Thursday, July 12, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Trello for Collaboration
A recent Web. 2.0 tool I've implemented in my department is Trello. Trello is a collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards. In one glance, Trello tells you what's being worked on, who's working on what, and where something is in a process. In the Information Systems department, we have a lot of projects under continuous development and Trello instantly shows what's happening. The faculty seem engaged in using Trello too. Check out this video to see how Trello work.
I like using Trello better than a blog or wiki. If you use Trello, I'd like to hear from you.
I like using Trello better than a blog or wiki. If you use Trello, I'd like to hear from you.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Looking for Alternative Presentation Tools?
Death by PowerPoint! We hear this a lot from students on course evaluations and from articles. Reading verbatim from a static PowerPoint is not appropriate! Now with Web 2.0 tools, there are alternatives to presenting. Here are a few:
Prezi.com - I really like this tool and the tutorials are easy to follow. Make sure you practice a lot before using this tool to present. The ability to easily add video, photos, links, etc, and to share publicly or privately are easily accomplished. Prezi markets this product as the "ability to make your presentations zoom." Be careful though because too much zooming can cause motion sickness among your viewers.
Empressr.com - I'm not sure about this tool yet, but I do think it provides some interesting transitions and easy to add photos, music, video, and audio, and it's easy to share publicly or privately. I found it relatively easy to import a PowerPoint presentation I already created.
VoiceThread.com - This tool provides a great collaborative multimedia slideshow. I've had students create phenomenal presentations using this tool. Often I require students to post comments in the five ways: using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam).
Google Presentations. - too much like PowerPoint to me without all the bells and whistles.
Of course, if you want to create word clouds, I think Wordle and Tagxedo are easy tools to use. In an online "getting acquainted" discussion board, I've had students create a Wordle, add it to a PowerPoint slide, and then narrate it and post it in the discussion board. They really enjoyed this tool.
I'm always interested in hearing what YOU are using for presentations especially the "free" tools.
Prezi.com - I really like this tool and the tutorials are easy to follow. Make sure you practice a lot before using this tool to present. The ability to easily add video, photos, links, etc, and to share publicly or privately are easily accomplished. Prezi markets this product as the "ability to make your presentations zoom." Be careful though because too much zooming can cause motion sickness among your viewers.
Empressr.com - I'm not sure about this tool yet, but I do think it provides some interesting transitions and easy to add photos, music, video, and audio, and it's easy to share publicly or privately. I found it relatively easy to import a PowerPoint presentation I already created.
VoiceThread.com - This tool provides a great collaborative multimedia slideshow. I've had students create phenomenal presentations using this tool. Often I require students to post comments in the five ways: using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam).
Google Presentations. - too much like PowerPoint to me without all the bells and whistles.
Of course, if you want to create word clouds, I think Wordle and Tagxedo are easy tools to use. In an online "getting acquainted" discussion board, I've had students create a Wordle, add it to a PowerPoint slide, and then narrate it and post it in the discussion board. They really enjoyed this tool.
I'm always interested in hearing what YOU are using for presentations especially the "free" tools.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
ACBSP Presentation
I just returned from attending the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) International Conference in Indianapolis with 698 attendees. My presentation on "Your Personal Learning Network for the 21st Century" was well received. My hope is that some of those attending begin to create their own personal learning networks and find value as I do.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Drowning in Tools?
Not me! I decided to just pick and choose. If I don't get to Twitter every day, I don't worry. There are still so many tweets to find valuable. My main tools I check daily are LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. I follow so many great educators and social media specialists that I learn a lot just from these three networks.
So this is my advice: take baby steps and get comfortable with one or two tools. Spend 1 hr. a week but don't let it consume you. There's another world out there!!
"The person who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." Anonymous. "
So this is my advice: take baby steps and get comfortable with one or two tools. Spend 1 hr. a week but don't let it consume you. There's another world out there!!
"The person who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." Anonymous. "
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