Web Tools

Instruction / Presentation

1. Prezi
2. Powtoon

Communication

1. Google Hangouts
2. Smore
3. Google Calendar
4. Evernote
5. Voki

Evaluation

1. iRubric

Appearance

Appearance Awards

The Good:

1. Gwinnett Online Campus
2. Khan Academy
3. Econedlink
4. Google+
5. CK12

The Not So Good:

1. CoolMathGames
2. Center for Advanced Visual Studies at MIT: Yes, you would have thought differently too.
3. Harcourt School Publishers
4. Purple Math
5. Healthcare.gov: Sorry had to.

Time Management

1. Google Calendar - I like using Google Calendar because I can add as many viewers as I need. It can also be set with reminders and can be sent through emails and I can create a link to the calendar on the homepage.
2. StayFocusd - This app will be embedded in my LMS, because it allows me to block websites that will become a distraction for students. A great way to keep students focused and on task while assessing my site.
3. Evernote - I like evernote, because I can create groups and different folders. I can remain focused on tasks and also make sure that I don't forget things for later. I can also include others in evernote and they can also include things and reminders in their note sessions.
4. Decision Matrix - This tool is an excel template. I will be able use this in class, not only as a way to teach one of my lessons (Cost-Benefit Analysis); but I can also have students, and myself, use this for important tasks that are coming up.
5. Nozbe - This is a great way to combine my Google Calendar, Evernote, Dropbox, and others which will allow me to make sure I don't forget one thing in Calendars, while I have it in Evernote. It is another get organizing tool.

Synchronous Sessions

During this cohort, I have really played around with Google Apps. One of the apps is Google + Hangouts. This; and many others, gotomeeting, skype, and the like; allows synchronous sessions for collaborated works and discussions. To replace the interact in instruction a face to face classroom brings, online teachers need a tool that can allow live communication and interaction to happen. I have used the Google Hangouts to meet with my teaching team this summer. One teacher is in St. Kitts, and another was in New York. I was able to be in my classroom at school and discuss topics that we need to focus on for the next school year.

In the online setting, I will use this type of tool to replace the "boot camp" that I have close to the EOCT for my subject. It will be a great way to help students in real time and allow them to ask questions with the group. I will also create small group sessions for projects.

Discussions

Discussion forums are beneficial as a replacement for a classroom discussion. It can also be used as a way to collaborate with students and they can interact as they might in a regular classroom. I use discussion boards to provide a writing sample for each students and I require each student to comment on at least two of the their classmates reply. Keeping up with the forum is the hardest part for the teacher. A teacher can use these effectively if the teacher sets them up ahead of time and with a time requirement that does not last the entire semester. Providing feedback as well as the students will let students know that you are actively monitoring and grading the discussions. One of the major ways of an ineffective discussion board is to not be active on the board, so stay on the discussion.

Feedback

The Assignment:

Students will create a power point project. The presentation will highlight the four economic systems: traditional, market, command, and mixed economies. Components include: *Title slide and subtitle slides for each system *A short analysis of how each economic system addresses the three economic questions *A listing of positive aspects for each *A listing of negative aspects for each *Examples of nations that use or have used each economic system. *Graphics or pictures for each slide.

The Rubric:


The Feedback:

              Evernote feedback.

Evaluation Methods and Communication

Because a face to face setting allows personal interaction between the teacher and student, it is a lot easier to pull a student aside and discuss grades, motivation, or concerns. In an online setting, not so much. Communication must be top notch, because if it isn't, it could be the difference between a student failing and passing on the teacher's end. If authentic feedback and effective communication is not given, then the student will not have the resources needed to improve. By communicating through emails, Voki, Smore, Remind 101, or any of the number of online communication applications; online teachers can replace that face to face connection.