SCHOOLOGY

Schoology is a collaborative learning platform, combining the course content and functionality of traditional learning management systems with the immediacy, access, and connectivity of social networking tools.

Schoology allows teachers to securely and efficiently conduct tests and quizzes, host discussions about course materials, provide supplemental insights on daily lessons via blogging, offer one-to-one feedback on assignments, assign and collect homework, and expand in-class learning by sharing supplemental content and linking to additional reference materials. 

And since Schoology is cloud-based, it’s completely online. There’s no software to install, no extra equipment, and no maintenance required.  It’s safe, secure, private and protected.

Its layout resembles the look of popular social media tools, so it’s comfortable and familiar—and easy for technology novices to quickly learn and use.

The greatest benefit to Schoology is the stronger connections and collaboration it fosters among teachers and students—and their parents. By enabling parents to sign up, too, Schoology encourages more frequent communication with their child’s teacher, ultimately boosting parental engagement in the learning process, a critical component of every student’s success.

From: edtechdigest.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/interview-time-for-schoology/‎

Schoology's classroom management suite offers all of the tools that a teacher would use to support a connected online learning environment.
Attendance, grade book (traditional & standards-based), online posting of assignments and assessments.  Teachers can create online quizzes & tests.  This practice can provide instant feedback to the students, and differentiation opportunities for teachers.

One specific advantage that Schoology offers over many other LMS products is the ability for teachers and students to have a complete and reciprocal document workflow from within the application.

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From: http://rtschuetz.blogspot.com/2012/12/five-reasons-why-schoology-rocks.html

DROPBOX

Dropbox is a type of online cloud application that lets you store your files in the internet.

Dropbox isn’t the only cloud storage space out there. You might have heard about SkyDrive, SugarSync, Box.net, and the recent launch of Google Drive. Though each of these products have their own respective advantages, I still use Dropbox because of its simplicity and yet functionality.

- See more at: http://www.twelveskip.com/resources/tools/247/why-i-love-dropbox-the-top-benefits-of-using-it-file-storage-sharing#sthash.wmkhiabX.dpuf

HERE ARE THE TOP 10 AWESOME BENEFITS OF DROPBOX:

10. Convenient To Use!

It's very easy to use unlike other cloud storage products. Thus, this is ideal for those people who value simplicity and just wanted to back-up their files. You can choose to either use Dropbox by using an internet browser and go to their website or you can install the Dropbox application.

9. File Sharing

Gone are the days when you’re restricted of sending an email attachment not exceeding 25MB. With Dropbox, you can share a dropbox folder to one or more of your contacts. Thus, if you want to share a video, your contact can easily view that by just checking the file folder.

8. Public Sharing

You also have the option to upload content that you want to be available to the public. For example, you went to a field trip, you can simply upload the photos or videos in your account and let your classmates view and save content.

7. Mobile Dropbox

There's no doubt that your smartphone or tablet cannot handle big amount of file sizes. But when you install the Dropbox app in your mobile devices, you can download only needed files from Dropbox whenever you need them!

6. Accessibility

You can access your files almost anywhere in the planet! As long as you have internet connection and even if you’re already offline, you can still retrieve and edit files. The next time you get online, the content of your Dropbox folder will then sync with other devices.

5. Other Features

Deleted files are not automatically thrown away permanently. Dropbox will keep it for 30-days before it will be gone forever. In addition to this, when you copy files from one Dropbox folder to another, Dropbox will not require those files to be uploaded again. Thus, it will save you a lot of time from uploading contents.

4. Synchronization Of Devices

Your Dropbox files can be synchronized with your other devices. All you have to do is to install the Dropbox app to all your electronic devices such as your smartphone, desktop computer, and tablet. But of course, you can always use the internet browser to open your files, though this may take longer. If you primarily use your laptop, you can save your files through the Dropbox folder. Even if you never saved it in your desktop, you can still access it through the Dropbox folder. Learn how to sync dropbox files between different devices.

3. Outstanding Dropbox Folder

If you want to fully harness the power of Dropbox, you need to download the Dropbox application. By doing so, you create a Dropbox folder in your computer where you can sync your files with Dropbox in the internet. You can treat the Dropbox folder the way you treat your other folders. The only difference is that what you save on the Dropbox folder will automatically be saved online, thus eliminating the need to use a browser just to upload your files. This is how my app looks like:

2. Create Back-Up Files

If you want to safely store your important documents, it’s always wise to create back-up files. This way, if your primary storage device is broken or not available, you can easily retrieve it. You don’t have to pull your hair off and hopelessly be frustrated. All you have to do is open your Dropbox folder and you’ll find your data there.

1. It’s FREE

Dropbox is definitely free with no hidden charges that might eventually surprise you. Once you started using Dropbox, you’ll be awarded with 2GB of free storage space. I know that isn’t too much but it’s perfect for starters. Moreover, you can gain additional space by a number of ways such as inviting your friends to use Dropbox, connecting Dropbox to your Facebook and Twitter, send fan mails, and more. It’s a way to expand your Dropbox community and spread the good news of Dropbox.

You should Dropbox it as well! It's safe, convenient, reliable, and will ultimately free you from the worries of lost files.

- See more at: http://www.twelveskip.com/resources/tools/247/why-i-love-dropbox-the-top-benefits-of-using-it-file-storage-sharing#sthash.wmkhiabX.dpuf

How to get started with Blendspace

1. Go to https://www.blendspace.com to register with your Google account
2. Create a lesson by clicking on the icon (+ Create Lesson)
3. Once you have watched a 30-second video, you can start creating your own lesson. Type the title of the lesson on the search bar, and there are a host of sites of lessons.
4. You may drag and drop the materials from these sites such as Educreations or Vimeo and then add your own quizzes. As for me, for my lesson on Training modules for learning to write Argumentative Essays. as I have a dropbox account, I tried to link it to Blendspace but as I did not want Blendspace to have access to it, I uploaded my files by clicking on the "Insert Media File" icon.
5.

Educanvas: Every Teacher Will Want One

Educanvas which is now Blendspace is the perfect app for a flipped classroom!

The Hare and The Tortoise

Once there lived in a forest a hare and a tortoise. The hare was very proud of his speed. He made fun of the tortoise for his slow speed. The tortoise challenged the hare to have a race with him. The hare accepted the challenge.

The race started. The crow was the referee. The hare ran very fast. The tortoise was left much behind. The hare stopped to take rest under a tree. He fell asleep. The tortoise passed him and reached the winning post. The hare woke up and ran as fast as he could. He saw that the tortoise was already there at the winning post. He had won the race.

Task 1: Form for reading quiz.

Phase 1:

1. Provide your e-mail address (gmail is preferred) to the facilitators.
2. Facilitators will add you as author to this blog.

Phase 2:

1. Design a reading comprehension quiz by following the steps below.

• Search for a simple reading text from the internet.
• Adapt the text based on the ability and levels of your students.
• As an author, create a new post and provide the text in your post.
• Design 5 questions for the reading text by using Google Form.
• Embed the form into your post.

Click here to see a sample of reading comprehension quiz.

Using Google Form for Classroom Quiz

As mentioned earlier, Google drive offers useful features for teaching and learning purpose. One of them is Google Form. It can be used to develop quizzes for English language classroom.

Teacher can choose to share the quizzes via email or just embed them in a class blog. Students answer the quiz online and results will directly go to teachers cloud data storage. Below is an example of a quiz which is embedded in a class blog.

to read the full reading text, visit English Primary Fun website

The results will be sent to teacher's Google cloud data interface once students submitted their form. The data can be analysed by downloading it as a spreadsheet to teacher's PC. The look of the interface is as shown below.

Introduction to Google Drive.

Google Drive is a Google Cloud Platform that lets you build applications and websites, store data, and analyze data on Google’s infrastructure.

Before we start, let's watch this video.

So, how teachers can use this for their lessons?
There are 5 features that teachers can use to enhance Virtual Learning Environment. They are ..


Document, Presentation, Spreadsheet, Form and Drawing
For this workshop, we chose to expose the participants to Google Form.

Teaching In The 21st Century

Something to reflect on...