Course:EDDL5101/media-tools

Student Media Tools

These pages collect the evaluations of media production and distribution tools for educational use.

Web-Resource Criteria (Gordon's Review of Prezi.com - Posted on October 5, 2015)

Below are eight yes/no questions that a school teacher could use to quickly evaluate a content-based web source for student use. For a source to pass, all or most should be answered yes. Of course, a teacher may still accept sources that don’t meet all criteria: it depends on her/his objectives.

1. Is the website reputable and credible?
2. Does it present correct information? (i.e. true, accurate)
3. Is the information up-to-date?
4. Does it communicate with quality? (e.g. correctly written, clear, understandable)
5. Does it fit the grade level?
6. Does the site load and navigate efficiently?
7. Does everything (e.g. links, media) work?
8. Is the site accessible for all my students?

Evaluation of Elementary Algebra Videos. This is a series of short instructional videos on simple algebra examples (grade 8-9).

1. Is the website reputable and credible? Yes. Open Educational Resources Commons is a searchable repository of learning resources. It is recommended to students in EDDL 5101.
2. Does it present correct information? Yes. The information presented correctly shows how to solve algebra problems.
3. Is the information up-to-date? Yes.
4. Does it communicate with quality? Yes. The instructions for solving examples are clearly communicated in correct and understandable language and graphics.
5. Does it fit the grade level? Yes. This source presents grade 8-9 learning content in language that is understandable at this age. There are no inappropriate ads or content.
6. Does the site load and navigate efficiently? Yes. The website loads quickly. Navigation is straightforward.
7. Does everything (e.g. links, media) work? Yes. All links to YouTube.com, where the videos are hosted, work well.
8. Is the site accessible for all my students? Yes. The www.oercommons.org website is accessible to anyone without password or cost. It worked on all browsers I tried: Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer.

Since this web-resource meets all eight criteria, I would accept it for student use.

DEREK'S REVIEW OF GLOGSTER

GLOGSTER- Online intearactiveposter maker-

Students can create posters using uploaded pictures or web-based images, link videos or audio files into a multimedia collage.

 Ease of use- The tools on Glogster are extremely well designed with a steep learning curve. Student would be able to create content after as little as two 20 minute tutorials. Simple Choose a Template, click “Edit This Glog “ at the top of the screen and after clicking on an element, logical icons appear for how to add content and edit the text, picture or video you have chosen.

 Confidentiality of content/discussion Can your content be shared only with other students? A class dashboard is available for student to see and comment on each other’s work. Students need to be logged in using either the teacher’s educator code or their own password to view the dashboard.

 If there is a discussion feature attached to the service can you limit access and/or hide it from the public? The comments and discussions available for students are only viewable by class members in the class dashboard. They do not appear below the project even if it is made public.

 Transferability/scrubbability If you put your content up on the web with this service can you take it down in a format that lets you use it elsewhere? A screenshot or snipping tool could be used to save an image of the Glog, but interactive content such as video and audio would not be available.

 Can you delete your content from this service? Content can be easily deleted.

 Appropriateness for academic use What uses to support learning have you considered for this tool or service? Glogster is a place where students can share their knowledge in an interactive way that requires a degree of understanding of the content. They can create a polished product to show their learning about a subject area.

 What age levels and/or subjects could it be used with? Ideal for grades 4 and up. Students need a basic knowledge of linking and downloading along with related vocabulary. It would lend itself to illustrating a process in the sciences like the water cycle or static electricity.

Emily's Part B: Student Media Tools: VoiceThread

What is it? VoiceThread is an Online Tool that allows people to post pictures and video with voice or video commentary and also receive comments from others through voiceover, drawings or text. It is a very easy way to communicate with material that isn’t always as easy to convey meaning through text alone.

• Ease of use
• Please watch the following YouTube to see how easy it is to use VoiceThread. It’s so simple! You do need to create a login, but once you’re there, it is easy.
• https://youtu.be/r6PaGGLA7uU
• Confidentiality of content/discussion
  Can your content be shared only with other students? If there is a discussion feature attached to the service can you limit access and/or hide it from the public?
• Yes, your content can be shared only with students or it can be public. You can also limit who can see your VoiceThread and who can comment on them and who they are shared with. You also have the choice to publish it on the public browse page for all users to see.  You will need to pay for this feature or your school or district can also pay for the feature. This would be ideal for student use, but for general use, yes, it is public.
• Transferability/scrubbability
  If you put your content up on the web with this service can you take it down in a format that lets you use it elsewhere? Can you delete your content from this service?
• If you delete your VoiceThread, they are gone forever. However, the media that you use in the creation of your VoiceThread would be available for later voice. Before deleting your Voice Threads, you can export or download them for later use. There are a certain number of free export credits that each use is allowed.  
• Appropriateness for academic use
  What uses to support learning have you considered for this tool or service? What age levels and/or subjects could it be used with?
• One of the most amazing things about VoiceThread is that it is not age specific. In their own promotional video, they brag that kindergartners and architects alike are using VoiceThread. And that is the true potential of the tool in that it can be used by almost any age and in almost any capacity.
• As a foreign language teacher, I see tremendous potential with the creation of VoiceThread. Students can easily upload pictures, speak about them, and then share them with the professor and class. I see that there is a feature for VoiceThread in Moodle (an LMS) now. Students could give feedback to each other and so could the professor.
• Other applications for VoiceThread include discussions, debates, reports, digital pen-pals, review and study guides, student portfolios and much more.
• Most of all, the creativity that VoiceThread allows is incredible. Students can tell their own stories and give feedback to each other. I see lots of potential for this to be used in student work to create authentic peer-feedback.
• Discussion and Questions
• Click here https://voicethread.com/share/7380396/ to go to a sample VoiceThread that I created. Add a comment (either voice or text) and then return here to answer the following.
• How do you see yourself using VoiceThread? What potential ways could you incorporate it into the classroom or online classroom?
• What are some drawbacks that you see to it, if any?
• Why do you think voice is so much more powerful than text? How does VoiceThread open this up for students?
• If you have time, create a VoiceThread and share the link here.