Technology+Toolbox

Here is where I will critique different technology tools (called Web 2.0 tools). Since this is the first time I will be using many of these Web 2.0 tools, it is important that I critique them for use in my classroom. Here you will find a set of criteria for the critique of these tools, as well as each tool's score.

__Critique Summary__ The five most important criteria that I believe need to be evaluated before deciding to use a Web 2.0 tool in my classroom are: Usability, Cost, Safety, Instructional Benefits, and the extent to which they foster Interconnectivity amongst my students. Usability is very important, because I want the tools that I use in my classroom to be able to be accessed easily by both students and their parents. This means that students are able to navigate the tool after I model it for them, and with a little discovery of their own. Likewise, parents should be able to navigate the tool at home if they have a computer with internet. Since the school I will be teaching at consists of many English Language Learners or students for whom English is a second language (and whose parents most likely speak only Spanish), usability includes the ability to view the tool in another language, and the tool should include graphics that show users what will happen when they click on an option within the tool. Cost is another aspect of the tools that will determine whether or not they can be used in my classroom and by my students and parents outside of the classroom. If the cost is unrealistic, I cannot expect my students to be able to access the tools outside of the classroom, which I would probably want them to be able to do. The most ideal tools will be free, but will not be overrun with advertisements that are irrelevant. As far as safety goes, I will try to determine whether the privacy settings will protect my students' identities so long as they do not divulge too much personal information about themselves. If the tool is completely public, I will still determine whether or not students' identities can be protected through the use of numbers or code names. I will also look for ads that might lead to inappropriate content. The ideal tool will have some privacy settings, and users will be able to determine who can and cannot view and comment on their work. The rest of the safety matter lies in my own hands and with how I prepare my students for the appropriate use of online tools. For the instructional benefits category, I will be looking for tools that can foster discovery learning, will engage my students in the learning, will give my students a sense of ownership in their work, and will offer a variety of choices in order to facilitate different learning styles. The ideal tool will be one that students can discover new information with while also reflecting upon their work and making the work their own, unique project that gets their voices out to other students. This brings me to my final category, which is interconnectivity. I will be looking for Web 2.0 tools that allow students to interact with one another in order to learn together. They should be able to view others' work, comment respectfully, perhaps peer edit, and share resources from people outside of our classroom with their classmates through the use of these tools. I believe that if a tool scores high on all of these categories, it will be incredibly valuable in my photojournalism classroom. Here is a table illustrating the scoring system for these criteria:

Very easy to use and learn (5) Very difficult to use and learn(1) ||= How easy is the tool to use and learn? || Free (5) Impractical Cost (1) ||= Is the tool free or does it cost too much for students to use at home? || Safe and secure (5) Very unsafe (1) ||= Are students' identities protected when using this tool? Or are they likely to be subjected to harassment? || Many instructional benefits (5) Little to no instructional benefits (1) ||= Does it engage students and allow for different learning styles to thrive? || Students are very connected (5) Students are isolated (1) ||= Does it allow students to learn together and share their work with others? || Adapted from Jessica Werries' (2009) Technology Toolbox Critique Summary (http://ed538.wikispaces.com/file/view/Exemplar1.pdf).
 * = ==Usability== ||= ==54321==
 * = ==Cost== ||= ==54321==
 * = ==Safety== ||= ==54321==
 * = ==Instructional Benefits== ||= ==54321==
 * = ==Interconnectivity== ||= ==54321==

1. Browsers: Google Chrome

 * Usability || **5** ||  ||
 * Cost || **5** ||  ||
 * Safety || **3** || Depends on what websites are visited ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **5** ||  ||
 * Interconnectivity || **5** ||  ||

2. Aggregators: Google Reader (www.google.com/reader)

 * Usability || **4** ||  ||
 * Cost || **5** || Free for regular version ||
 * Safety || **3** || Possible that unwanted material will appear on feed ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **5** ||  ||
 * Interconnectivity || **3** || Class could follow students’ blogs ||

3. Social Bookmarking: Diigo (www.diigo.com)

 * Usability || **5** ||  ||
 * Cost || **5** || Free for regular version or Educator version ||
 * Safety || **4** || Either everyone or no one can see your library, notified via email when followed ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **5** ||  ||
 * Interconnectivity || **5** || Can sign in with OpenID and share on many sites ||

4. Internet Search Tools: Squidoo (www.squidoo.com)

 * Usability || **5** ||  ||
 * Cost || **5** ||  ||
 * Safety || **4** || Students could stumble upon something inappropriate in their searches, but less likely than at regular search engines ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **4** || Search results in blogs, so many may not be very reliable, but it is a valuable experience for students to read blogs. ||
 * Interconnectivity || **4** || Students have the potential to comment or even write their own "story" for Squidoo. ||

5. Webstart: Protopage (www.protopage.net)

 * Usability || **4** || Overwhelming at first, but very simple ||
 * Cost || **5** ||  ||
 * Safety || **4** || Anyone could access, but not anyone could edit the page ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **5** || Great for a class website ||
 * Interconnectivity || **4** ||  ||

6. Weblogs: Blogger (www.blogger.com)

 * Usability || **4** || Pretty straightforward, but could be a lot to process at first. Many great tools (such as translator)! ||
 * Cost || **5** ||  ||
 * Safety || **3** || Anyone could view or comment, but likelihood of inappropriate comments is low ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **5** ||  ||
 * Interconnectivity || **4** ||  ||

7. Wikispaces: wikispaces.com

 * Usability || **5** ||  ||
 * Cost || **5** || Advanced versions offered for extra price ||
 * Safety || **4** || Members of wikispaces can see it, or you can pay extra to make it visible only to members of your wikispace ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **5** ||  ||
 * Interconnectivity || **5** ||  ||

8. Web-based Word Processing: Google Docs (www.google.com/docs) ** All 5's!**

 * Usability || **5** || Can save and access on computer, phone, or mobile device anywhere ||
 * Cost || **5** || Free for 5GB of document storage ||
 * Safety || **5** || User has control over who files are shared with ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **5** || Excellent for peer editing, group work, teacher feedback ||
 * Interconnectivity || **5** ||  ||

9. Web-based Spreadsheets & Databases: Zoho Sheet (http://sheet.zoho.com) **All 5's!**

 * Usability || **5** || Can save and access on computer, phone, or mobile device anywhere. Doesn’t require installation ||
 * Cost || **5** ||  ||
 * Safety || **5** || User has control over who files are shared with ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **5** || Excellent for peer editing, group work, teacher feedback ||
 * Interconnectivity || **5** || Can all edit a document at the same time ||

10. Creative Writing: FanFiction (www.fanfiction.net)

 * Usability || **4** ||  ||
 * Cost || **5** ||  ||
 * Safety || **3** || User willingly publishes for the public, other users can comment. Usernames can protect user identity ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **3** || Would be a fun activity, but wouldn’t use it too much ||
 * Interconnectivity || **4** ||  ||

11. Assessment Tools: Survey Monkey (www.surveymonkey.com)

 * Usability || **4** ||  ||
 * Cost || **5** || Free for regular account, can send survey with maximum of 10 questions ||
 * Safety || **5** ||  ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **4** || Good for reflection, feedback, and also communication with parents ||
 * Interconnectivity || **3** || Students/parents respond and get to see results (which do not give names with them) ||

12. Podcasting: Audacity (audacity.download-latest.com)

 * Usability || **4** || Pretty straightforward for a simple recording, any extra effects may be more difficult ||
 * Cost || **5** ||  ||
 * Safety || **3** || Safe unless used at home for inappropriate purposes ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **4** || Will use for tutorials or reminders for absent students ||
 * Interconnectivity || **4** ||  ||

13. Screencasting: CamStudio (camstudio.com)

 * Usability || **3** || A bit complex ||
 * Cost || **5** ||  ||
 * Safety || **2** || Students could record questionable material at home. Also, installation requires invasion of computer by multiple advertisements and spam websites ||
 * Instructional Benefits || **5** ||  ||
 * Interconnectivity || **4** || Only a one-way conversation/video, but a good method for teachers to reach students at home ||