The greatest concern with this type of tool is that it is open to all members. Caution must be exercised because there may be a lack of monitoring of posts and additions to the web pages. This would not be controlled by BCPS because it is openly on the internet. A teacher using this resource would have to monitor its content.

My Opinion of Jotspot

I think this would be a really great tool to use for a school website. Every part of the school could be connected to a one stop internet site, including grade level, administration and PTA.

The way BCPS has things set up now, each teacher, and school has a separate site. It would really be a great way to connect the entire school community.

Gcast

Gcast is a podcasting website that clearly states that it provides “completely free” podcasting services; recording, editing, and hosting. It seems to be related to, if not owned by the folks that make Garage Band, an audio editing program that is available free of charge on line. Users of the podcast can subscribe via e-mail alerts, automatic downloads to I pods, click and play on the web and various other services (My Yahoo and My MSN). According to the site, you will either need a computer with Mic capabilities or just a cell phone to record the audio. The service also offers podcast safe music, ways to embed your podcast into a webpage and, free hosting, and ways to subscribe to podcast. No technical requirements are mentioned except that you can use a computer or your phone to record the audio. I can think of many, many, ways to effectively use podcasting in instruction. All grade levels could progress in language arts including speaking, by doing several podcasts per year. We could use podcasting with our Communication Club, GT units, our book club meetings, the instructional possibilities are endless. Teachers could use podcast to communicate with students, reviewing important items from a lesson or unit or just to communicate information. This would also be a wonderful PR tool to use with parents; we could podcast our morning announcements, school performances, important information, again, unlimited ideas. This tool would have to be very closely monitored by adults. Although I do see it as something that all students, teachers, and parents could use, I do not envision large group projects in the beginning. Host space and cost of hosting could be an issue, even though this site advertises it as free. If you were going to use this daily, you would have to have someone that available to edit the audio and publish it; so as with everything else, time is an issue. Also, the website is currently blocked by Websense. I put in a request for it be unblocked b/c my use was educations (in this case to review the site for a graduate course). Their response was that this site is a “portal” site and that it could not be unblocked. So obviously, even if podcasting is approved, the likely hood of this site being unblocked seems unlikely. I am also skeptical about it all being totally free? Since it is a .com site, someone is making money off of this somehow. Could be pop ups or spamming, I am not sure, but there must be some sort of catch. Most likely once you sign up, that you will be solicited by those that “sponsor” or advertise on the site. This would have to be closely and tightly managed by adults. I do not see this as something that could easily be used in classes of 24 until we have been using it with kids individually or in small groups. Managing what kids are recording is tough, and publishing to the world adds many more layers. Overall, I love the idea of podcasting, and have though of several ways that I could use podcasting with whatever software and publishing tools. I am skeptical though, about this particular site. I think though that I will start with joining through my personal account and see if it works well to communicate information and then see if my spam or if solicitations increase, if that is the case, I will know not to use this site with staff or children. I hope that I will be able to though.

Zoho Creator

• What is it? What does it do?

  Zoho Creator http://creator.zoho.com/is a free on-demand data management software to create online database applications easily and quickly. It offers an intuitive drag-and-drop user interface to create customized web based database applications and share them with others. Zoho creator makes it possible and super easy to create your own online forms(i.e., surveys, inventories, data collection, etc.) and databases without having your own server. You can also easily share your database application with your friends, colleagues or parents by specifying their email addresses. You can invite them to collaborate while maintaining control of what information each individuals can see. You can also set privileges for your users to add, edit or simply view it.

• What are the infrastructure and technical requirements for this tool?

Zoho Creator only requires internet access and a mouse in working condition.

• How can you use it effectively in instruction?

Zoho Creator with its form-building capacities can be used to collected data from surveys, inventories, etc. Thus, it can display the collected data in a variety of forms(i.e, list view, spreadsheet, graph, charts, summary). Zoho Creator is an instructional tool that can help facilitate lessons aligned with the VSC as demonstrated by the following link: http://mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/mathematics/math_guidelines.html

• What can I do with Zoho Creator?

Zoho Creator can be used for personal or business database applications. In addition to instructional purposes, teachers can use Zoho Creator to conduct parent evaluations as seen in an evaluation created by Mr. Dojahn, classroom teacher. http://creator.zoho.com/sdojahn/evaluation/

Moreover, as a means of providing students with an opportunity to share feedback regarding instructional strategies or assessment tools, Zoho Creator can be utilized to collect student data.

http://creator.zoho.com/livepage.do?deploy=true&appname=your-opinions-on-the-ks3-test&sharedBy=dfjones&include=false

Some additional ways in which Zoho Creator could be used in the school setting might be:

-To document MSA, benchmarks, short cycle, and formative assessment data.

-To look at the trends in student attendance and tardiness.

-To document parent feedback on surveys conducted during American Education Week.

-To document teacher feedback regarding curriculum implementation, instructional strategies, or professional development.

-To track school funding in each expense account.

-To design a ticket for teachers to complete if they are having computer problems; consequently, the technology teacher would receive the email and an email would be forwarded to the teacher sharing the acknowledgment of the ticket.

Zoho Creator might also be used in the following ways:

-Create customized applications for your specific needs

-Import excel spreadsheets and convert them into collaborative database applications

-Access applications anywhere, anytime online

-Share applications easily within groups or with the general public and collaborate

-See the collected data in different formats – List, Chart, Spreadsheet, Calendar and as Summary View

-Comprehensive data drill-down capabilities- Search, Filter and Set Custom Criteria

-Embed Form and View in your website to make your website more dynamic

Additional uses for Zoho Creator:

http://creator.zoho.com/samples/

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=843c4100437816f6ce41

• What are other education applications for this tool?

Microsoft Excel and similar spreadsheets are good choices when your data is primarily numbers that requires only on- screen calculations. But if your data contains a lot of text, numbers and grows in complexity, then Zoho Creator might be the right choice. Educators can additionally use Zoho Creator for online registration for PD classes, collection of staff and student data, etc.

• What are the limitations and cautions related to use of this tool?

  The main concern with Zoho Creator is that there is not an easy way to get data back out of the system: although you can import existing spreadsheets, there does not appear to be any obvious way to export the contents of your Zoho Creator database to another format, or to get it on too your own computer. For data that you trust keeping it looks like a solid choice.

• What are the management considerations for this tool?

  The site is extremely easy to navigate. Nevertheless, during my research I called the toll free phone number to gain additional information. I was then told that due to the high volume of calls, I needed to email Zoho Creator support. I am still waiting for a response. Therefore, if questions arise, time may become a factor in proceeding with your task.

Additional Information:

Zoho Creator Facts:http://creator.zoho.com/faq.html#share_application

Page Flakes

Hello! I have been checking out Page Flakes. My first impression is that it would make a great homepage. You can select categories that you would like on your main web start page such as local weather, news, gossip, games, etc. The idea is that these are the places you would visit regularly so they are all in one location. You can also select the sources of your news, games, and tools that you want to use. For example, if you often visit YouTube it can be added to your main page so that the latest video is shown and you can click that box to take you right to YouTube. You are able to personalize it by adding photos, videos, a calendar, and email.

It is easy to navigate for any user but the advanced user can truly personalize it to their liking and extend their uniqueness to others. You are able to develop your own “flakes”. As far as I can tell the “flakes” are pages or portions of pages that you are able to post. You need to know html in order to make a “flake”. The flake you make can be added to others’ pages.

It offers options such as linking with “friends” as you would in MySpace or Facebook. It has a google search option. It offers “pagecasting” which as far as I could tell was sharing your page with others. I saw many that focused on one topic such as “going green” or “fitness”. One great feature that I saw is no matter where I traveled within the site I could also find a button to click that said “Take me back to my page”.

Overall, I would recommend everyone visiting PageFlakes. It offers a wide variety of options for the newest user and the advanced user. It is a great source to find the latest news, weather, blog, have some fun!

Slideshare

Slideshare

• What is it? What does it do?

Slideshare has been described as You Tube without video. It is a free, website that lets users upload PowerPoint, Open Office, and PDF files to share on the web. It converts your presentation into a Flash format allowing it to be viewed without requiring the original presentation software. It is turned into a Slideshare. Slideshares can be viewed by millions in the world or by groups you select. You can set up your Slideshare to be just viewed or downloaded for free. In turn some Slideshares can be downloaded for free giving you access to a variety of content.

The site offers thousands of presentations on a variety of topics. You can search by themes or conduct your own open ended search.

• What are the infrastructure and technical requirements for this tool?

The site is easy to navigate. Sign up is quick and easy. You can view and upload sites right away. There is an endless amount of Slideshares to view . You can use the prescribed buttons to search (latest, most viewed, etc.) or type in what you might want to view. It does take time as conduct your search to view Slideshare presentations.

There is a community aspect to Slideshare which gives you the opportunity to create a list of friends. This allows you to restrict the viewing of your Slideshare. It can as open or limiting as you prefer.

You may need some tech skills in order to embed a Slideshare on your website or blog.

• How can you use it effectively in instruction?

It can be a vehicle to share ideas and learn from others. The travel and tourism theme allows teachers access to other cultures.

The implications for instruction seem to be somewhat limiting for the elementary school arena.

• What are other education applications for this tool?

I would imagine that there would be some opportunities to use some of the Slideshares as a means for professional development such as a PowerPoint tutorial.

Perhaps an older age group past high school might find use for political, social, or regional content to be viewed.

You can use the site as a vehicle to archive large presentations. These presentations can be made available to be viewed by a specified audience i.e. staff.

It can be used to keep parents apprised of school activities such as field trips, class parties, etc. that cannot be attended by all parents. This would be only if BCPS would allow you to embed Slideshares on your website.

• What are the limitations and cautions related to use of this tool?

Caution: You would not want to have students K-12 accessing this site. They can easily access inappropriate content from this site as well as clicking on links to lead to other unacceptable content on the web. Teachers would require a safer site to use with students.

Limitation: 1. Time is needed to explore the content available. It is important to preview the Slideshares thoroughly before intended use. I was looking at a Slideshare for PowerPoint and one of the slides suggested that slides need to be sexy. 2. Slideshare by itself does not have audio capability. An update to this is called Slidecasting which allows for audio/video input. 3. Once you upload a file to be converted you are unable to edit and make changes.

• What are the management considerations for this tool?

This site can convert large files otherwise not possible to send through email.

Users may use the site for storage of presentations.

There are thousands of presentations and teachers would need to spend a great deal of time first searching and then viewing for content.

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