CIT Blog » Web2.0 http://cit.duke.edu/blog What's new and interesting in instructional technology Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:51:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Take out those cell phones in class http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/11/05/take-out-those-cell-phones-in-class/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/11/05/take-out-those-cell-phones-in-class/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:52:45 +0000 Andrea Novicki http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=7951 mobiledevicesMost students have cell phones, and more than half of all US undergraduates own an internet-capable handheld device and more plan to purchase one in the next 12 months (ECAR Research Study 2009). Why not use them?

How?  Here are three ideas:

polleverywhereCell phones and internet-capable phones can be used as polling devices, like clickers, to engage students during class. Poll Everywhere will supply an easy to use interface for small classes for free, or large classes for a fee.

Students could access information during class, to contribute to discussions or to inform critical thinking. How? Students could query Google or Google Scholar, access the library or librarian, use news sources, or specific applications for your topic.

studentnotesLeverage student interest in texting to learn about their thinking during class, by setting up a backchannel, like Hotseat at Purdue University. A teaching assistant or other instructor can monitor the backchannel, and alert you to questions, problems, and student interest at appropriate points in the class.

Come to a discussion of using mobile devices for education, both in and out of class, on the second Tuesday of each month.

]]> http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/11/05/take-out-those-cell-phones-in-class/feed/ 0 Help Duke develop its roadmap for elearning http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/10/27/elearning-roadmap/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/10/27/elearning-roadmap/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:14:33 +0000 Yvonne Belanger http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=7081 In 2009-10, Duke’s elearning Roadmap Committee is actively gathering input from Duke instructors and students about tools they use for teaching and learning. The Committee will assess the needs of the campus community to identify tools, support and infrastructure that should be centrally provided. Whether you use blogs or wikis, Blackboard or VoiceThread, Micrograde or Maple TA, Second Life or Flickr, the Committee needs your insight and ideas about what’s most important for the Duke community. What works well for the kind of courses you teach? What could be improved?  What’s missing? Learn about the Committee’s process, findings and ways to get involved and share your ideas at a new web site, http://elearning.duke.edu. At this site, you can…

  • learn more about events we’re sponsoring and ways you can participate in the conversation (Get Involved), including an event for faculty coming up soon on Thursday, November 12 (register)
  • stay in touch with (and comment on!) what we’re hearing from members of the campus community (Your Feedback)
  • monitor our activities for the 2009-2010 academic year (Our Goal and Our Timeline)
]]> http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/10/27/elearning-roadmap/feed/ 0 EtherPad: real-time collaborative writing http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/25/etherpad-real-time-collaborative-writing/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/25/etherpad-real-time-collaborative-writing/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:37:43 +0000 Shawn Miller http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=5761 etherpad
A Mashable blog post listing “15 Essential Web Tools for Students” includes several tools that faculty may also find useful. We’ve written about Evernote, Delicious, Zotero and even Google Docs before (and they’re all a part of our Web2.0 Toolkit). One newer web app mentioned in the post is worth noting: EtherPad.
At first glance, EtherPad is not too unlike Google Docs – it’s also an online word processing tool of sorts. However, even though Google Docs allows collaboration with others (by sharing and editing the document), it only allows one user to edit the document at a time. EtherPad allows collaborative editing by several users in real-time.

EtherPad is still relatively new, meaning the editing features aren’t exactly robust – but when you’re doing collaborative writing, getting ideas down quickly is more important that the final formatting and markup. Word, HTML and text files can all be imported into a “pad” or you can just start from scratch. Pads can be exported in various formats (text, PDF, Word, etc), and there’s even a nifty “time slider” feature that can “play back” all the edits via a timeline.
No doubt, those teaching writing courses, or other courses that need to be able to capture rapid text-based collaboration, have been waiting or a tool like this. Here’s the catch:
  • Pads are free and public by default. You can invite anyone else by emailing them a URL (they don’t even need an EtherPad account). The downside here is that the Pad is public and anyone could potentially view it.
  • Free, public pads are limited to 16 users. That’s 16 users at the same time. Here in the library, we recently used Etherpad as a way to collaboratively construct notes during a guest speaker’s session – the only problem being that more than 16 people wanted to add something and basically had to wait until someone one of the other 16 users would “leave” the pad
  • Want privacy and the option for more users? EtherPad has a “pro” version available.
NOTE: If you’d like to try EtherPad, you can try it by editing the document in the screenshot (the text of this blog post).
]]> http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/25/etherpad-real-time-collaborative-writing/feed/ 3 Talking about Tweeting – DDI Twitter Lunch http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/23/talking-about-tweeting-ddi-twitter-lunch/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/23/talking-about-tweeting-ddi-twitter-lunch/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:46:12 +0000 Lenore Ramm http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=5401 Earlier in September, several of us met as part of the monthly DDI Twitter program brown bag lunch discussion series.  One of the overall goals of the program is to encourage a few faculty members to actively use Twitter in their courses, but another goal is to have meaningful discussions among interested faculty on academic uses of Twitter.

bluebird-1

After introductions, I provided a list of potential uses of Twitter in a course (below).  We discussed everyone’s ideas for using Twitter, which ranged from trying out Twitter in a language class to tweeting as an entire discipline to develop its community. Attendees were concerned about privacy, as far as FERPA and HIPAA, and representing the university as an institution.  Attendees expressed a need for Duke to have an explcit social media policy, without stifling its use. Despite perceived complications, there was a lot of excitement about potential for spontaneous student participation, particularly from those who are more introverted.  I also demonstrated two Twitter clients for following a large volume of tweets, Tweetdeck for the desktop and the web-based Tweetgrid. Two additional discussions sessions have already been scheduled for this fall, so you can register now.

Use cases for which all students would need a mobile device, laptop or be in a lab during class:

  • Polling each student within class
  • Participating in a class “back channel,” which would consist of lecture summaries, commentary and questions

Use cases for which a portion, but not all, of students would have access to a mobile device or other computer during class:

  • Tweeting in groups of 3 to 5 students where the tweets reflect the group consensus following a discussion

Use cases for which students would have access to a mobile device, laptop or desktop machine outside of class:

  • Students could receive information tweeted by the instructor and/or teaching stafff  on course administrative issues and reminders.
  • Students could receive tweets from the instructor and/or  the teaching staff on course related topics.
  • Students may tweet containing links to course related research.
  • Students may tweet reflections on course materials and course related topics.
  • Students may search for tweets using course related keywords or follow relevant #hashtags (e.g. #iranelection)
  • Students may follow experts in the course discipline or pertinent public figures.
  • Students may use Twitter to conduct interviews with one or more followers.
  • Students may tweet notes from course readings.
  • Students may tweet field observations or lab results.
  • Students participating in service learning could communicate from a remote location and record observations or reflections.
  • Both students participating in remote service learning or study abroad could use Twitter to maintain a connection with their classmates or advisers on campus.
  • Foreign language students may tweet in the course language and follow Tweeters from their respective countries.
  • Students may tweet to request help from classmates, the instructor or teaching staff.
  • Students may tweet creatively, taking advantage of the 140 character limit in order to condense a large idea into a brief statement (e.g. literary works, world religions described in a single tweet)
  • Students may do research using tweets as data.
]]> http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/23/talking-about-tweeting-ddi-twitter-lunch/feed/ 2 Drop in to a web conference on student collaboration http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/15/student-collaboration-web-conference/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/15/student-collaboration-web-conference/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:46:05 +0000 Andrea Novicki http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=4911 Join us in Bostock Library on September 23–24 for “Flattening the Classroom: Building Collaborative Learning Environments,” the 2009 Educause Learning Initiative (ELI) Online Fall Focus Session.

The sessions will explore how to increase student learning by collaboration, an approach to learning that engages students in the active construction of collective knowledge, empowering them to build meaning together, and challenging them to examine issues from multiple perspectives. The various sessions will:

  • discuss what it means to effectively collaborate in the classroom,
  • describe a framework for the design of meaningful and purposeful activities in the classroom,
  • reflect on the potential for social learning to promote critical thinking and spark student discussion,
  • explore emerging practices for designing collaborative environments in physical spaces and virtual environments, and
  • consider assessment strategies for collaborative activities.

Register to join us for any of these sessions.  We’ll broadcast the web conference in Bostock Library room 039; we’ll listen to the online sessions and then follow up most sessions with discussion among local attendees.

Register Wed 09/23/09 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM What is collaboration?
Register Wed 09/23/09 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM Virtual knowledge networks
Register Wed 09/23/09 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Innovative projects in online collaboration
Register Wed 09/23/09 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM Technologies that enhance collaborative, interdisciplinary learning
Register Wed 09/23/09 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Innovative projects in interdisciplinary collaboration
Register Thu 09/24/09 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM How did WE work? Assessing collaborative assignments
Register Thu 09/24/09 1:00 PM – 1:40 PM Making space for collaboration
Register Thu 09/24/09 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM Innovative projects in collaborative spaces
Register Thu 09/24/09 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM Discussion session: Collaboration and interdisciplinarity
Register Thu 09/24/09 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Building campus-wide collaborative relationships to support innovation and maximize achievement
]]> http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/15/student-collaboration-web-conference/feed/ 0 Using video to comment on student writing http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/10/using-video-to-comment-on-student-writing/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/10/using-video-to-comment-on-student-writing/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:44:01 +0000 Andrea Novicki http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=4271 juliedocumentJulie Reynolds, in Duke’s Biology Department, was recently showcased on the Techsmith’s education blog for her innovative use of Jing, a program that captures images and video of your computer screen.

Dr. Reynolds uses Jing to comment on her students’ writing, and to have students comment on each others’ writing projects.  Dr. Reynolds pointed out that when it’s impossible to schedule face-to-face conferences, she can talk about students’ writing rather than simply to write comments in the margins.  Jing allows her to record highlighted passages for students to see while she talks about them. Her students also use Jing to comment on each others papers.

Read a fuller description on Techsmith’s blog.

See examples of Dr. Reynolds’ review and student peer review.

]]> http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/10/using-video-to-comment-on-student-writing/feed/ 0 Technology workshops for everyone http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/04/technology-workshops-for-everyone/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/04/technology-workshops-for-everyone/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:19:09 +0000 Andrea Novicki http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=4331 Want to learn more about Photoshop, Excel, Duke’s wiki or how to use your Flip videocamera?  Duke’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) is ready for you.  See their full list of workshops.   Workshops are open to staff, students and faculty, register to save a space for yourself.

If you’d rather learn at lunch time, attend a presentation in the LearnIT@Lunch Seminar Series.  Everyone is welcome,  and you don’t have to register.

]]> http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/09/04/technology-workshops-for-everyone/feed/ 0 Teaching with Twitter http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/08/26/teaching-with-twitter/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/08/26/teaching-with-twitter/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:32:40 +0000 Lenore Ramm http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=4291

It’s hard to go anywhere or listen to anything without hearing something about Twitter these days, but how does it apply in an academic setting? Can the same technology that was used to communicate during Iranian political protests, following their presidential election, be used to help students learn?

You and several other faculty members can explore that topic during monthly brown bag lunch sessions. We’ll talk about ideas of how Twitter can be used in your course and look at tools that can make using Twitter for teaching easier. The first one will be on September 10th at 12pm. Sign up to join us!

Read more about this year’s Duke Digital Initiative programs.

]]> http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/08/26/teaching-with-twitter/feed/ 4 14 tweets that demonstrate the professional value of Twitter http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/07/13/14-tweets/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/07/13/14-tweets/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:55:47 +0000 Shawn Miller http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=3901 Guest post by Julie Reynolds, Duke University

Twitter posts are limited to 140 characters, but I discovered it takes slightly more than 140 characters to convince colleagues of Twitter’s value. I’ll try to make my argument for why professionals should use Twitter, and I’ll do it in just 14 tweets. Here we go.

#1) Professional use of Twitter 1 of 3: Post URLs for blogs, articles, & events that you want to make public to a larger audience

  • #2) To promote publications, ex: “When Communicating with Diverse Audiences, Use Velcro to Make Science Stick http://bit.ly/4GD4fX“
  • #3) To publicize students’ work, ex: “#DukeEngage interns turn dung into fuel in India http://bit.ly/c3u1a”
  • #4) To publicize events, ex: “Citizen Science Training Opportunity July 19, 2009 http://bit.ly/16NYgc”

#5) Professional use of Twitter 2 of 3: Network w/folks who share interests or are using similar pedagogy/technology/research method

  • #6) Networking tip: be sure your Twitter profile has a descriptive bio so people can find you, ex: http://bit.ly/Vqepp
  • #7) Twitter can be like a virtual business card. Be sure your profile bio and webpage are up-to-date and informative
  • #8) Join a twibe to find similarly-minded people. Visit http://twibes.com/ to search and join twibes
  • #9) Add yourself to http://wefollow.com twitter directory so people can find you (I use #scientist #conservation #educator)
  • #10) I posted ex of students’ use of edu software, was contacted by software maker to ask if they could showcase my students’ work!
  • #11) Retweet to share info & build community, ex: “RT @saprasanna: Our DukeEngage project is on Duke News: http://tinyurl.com/nmuxkz”
  • #12) Search for keywords http://search.twitter.com/ (or via Tweetdeck, my fav Twitr app) & follow people who have interesting tweets

#13) Professional use of Twitter 3 of 3: Back-channel conversation at conferences for feedback on talks & updates on things you missed

  • #14) Ex: search for #NECC09 for examples of rich conversation and information resulting from back-channel conversations at a conference

You can follow this conversation on Twitter by searching for #TwitValue. For professional updates, follow Julie at http://twitter.com/JulieReynolds88.

]]> http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/07/13/14-tweets/feed/ 2 6 reasons to use Firefox as your web browser http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/07/01/6-reasons-to-use-firefox-as-your-web-browser/ http://cit.duke.edu/blog/2009/07/01/6-reasons-to-use-firefox-as-your-web-browser/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:54:15 +0000 Shawn Miller http://cit.duke.edu/blog/?p=3821 Sometimes we instructional technologists get so excited about the next big thing (or Wave) that we forget to let everyone know about some of the really useful tools we use on a daily basis. Case in point – Firefox. Firefox is a free “open source community-powered” web browser developed through Mozilla. The Firefox website provides a good summary of Firefox’s key features. Some of my personal favorites include Firefox’s excellent use of “tabbed” browsing, the “awesome bar,” and the ability to zoom in and out of pages.

While it’s true that many other browsers (Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome) have also implemented similar features, one key Firefox feature really makes it worthwhile: Add-ons. According to Mozilla, add-ons are “little extras that customize Firefox.” With nearly 6,000 of these “little extras” now available, Firefox can be customized to fit most any workflow.

Here are six of my favorite Firefox add-ons that I use almost daily.

1) Easy YouTube video downloader

Ever needed to show a YouTube video at a conference, but didn’t have internet access? Or maybe you wanted to archive a clip for a research project? This add-on places a small set of links within a YouTube video’s page, allowing users to download the video in various formats. (Note: All applications that download content should be used in compliance with copyright law.)

2) Tab Scope

With the ability to open a link as a new “tab” instead of as a whole new “window,” tabbed browsing can really help keep things organized. However, it can also get out of hand quickly if you end up opening too many tabs at the same time. The Tab Scope add-on aims to help by displaying a small preview of the contents of a particular tab when you hover over it.

3) Delicious Bookmarks

This add-on integrates the social bookmarking tool Delicious with Firefox (see the CIT page about Delicious). Once installed, you can bookmark and tag pages and search your Delicious bookmarks from within Firefox. Any new bookmark or change is automatically synced to Delicious on the web – so you can still access the Delicious website from any computer to retrieve bookmarked sites.

4) Read it Later

Sometimes you come across a website, article or blog post that’s not perhaps valuable enough to bookmark, but that you’d still like to revisit and finish reading some other time. Read It Later was created for just such a purpose. Visit the developer’s website for more info.

5) Zotero

Zotero “is a free, easy-to-use Firefox extension to help you collect, manage, and cite your research sources.”  For more information, see the blog posts in the Duke Library Hacks blog or go directly to Zotero.org.

6) Evernote Web Clipper

Evernote is a web notebooking tool that helps you collect web clippings, articles, pictures, screen-captures and more. Installing the web clipper add-on helps make copying and tagging content from the web into Evernote an even easier process. For more info on Evernote, see CIT’s toolkit page.

To learn more about using Firefox in general, see the Firefox tips page.

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