Technology Review

For the purpose of this assignment I utilized the following symbols to annotate my rating of the application being reviewed:

I based my rating off of several factors to include but not limited to: Ease of use, Accessibility and Affordability.

#1 MOODLE:

 is a wonderful tool to utilize in the classroom and is the only Learning Management System (LMS) that makes my list of top technology tools for educators. Moodle features a method to organize assignments in a multitude of ways, it's easy for both the teacher and the student to download and view work. You can also hold discussion groups, message other participants, submit assignments electronically and view grades and attendance all in one platform. The benefits of Moodle include that it is FREE, open source (so it can be manipulated to best suit your needs), it easily integrates with other systems you may be using, it's simple and organized allowing you create and manage an online classroom environment that suits your needs. It is password protected to meet your security needs and it has the ability to track all activities occurring on your site.  However, on the flip-side of the coin you have some drawbacks, including that it can be very confusing to the participant initially, especially since the platform is only as good and efficient as the teacher running it wants it to be. Also, because it is open source the debugging process isn't as smooth as applications normally are. Based upon my utilization of this technology tool I would rate this a 4 out of 5 because I highly recommend and utilize LMS in my classroom and free is always the best way to go in my opinion. 

Video Tutorial or Review:

References:

Saxena, S. (2013, November 6). Why is Moodle the Best LMS? Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://edtechreview.in/news/742-moodle-the-best-lms

Stencel, P. (2011, September 10). Moodle pros and cons. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/stencel/moodle-pros-and-cons 

#2 GOOGLE CHROME:

Google Chrome is an extremely fast to launch, stable platform in which we can browse the internet in the educational world. It has features such as a built in search bar / address bar, tab views, and you are able to close the program and start it back up right where you left off. Chrome also utilizes Sandboxing and auto-updates so you don't have to worry about remembering to keep up to date on any security issues. It has the full integration of a plethora of Apps, Extensions, and Themes that you can choose from. Lastly, you can take the browser with you on any mobile device and as long as you are signed into Chrome your history, bookmarks, forms, etc. will travel with you. Some benefits to using Google's Chrome include that it is simple yet elegant. It is by far the fastest browser that I have utilized both in processing speed and start up speed. The ability to customize your experience with the previously mentioned Add-on's and Extensions really create a personalized touch. However, the issues that I have discovered with Google Chrome are it does not have a very friendly Help & Support, instead everything to me seems kind of like an onion, you have to peel back layers to find the information you are looking for. I also don't like the fact that there are minor incompatibilities still found when utilizing Chrome that aren't there in say FireFox or Internet Explorer. Don't let the criticisms fool you though, I gave Chrome a 5 out 5 as far as my rating is concerned. I utilize Chrome personally on a daily basis and love that I can be doing something on my laptop and continue it on my iPad or iPhone and not miss a beat. I am also a huge fan of the tabbed browsing in the classroom because myself and my students can be looking at multiple sources of information at once without having to flip from browser to browser.

Video Tutorial or Review:

References:

Explore the Chrome Browser. (n.d.) Retrieved June 28, 2015 from https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/features.html

Godinho, A. (2015, June 1). Google Chrome Pros and Cons. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://ajgodinho.hubpages.com/hub/pros-and-cons-of-google-chrome


#3 GOOGLE APPS:

The Google Apps suite is SUPERB. As an educator in the public school system we often encounter students who don't have resources. Google Apps can help with this because it is a completely free platform that can be used from a PC, Mac, or mobile device for free data storage, word processing, presentation platform, spreadsheets, and many other web based programs. On top of the cost effectiveness, the ease of use is fantastic. It allows the easy transfer of files, collaboration on work with other individuals, editing of images and video, and the ability to video conference. Did I mention, this is all FREE? There are more benefits to utilizing this suite as well, it saves automatically into Google Drive so that you don't have to worry about losing your work. This comes with 15GB of free storage and you can utilize Google's CloudPrint to print your documents to any printer in the world that you have configured. However, there are a few drawbacks. Because this isn't a traditional piece of software you need to have internet access in order to utilize the features. There are issues concerning formatting, especially if you are utilizing the Microsoft Office platform and going back and forth. Lastly, you need to be cognizant of potential security risks with storing all your data in the cloud. Overall however I give the Google Apps suite a 5 out of 5 in my rating. It is a wonderful collaboration tool and it makes life infinitely easier in the classroom both as a teacher and as a student. I would recommend this to anyone.

Video Tutorial or Review:

References:

Burnham, K. (2014, July 14). Google Apps: 5 New Features For Businesses - InformationWeek. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.informationweek.com/software/productivity-collaboration-apps/google-apps-5-new-features-for-businesses/d/d-id/1297157?page_number=2

Google Groups. (2013, July 13). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/drive/cPTEFKsZNHw


#4 LIVEBINDERS:

LiveBinders is a free online bookmarking site that allows you to share information with others, it is essentially the digital version of a three-ring binder. It can be set to either public or private with a paid subscription where the public binders are searchable via any search engine. Some benefits of LiveBinders is that it is simple to utilize with different layers of tabs and subtabs that work best when addressing a specific content then unit. You can add website URL's, PDFs, Word documents, etc. so that you do not need to print out all information for your students, therefore saving paper and being environmentally respectful. However, some negative aspects of LiveBinders is that you are only allotted 100MB of storage as a free user (believe me it goes quickly) and have to pay for more storage space and more tabs and subtabs. Besides the lack of storage, there doesn't seem to be a viable and reliable source of help and support for the platform and at times it can be confusing, especially in the beginning. I gave this platform a 4 out 5 stars due to the fact that you have to pay for the storage capability and the lack of support for the site. I plan on utilizing this next year with my class to list all my documents, i.e. Syllabus, AUP, etc. as well as homework assignments, class notes, everything a student could possibly need if they miss school. It will also help me keep their parents in the loop easier.

Video Tutorial or Review:

References:

LiveBinders - 21st Century TIPS. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from https://sites.google.com/a/barrow.k12.ga.us/21st-century-tips/this-just-in/livebinders

Wiebe, G. (n.d.). Teaching History.org, home of the National History Education Clearinghouse. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://teachinghistory.org/digital-classroom/tech-for-teachers/25517


#5 PREZI:

Prezi is a cloud based multimedia presentation software platform that competes directly with Microsoft PowerPoint. With it you can present a rich environment of videos, photos, audio, etc. with the ability to zoom in and out on content to add depth to the content. Some positive aspects of Prezi are that it is completely free unlike some of the other multimedia presentation platforms. It is web based so you can access it anywhere including a smart phone, and it is appropriate for all ages. Utilizing Prezi versus the traditional PowerPoint will demonstrate your "withitness" to your students in regards to technology while capitalizing on great visual potential. However, like all good things there are some downsides to Prezi as well. Prezi is cloud based so that means you have to have an internet connection to work on your presentation or to play it. Prezi has been known to cause motion sickness as it zooms in and out on content to give it the depth that it is known for. Lastly, Prezi has an extremely steep learning curve making it unsuitable for some individuals. I gave Prezi a 3 out of 5 because of the steep learning curve. The time it took for me to effectively learn the software and be able to efficiently use it was not worth it in the end for me as an educator to teach or encourage my students to utilize.

Video Tutorial or Review:

References:

Barrett, R. (2012, October 25). Key features of Prezi. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from https://prezi.com/m6mp36ys9yb-/key-features-of-prezi/

Herb, J. (2012, December 29). Prezi - Advantages and Disadvantages - Instructional Tech Talk. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://instructionaltechtalk.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-prezi/ 

#6 WIX:

Wix is an extremely easy to use, graphic interfaced, drag and drop website development platform with 100's of designer made templates ready to be used. It is an intuitive website builder that is optimized for both mobile and traditional browsers and EVERYTHING is customizable. The image and text editing functions are truly simple and powerful and you can add and organize pages quickly and easily. It is simple and quick to add a blog or link social media to your website. Want eCommerce? Not a problem, Wix supports platforms for hosting stores. There are 1000's of free images built in so you won't have any problems finding what you're looking for. If you upgrade to a premium edition you can also get a Google email address for business accounts and all the app content that goes along with it. Some additional positive aspects include that Help and Support for the website and development is EVERYWHERE on the page, you can't escape it. It utilizes a drag and drop function as well so you don't have to know any Java or HTML or any other type of language to design your site. Most importantly however from a business perspective is it utilizes Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to make your site visible in search engines. Some downsides of Wix are that you have to pay for certain more advanced features as well as pay for the upgrades. Overall I rated Wix a 5 out 5 because of its easy, simplistic approach to website development, but yet professional appearance when complete.

Video Tutorial or Review:

References:

Wix Review 2015 | 12 Important Things You Need To Know. (2015, June 22). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/wix-review/


#7 STORYBIRD:

Storybird is a collaborative learning site for the creation of illustrated, interactive, story-based lessons for elementary children. Users are able to choose from three diverse formats to create their story: art-inspired picture books, serialized "longform" stories, or poetry. Storybird has many positive features to include it's free, easy to use, plenty of high quality graphics by established illustrators, the ability to interact with others to create a Storybird and it helps develop young writers and readers. You are also able to share finished products on social media for others to view and utilize. However, there are some drawbacks. There is a limited selection while in creation mode, and you must stick with one artist through the entire creation. You aren't allowed to upload any pictures or utilize self creates illustrations. You also have to pay for some of the more advanced features and you have to pay to download a story you have created. I gave this a 3 out 5 on the rating because of the lack of creative licensing and the cost to utilize it. This would be a great platform as a teacher to have students collaboratively create a story to share with the class, but it would quickly become ineffective.

Video Tutorial or Review:

References:           

Tomaszewski, J. (2011). Site Review: StoryBird. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/site-reviews/storybirds.shtml

Storybird (2015) - Read, write, discover, and share the books you'll always remember. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://storybird.com/

#8 TIKI TOKI:

Tiki-Toki features interactive timeline creation for your students. It supports multiple language options with the ability to add video, audio, pictures, etc. to enhance your timeline. The timelines are then able to be emailed, printed, or saved as a PDF to share with others. Some additional benefits of Tiki-Toki include their stylish timelines, multiple views, quick sharing methods, and the ability to export CSV values for analysis. However, some cons include many of the features of Tiki-Toki are buried and there is no import function. Teachers also need a simpler method to create a student account, as well as the constant need for the internet since this is a web based platform. I gave this a 4 out of 5 on my rating scale because it is an innovative and fun idea that I can utilize in my classroom that is completely free. I plan on utilizing this in my Social Studies content area quite frequently.

Video Tutorial or Review:

References:

Fenton, W. (2013, May 20). Tiki-Toki. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2419206,00.asp

Tiki-Toki. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://educade.org/teaching_tools/tiki-toki 

References:

Barrett, R. (2012, October 25). Key features of Prezi. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from https://prezi.com/m6mp36ys9yb-/key-features-of-prezi/

Burnham, K. (2014, July 14). Google Apps: 5 New Features For Businesses - InformationWeek. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.informationweek.com/software/productivity-collaboration-apps/google-apps-5-new-features-for-businesses/d/d-id/1297157?page_number=2

Explore the Chrome Browser. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/features.html

Fenton, W. (2013, May 20). Tiki-Toki. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2419206,00.asp

Godinho, A. (2015, June 1). Google Chrome Pros and Cons. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://ajgodinho.hubpages.com/hub/pros-and-cons-of-google-chrome

Google Groups. (2013, July 13). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/drive/cPTEFKsZNHw

Herb, J. (2012, December 29). Prezi - Advantages and Disadvantages - Instructional Tech Talk. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://instructionaltechtalk.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-prezi/

LiveBinders - 21st Century TIPS. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from https://sites.google.com/a/barrow.k12.ga.us/21st-century-tips/this-just-in/livebinders

Saxena, S. (2013, November 6). Why is Moodle the Best LMS? Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://edtechreview.in/news/742-moodle-the-best-lms   

Stencel, P. (2011, September 10). Moodle pros and cons. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/stencel/moodle-pros-and-cons

Storybird (2015) - Read, write, discover, and share the books you'll always remember. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://storybird.com/

Tiki-Toki. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://educade.org/teaching_tools/tiki-toki

Tomaszewski, J. (2011). Site Review: StoryBird. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/site-reviews/storybirds.shtml

Wiebe, G. (n.d.). Teaching History.org, home of the National History Education Clearinghouse. Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://teachinghistory.org/digital-classroom/tech-for-teachers/25517

Wix Review 2015 | 12 Important Things You Need To Know. (2015, June 22). Retrieved June 28, 2015, from http://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/wix-review/