TLED 430-530 Module 8 Amber Johnson March 10th, 2014

Collaborative Digital Tools

The following list includes a few collaborative tools that may be used in a classroom to enhance learning. Specifically, this list is focused towards a tenth grade English class. Every Standard of Learning (SOL) topic is covered through the following collaborative tools. Therefore, communication, reading, writing, and research are all being explored through collaborative tools. The tools will help students to learn by effectively showing them organized ways of brainstorming in a group setting both within and outside of the classroom. Students working in collaborative teams are typically more engaged in the process of discussion and creation. In the future, I plan to use this list to familiarize my students with successful collaboration, productive usage of online tools, and easy understanding of new or difficult concepts. Name of the digital tool Cacoo Special Features of the tool How this tool can support collaborative learning in your classroom This tool can support collaborative learning by allowing students to organize their thoughts in a group setting. In a collaborative researching and writing project, students would be able to organize the steps and brainstorm the topic. Also, students placed in literature discussion groups would be able to organize their opinions on a certain topic concerning their recent readings. This tool would allow students to decipher and organize major literary themes and the ways they are shown within a piece of literature. Once the group feels as though their graphic organizer is complete, they can save it and submit it to the teacher or a class blog/wiki.

This tool is used to create graphic organizers and other diagrams in real time with any number of editors. Some features include: Wide variety of diagrams available Inclusion of images into diagrams along with text Complete revision history Chat function for further communication while editing User icons for each editor appear on the working diagram Publishable to a blog or wiki

TLED 430-530 Module 8 Protagonize Diagrams can be made private This tool can support collaborative learning by allowing students to both receive and give feedback on written work in a digital setting. Also, students are able to work together on a story from any starting plotline to develop their skills as collaborative writers. Students developing a narrative essay or their own poetry can easily sign up and post their drafts to a specific group for feedback from their peers or from the global writing community. Furthermore, students can actively give feedback on their peers work or others. Being able to give and apply feedback in collaborative groups is an important part of tenth grade writing standards.

This tool is used to share creative writing (stories, poems, and other written work) and receive feedback. Some features include: Ability to post written work and receive valid feedback Includes both amateur and experienced authors One story may be worked on by various editors Uses writing circles to discuss different writing topics Ability to change privacy levels in a group setting Ability to bookmark stories to My Favourites Usage is free

Debate Graph

This tool is used to visually explore multiple aspects or viewpoints of any topic with various users in real time. Some features include: Includes bubble, tree, radial, and box mapping diagrams Ability to toggle between map, page, document, and outline view of all added information

This tool can support collaborative learning by involving students in the process of working together to brainstorm and organize different viewpoints of various topics. Finished diagrams can be translated to an outline or document view to help with writing persuasive essays. Therefore, this tool would pair well with lessons on persuasive essays and speeches. These lessons are imperative to tenth grade writing standards. Students with diverse opinions can easily work together both within and outside of the classroom to brainstorm all possible subtopics and sticking

TLED 430-530 Module 8 Ability to embed maps on a blog/wiki Users are able to create a calendar event that will send out a reminder to all other invited users Usage is free points within a debate. Having these drawn out in a map or outline will aid students in both defending their own viewpoints and being able to think of how to counteract any opposing views.

Mindmeister

This tool is used as a way to create an online mind map with various users in real time. Some features include:

This tool can support collaborative learning by helping students to streamline group research projects. First, students can work in real time to chat online, brainstorm a research topic through a collaborative mind map, assign tasks, and figure out the steps to Ability to infinitely undo all changes reach their conclusion. The group can create a organizer and post Ability to playback the entire all texts, links, images, and videos relevant to their research in thought process of your map order to simplify the topic. Also, students can use a diagram to Functions to view which user added set up their essays format much like a traditional outline. which piece at which time Teachers are able to go back and review who contributed what Easily usable on mobile devices and when they posted. This makes it easier for teachers to Exportable to Microsoft Office determine the amount of collaboration each student contributed. products and as a PDF Therefore, points based on collaboration are less biased and Ability to embed maps on a more based on objective measures. blog/wiki Ability to add text, images, and videos on to maps This tool can support collaborative learning by allowing students a space to share their work and thoughts. While reading a particular passage or novel, the teacher can create a post asking different pre- and post-reading questions. Students can comment on this post and interact with each other, sharing their thoughts on a topic. Also, students can write their own blog response

Blogger

This tool is used as a blogging feature for students or teachers to post discussion topics or other projects happening within the classroom. Some features include: Blogs may be made public or private

TLED 430-530 Module 8 Compatible with all Google applications (Google Drive and Google + included) Ability for users to comment on posts to further discussions or ask questions Anyone can follow the blog to receive notifications for new posts Multiple blogs may be created by one user Learning HTML is not necessary Usage is free questions and become the teacher of the subject. Furthermore, students can post their essays, images, podcasts, videos, and poetry for review by their peers. Even further, students can work in groups to create and maintain their own reading and writing blogs. This could be a year-long project and foster ongoing collaboration.

These tools can connect to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) NETS-Students by reinforcing students creativity (Standard 1), communication/collaboration (Standard 2), research ability (Standard 3), critical thinking (Standard 4), digital citizenship (Standard 5), and knowledge of technology (Standard 6) (International Society for Technology in Education, 2007). Creativity is utilized in all of the tools by just giving students easier tools to organize and express their individual thoughts. Also, the way that the students use the tools will showcase their creative abilities. As tools to foster group thinking, it is obvious how using the tools would impact communication/collaboration. While all of the tools could support research ability, Mindmeister is designed specifically to aid in organizing collaborative research. Furthermore, critical thinking, like creativity, is promoted in all these tools. All of the tools give students the chance to engage in meaningful critical thinking with others, which is crucial in expanding a students belief system. Moreover, students will be able to practice good digital citizenship when collaborating with others online. Finally, these tools provide students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge of technology and use technology in a productive way.

TLED 430-530 Module 8

References International Society for Technology in Education. (2007). ISTE standards students. Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/2014_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf