How has ED-271 changed your life?
Technology by definition is,
according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the use of science in industry,
engineering, etc., to invent useful things or to solve problems. I am so
grateful for this Technology and Applications for Educators course. It really
opened up my eyes in the world of technology. Before this class, I thought I
was set on using Google and Microsoft Office for the rest of my life, but not
anymore. Thanks to this class, I found myself starting all over again. Learning
the nuts and bolts of all the technological tools and applications introduced
to me was so refreshing. Out of all the 7 classes I took this semester, I would
have to say that this class, by far, is the class I learned the most in. It is
amazing what the power of technology can do to a person.
Below is an assessment of 8 technology tools I frequently used throughout this whole semester and will continue to use in the future. The tools I assessed were MOODLE, Google Chrome, Google Apps, LiveBinders, Emaze, DuckDuckGo, Wix, and Oovoo using the following rating scale:
Below is an assessment of 8 technology tools I frequently used throughout this whole semester and will continue to use in the future. The tools I assessed were MOODLE, Google Chrome, Google Apps, LiveBinders, Emaze, DuckDuckGo, Wix, and Oovoo using the following rating scale:
EXCELLENT - I highly recommend
AVERAGE - I recommend
POOR- I do not recommend
#1 MOODLE
EXCELLENT - I highly recommend
The Modular
Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment, or fondly known as MOODLE, is a
FREE available online learning platform that assists educators and students
around the world. It is a learning management system that has been most
commonly used across the globe, having greater than 68 million users world-wide
(“What is Moodle?,” n.d.). According to Martin Douglamas (n.d.), founder of
MOODLE, he established MOODLE 14 years ago (2002) because he wanted to provide
educators who teach online courses or incorporate online learning in their
teaching pedagogy with an e-Learning platform that focuses on collaboration and
cooperation construction of content. I have been using MOODLE since my second
semester at the University of Guam. I never found any issues navigating my way
through MOODLE mainly because of its simplicity in its design. Now, as I begin
to close my fourth semester at the University, I have taken a total of 8
courses that have required using MOODLE for class. MOODLE is not only free,
password-protected, and easy to navigate, but it comes with a variety a
features that can help educators and students succeed in their educational
careers. Educators and learners can view what and when assignments are due, hold
discussion groups, message participants, download and electronically turn in
assignments, and see their grades and attendance all in one platform. For me
personally, I absolutely love using MOODLE. It is a technology tool I highly
recommend for educators and students to use because of its world-wide
accessibility, user-friendliness, and the many features it has to offer.
References:
Mellings, G.
(2013). 10 reasons to love moodle. In How
to Moodle: Just ask us. Retrieved
May 8, 2016, from http://www.howtomoodle.com/blog/top-tips/moodle-tips/10-
reasons-love-moodle/
May 8, 2016, from http://www.howtomoodle.com/blog/top-tips/moodle-tips/10-
reasons-love-moodle/
What is moodle.
(n.d.). In Moodlerooms. Retrieved May
8, 2016, from
#2 GOOGLE CHROME
EXCELLENT - I highly recommend
Google Chrome is
one of the various web browsers offered on the World Wide Web for free. Michael
Muchmore (2015), the lead analyst for software and web applications for PC
Magazine, stated that Google Chrome is the most commonly used web browser in
the world. Google Chrome offers a variety of features in terms of speed,
compatibility, and security. Users of Google Chrome, including myself, know how
fast the web browser is. According to a time trial by Nicole Tripp of Top Ten
Reviews (n.d.), Google Chrome had an initial start-up speed of 1.5 seconds.
Google Chrome is not only fast to launch, but fast to run web applications,
load web pages, and search and navigate on top of its clean and simple layout. Despite
its speed, Google Chrome is able to perform efficiently across several
applications on the web. It has its own built-in Flash Player and PDF viewer (“Google
Chrome 39 Review,” n.d.). Through Google Chrome, one can open up multiple tabs,
as well as re-arrange, duplicate, and drag tabs to a new window. In addition,
Google Chrome is designed to be safe and secure, having integrated malware and
phishing protection, automatic updates to ensure that a person has the latest
security fixes, and sandboxing (“Explore the Chrome Browser,” n.d.). Sandboxing
is a method that blocks out any malicious software from a person’s web browser.
Google Chrome has been my go-to web browser since high school. I really enjoy
its easiness, speed, security and availability across the global technological
field as compared to other web browsers.
References:
Explore the
chrome browser. (n.d.). In Chrome.
Retrieved May 9, 2016, from
Muchmore, M.
(2015). Google chrome. In PC Mag.
Retrieved May 9, 2016,
from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2373853,00.asp
from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2373853,00.asp
Tripp, N. (n.d.).
Google chrome 39 review. In Top Ten
Reviews. Retrieved May 9, 2016, from
#3 GOOGLE APPS
EXCELLENT - I highly recommend
Google Applications is a collection of web-based software packages and file storage
that operate in a web browser. Google Applications include communication tools
(Gmail, Google Hangouts, Google Translate, Google Maps, and Google Calendar), productivity
tools (Google Docs, Google Forms, Blogger), and so much more. The best part about
Google Applications is that it is free and does not require users to buy or
install software. All a user has to do is open up a Google account and from
there, he or she can gain access to all of the great applications Google has to
offer through a web browser. Another application offered on Google Apps is
Google Drive. Google Drive enables users to store files up to 15GB on an online
cloud, which a person can obtain access anytime and anywhere (“What is Google
Drive?,” n.d.). Goodbye Microsoft Office and Hello to Google Apps! I did not
know that Google Apps offered a variety of free web-based applications other
than Google Docs. I have been using Google Docs since high school and was not
aware of the other applications Google had to offer. Google Apps is by far one
of my favorite technology tools because it basically has everything I need for
educational and work purposes in one web-browser. I can simply create a
document, spreadsheet, or presentation through Google Docs. I can chat and
video-conference with my family and friends through Google Hangouts. I can also
traverse my way through a foreign country by the use of Google Maps. Google
Applications is so convenient. This collection of services is, I believe, one
of the greatest benefits of technology.
References:
7 things you
should know about…google apps. (2008). In Educause
Learning Initiative.
Retrieved
May 9, 2016, from https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7035.pdf
What is google
drive? (n.d.). In Goodwill Community
Foundation. Retrieved May 9, 2016,
from http://www.gcflearnfree.org/googledriveanddocs/1
from http://www.gcflearnfree.org/googledriveanddocs/1
AVERAGE - I recommend
LiveBinders are
basically online binders that individuals can store and organize their files,
documents, images, tabs, sub-tabs, bookmarks, etc. on instead of the usual physical 3-ring
binder that make it hard for people to carry and move about from place to place.
A great thing about this technology tool is that anyone can easily open, share,
and update their binders from anywhere around the world where there is Internet
access available (“About LiveBinders,” n.d.). LiveBinders is a great way to
stay organized and be on top of things, especially when a person’s is always
on-the-go. LiveBinders allows individuals to make as many binders as they want
for the purposes of their educational or vocational resources and learning. It
is a great tool for collecting and organizing website links that often times a
person would add as a bookmark on their web-browser (Stallings, 2014). This
semester was the first time I ever used LiveBinders. It is a great technology
tool, but not for me. Everybody has different ways in which they want to be
organized. For me, I am more old-fashioned and would rather carry a physical
binder with me. I am also the type of person who frequently bookmarks several
web-links on my web browser and finds it easier to obtain than having to go look
through a digital binder. I recommend individuals who are very mobile to use
LiveBinders mainly for its organizational purposes and its global convenience.
References:
About
livebinder. (n.d.). In LiveBinders.
Retrieved May 9, 2016, from
Stallings, J.
(2014). Educator’s guide to livebinders. In TheEdublogger.
Retrieved May 9,
2016, from http://www.theedublogger.com/2014/08/28/livebinders/
2016, from http://www.theedublogger.com/2014/08/28/livebinders/
#5 EMAZE
EXCELLENT - I highly recommend
Among all the
new and creative presentation tools I have learned this semester, Emaze is, without
a doubt, my favorite. Emaze allows educators and student alike to create
presentations online. It has its own built-in templates and layout designs with
transitions, such as zooming, 3D effects, and video effects (“Emaze: Review,”
2013). Emaze also allows individuals to share their presentations through a web
link or an embedded code. A cool feature that I found that Emaze possesses is
that it is able upload and re-design PowerPoint presentations from a person’s
desktop computer or laptop to create a more impressive and “emazing”
presentation. What I love most about Emaze, though, is that it is very user-friendly
and it has the ability to “emazify” a presentation. Anybody can access their
presentations online wherever and whenever through any mobile device (“So Why
Emaze?,” n.d.). I do not see myself going back to using PowerPoint ever again.
Emaze is literally an “emazing” presentation tool.
References:
So why emaze?.
(n.d.). In Emaze. Retrieved May 10,
2016, from https://www.emaze.com/
Emaze: review.
(2013). In m62. Retrieved May 10,
2016, from
#6 DUCKDUCKGO
EXCELLENT - I highly recommend
DuckDuckGo is an
Internet search engine that is Google’s top competitors (Frommer, 2015). It is
known primarily for its top-notch privacy policy. Unlike other search engines,
DuckDuckGo does not store or share personal information from online users, nor from
their search history and IP loggings (Schwabe, 2011). Basically through
DuckDuckGo, a user cannot be traced and tracked down. Additionally, DuckDuckGo
displays no advertisements in its search results, has a zero-click feature, and
showcases all search results in one page. The zero-click feature on DuckDuckGo presents
users with a short summary of each web link. DuckDuckGo is the search engine I
often use for educational purposes because I feel that it provides me with the
most efficient results. I like how
advertisements do not appear on the search results page as compared to Google.
It is clutter-free, with no distractions, which is just the way I like it.
Also, I admire DuckDuckGo’s zero-click and one-page feature on its search
results display because it enables me to save time from clicking each web link
to see which best fits my needs by reading the topic summaries. Also, instead
of scrolling through pages and pages of search results, DuckDuckGo provides me
with all the search results in one page. DuckDuckGo is a technology tool I
highly recommend everyone to use because of its efficiency to provide the best
and most accurate search results.
References:
Frommer, D.
(2015). A search engine competing with google by keeping users anonymous
just tripled its growth. In Quartz. Retrieved May 10, 2016,
from http://qz.com/674547/hollywoods-special-effects-industry-is-cratering-and-an-
art-form-is-disappearing-along-with-it/
just tripled its growth. In Quartz. Retrieved May 10, 2016,
from http://qz.com/674547/hollywoods-special-effects-industry-is-cratering-and-an-
art-form-is-disappearing-along-with-it/
Schwabe, D.
(2011). 10 reasons why duckduckgo is awesome. In Nerd Business. Retrieved
May 10, 2016, from http://nerdbusiness.com/blog/10-reasons-why-duckduckgo-
awesome/
May 10, 2016, from http://nerdbusiness.com/blog/10-reasons-why-duckduckgo-
awesome/
#7 WIX
EXCELLENT - I highly recommend
Wix is a great
website building tool. It was deemed as one of the 15 Best Free Website
Builders in 2016 (“15 Best Free Website Builders,” 2016). It features a variety
of web designs and templates for all occasions, whether it be for school,
business, or personal use. I have used Wix a couple of times throughout this
semester and it is a tool I see myself using as a future teacher. It is quite
easy to navigate with its drag and drop editor (Wong, 2016). Moreover, users
can customize their website anyway they want. Wix allows users to insert
pictures and videos. Wix also does a good job at staying up-to-date with the
latest trends and introducing new tools and designs on a regular basis (Wong,
2016). I highly recommend everyone to use this website builder because not only
is it free, but it is very user-friendly and takes creating a website on a
whole different level in terms of innovation and ingenuity.
References:
15 best free
website builders. (2016). In BeautifulLife.
Retrieved May 10, 2016, from
Wong, J. (2016).
Wix review 2016 – Creating your stunning website. In Website Builder
Expert.Retrieved May 10, 2016, from http://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/wix-
review/#proscons
Expert.Retrieved May 10, 2016, from http://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/wix-
review/#proscons
#8 Oovoo
EXCELLENT - I highly recommend
Oovoo is a video-conferencing
tool. It is the world’s biggest, free video and messaging application (“Oovoo,”
n.d.). It allows users to video call, voice call, and send text messages to
users across the globe. A feature that I found fascinating about Oovoo is that
it allows up to 12 people on a video call chat, as compared to other video-conferencing
tools like Skype and FaceTime, where users are only allowed up to 2 people on a
video call (Safe Smart Social Team, 2015). The video quality on Ooovoo is
dependent on the type of Internet connection a person has. Oovoo also offers a
variety of cool video effects on its application and enables users to record
their own video call. I have been using Oovoo since high school and never have
I ever had a problem using it. Over the years, it has gained popularity. It is
very easy to use, as well convenient. I always use this application to video
call my family and friends, near and far. I can download the application for
free on all my mobile devices and it will give me the same positive results I
have seen throughout the many years I have used the tool.
References:
Oovoo. (n.d.).
In Oovoo. Retrieved May 9, 2016, from
http://www.oovoo.com/about-us
Safe Smart
Social Team. (2015). What is oovoo? A social media safety guide. In Safety,
Smart & Social. Retrieved May 9, 2016, from https://safesmartsocial.com/what-is-
oovoo-social-media-safety/
Smart & Social. Retrieved May 9, 2016, from https://safesmartsocial.com/what-is-
oovoo-social-media-safety/
References
About
livebinder. (n.d.). In LiveBinders.
Retrieved May 9, 2016, from
Emaze: review.
(2013). In m62. Retrieved May 10,
2016, from
Explore the
chrome browser. (n.d.). In Chrome.
Retrieved May 9, 2016, from
Frommer, D.
(2015). A search engine competing with google by keeping users anonymous just tripled
its growth. In Quartz. Retrieved May
10, 2016,
from http://qz.com/674547/hollywoods-special-effects-industry-is-cratering-and-an-
art-form-is-disappearing-along-with-it/
from http://qz.com/674547/hollywoods-special-effects-industry-is-cratering-and-an-
art-form-is-disappearing-along-with-it/
Mellings, G.
(2013). 10 reasons to love moodle. In How
to Moodle: Just ask us. Retrieved
May 8, 2016, from http://www.howtomoodle.com/blog/top-tips/moodle-tips/10-
reasons-love-moodle/
May 8, 2016, from http://www.howtomoodle.com/blog/top-tips/moodle-tips/10-
reasons-love-moodle/
Muchmore, M.
(2015). Google chrome. In PC Mag.
Retrieved May 9, 2016, from
Oovoo. (n.d.).
In Oovoo. Retrieved May 9, 2016, from
http://www.oovoo.com/about-us
Safe Smart
Social Team. (2015). What is oovoo? A social media safety guide. In Safety,
Smart & Social. Retrieved May 9, 2016, from https://safesmartsocial.com/what-is-
oovoo-social-media-safety/
Smart & Social. Retrieved May 9, 2016, from https://safesmartsocial.com/what-is-
oovoo-social-media-safety/
Schwabe, D.
(2011). 10 reasons why duckduckgo is awesome. In Nerd Business. Retrieved
May 10, 2016, from http://nerdbusiness.com/blog/10-reasons-why-duckduckgo-
awesome/
May 10, 2016, from http://nerdbusiness.com/blog/10-reasons-why-duckduckgo-
awesome/
So why emaze?.
(n.d.). In Emaze. Retrieved May 10,
2016, from https://www.emaze.com/
Stallings, J.
(2014). Educator’s guide to livebinders. In TheEdublogger.
Retrieved May 9,
2016, from http://www.theedublogger.com/2014/08/28/livebinders/
2016, from http://www.theedublogger.com/2014/08/28/livebinders/
Technology.
(n.d.). In Merriam-Webster. Retrieved
May 7, 2016, from
Tripp, N. (n.d.).
Google chrome 39 review. In Top Ten
Reviews. Retrieved May 9, 2016, from
What is google
drive? (n.d.). In Goodwill Community
Foundation. Retrieved May 9,
2016, from http://www.gcflearnfree.org/googledriveanddocs/1
2016, from http://www.gcflearnfree.org/googledriveanddocs/1
What is moodle.
(n.d.). In Moodlerooms. Retrieved May
8, 2016, from
http://www.moodlerooms.com/community-and-partnerships/what-is-moodle/
http://www.moodlerooms.com/community-and-partnerships/what-is-moodle/
Wong, J. (2016).
Wix review 2016 – Creating your stunning website. In Website Builder
Expert. Retrieved May 10, 2016, from http://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/wix-
review/#proscons
Expert. Retrieved May 10, 2016, from http://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/wix-
review/#proscons
7 things you
should know about…google apps. (2008). In Educause
Learning Initiative.
Retrieved
May 9, 2016, from https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7035.pdf
15 best free
website builders. (2016). In BeautifulLife.
Retrieved May 10, 2016, from
