4.1.3 Aggregating Lesson Material Quest

by  Emilie Ogez 

   

There is a variety of Learning Management Systems and Course Management Systems available that allow to aggregate and present learning objects and materials in a very effective way. My selection includes three reliable management systems that are open source with no associated costs.

Moodle 

Moodle offers a convenient file management system that allows users to drop files from cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Google Drive.

Schoology 

Schoology aggregates all the academic information in one easy-to-use, familiar interface.

Claro 

This is a collaborative, web-based platform for authoring, managing, and delivering high-quality e-learning that is remarkably easy to navigate.

4.1.2 Principles of Building Portable Learning Objects Quest

I have created two different types of quizzes to assess the mastery level of the uses of Ser and Estar (to be). The first quiz is a true or false assessment type. I created this quiz using Socrative. Socrative is an easy-to-use tool tool for building quizzes and seeing student results in real time. It also allows teachers to collaborate and share quizzes. My quiz number is SOC #: 15868778. It can be located at http://www.socrative.com/ (Room: RYQG5HEH).

My second portable learning object is a multiple choice quiz created using ClassTools. This is a fun, interactive Web 2.0 tool that allows students to play a game when they answer correctly the quiz questions.

4.1.1 Learning Object Authoring Tools

by  sandraschoen 

After researching several online tools for learning content authoring, I selected the following learning object authoring tools, three tools that are free to use and two that are fee or subscription based:


Free Learning Object Authoring Tools

ClassTools.- This is a versatile resource that can be used to create interactive educational games, quizzes, activities and diagrams. The learning objects created with ClassTools can be hosted on a blog, website or intranet. It is very easy to use and convenient, since it does not require to sign up for an account or enter passwords.

Dipity.- This is a tool for creating interactive timelines online. It can be used for sequential content or for any content that has a chronological order. Its feature of embedding multimedia and links makes learning objects created with Dipity highly engaging.

PresentationTube.- This authoring tool offers a video presentation recorder and video sharing platform to help produce and share quality video presentations easily. The video presentation recorder allows presenters to narrate and annotate PowerPoint slides and synchronize a variety of essential visual aids, including webcam streaming, whiteboard, drawing board, web browser content, and desktop recording. The platform uses YouTube API to upload and combine the video with scrollable slide thumbnails, allowing the learner to move to the respective video content and control both the progress and length of video presentation.

Fee/Subscription-based Learning Object Authoring Tools

Articulate Storyline.- It seems that creating an interactive course with this e-learning authoring software is quite easy and fun. Avatars and actors with a lot of capabilities, as well as scenario backgrounds, make the content of the course very engaging.

dominKnow Claro.- This is an award-winning web-based platform for authoring, managing, and delivering high-quality e-learning that is remarkably easy to navigate. Claro has a long list of features to help make learning content engaging and interactive. 

3.1.3 Locating Resources Quest

I have located several open educational resources to incorporate into the Spanish I unit that introduces the uses of Ser and Estar (to be).

 by  giulia.forsythe

Using the search engine OER Commons, I found a comprehensive repository of Spanish I materials that cover Ser and Estar. By browsing the content of this course, I will be able to locate a variety of resources to address my students' specific needs. This course is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Another open educational resource that I found is a PowerPoint Presentation by Ariel Myers, titled Ser y Estar.  I located this interactive presentation using MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching).  I added the licensing information to the first slide.

The following TeacherTube video provides a thorough explanation of the different uses of Ser and Estar. It was uploaded by Shannon Probe.

Finally, this last YouTube video is a fun, rigorous review of the content topic chosen for this quest. It was uploaded by SlusionProductions.

 

3.1.2 Fair Use and the TEACH Act

Fair Use and the TEACH Act (Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act, 2002) allow teachers to use copyrighted materials for educational purposes. However, both, Fair Use and the TEACH Act, establish limitations on the use of copyrighted resources by educators. According to the Campus Guide to Copyright Compliance, there are four elements that need to be taken into consideration when determining whether the use of copyrighted materials is fair or not: the purpose of the use, the nature of the work, the amount or portion of the work used, and the effect of the use on the market. It is essential that online instructors have an understanding of these four Fair Use components and that they meet Fair Use criteria when using copyrighted resources. There is no better way to teach digital social responsibility than modeling how to respect and adhere to copyright laws.

The TEACH Act is particularly relevant in online distance learning. As it is stated in the Campus Guide to Copyright Compliance, TEACH facilitates and enables the performance and display of copyrighted materials for online distance education by accredited, non-profit educational institutions that meet the Act's qualifying requirements. Such requirements are:

• The institution must be an accredited, non-profit educational institution.
• The use must be part of mediated instructional activities.
• The use must be limited to a specific number of students enrolled in a specific class.
• The use must either be for ‘live’ or asynchronous class sessions.
• The use must not include the transmission of textbook materials, materials “typically purchased or acquired by students,” or works developed specifically for online uses.

Since the creators of the copyrighted materials that can be used under TEACH are reputable academic institutions and publishers, the reliability of the content that can be delivered by online instructors is guaranteed. The TEACH Act allows to balance the rights of copyright holders with the need of online instructors to deliver reliable content to their online students. 

3.1.1 Open Educational Resources and Creative Commons

 by  planeta 

According to OER Commons, Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that are freely available online for everyone to use: instructors, students, and self-learners. OERs include any digital educational resources, from full courses and course modules to specific items of pedagogical materials from around the world. There are various search engines that help search and locate OERs. The search engine OER Commons is particularly useful when searching for K-12 resources since all the teaching and learning content can be easily located by topic and grade level.

Creative Commons (CC) is the licensing attached to OERs. Users must abide by the conditions of CC licenses to be able to use these open resources legally. There are six different types of CC licenses, depending on the level of rights that creators choose to keep for their works. The following is the classification provided by Creative Commons: 

Attribution 

CC BY

This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered. It is recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials.

Attribution-ShareAlike 

CC BY-SA

This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work even for commercial purposes, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms. This license is often compared to “copyleft” free and open source software licenses. All new works based on yours will carry the same license, so any derivatives will also allow commercial use. This is the license used by Wikipedia, and is recommended for materials that would benefit from incorporating content from Wikipedia and similarly licensed projects.

Attribution-NoDerivs 

CC BY-ND

This license allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to you.

Attribution-NonCommercial 

CC BY-NC

This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 

CC BY-NC-SA

This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms.

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 

CC BY-NC-ND

This license is the most restrictive of the six main licenses, only allowing others to download your works and share them with others as long as they credit you, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.

2.1.3 Using Web 2.0 Tools to Differentiate Student Assessment

Differentiated instructional practices and differentiated student assessments deepen and enhance the learning process. Web 2.0 tools are ideal resources to integrate differentiated student assessments across the curriculum. Among the wide variety of Web 2.0 tools available, PowToon is one of the most versatile tools for language instruction and assessment. PowToon is a free online animated presentation tool that allows students to use their creativity to generate content that is dynamic and visually engaging. It is also extremely easy to use, and the final products can be embedded or shared through social media.

Authentic writing activities and production of multimedia projects are among the student-centered practices and differentiated assessments best supported by Powtoon. Because students don't have to be super tech savvy to use this Web 2.0 tool, they can spend the majority of the time writing, designing, and generating a product in the target language. One of the most beneficial aspects of using PowToon as a differentiated assessment tool is the positive impact on students' motivation and attitude about learning. They feel empowered when they are able to demonstrate and create their own learning.

2.1.2 Using Web 2.0 Tools to Differentiate Teacher Instruction

by  bensheldon 

Integrating Web 2.0 technologies in online instruction helps promote student engagement and create a more student-centered learning environment. The positive impact of this approach on student achievement is unquestionable. Web 2.0 tools seem to really foster student engagement by increasing student motivation, particularly when students are offered personalized instruction that addresses their specific needs. The ultimate goal is to help students experience academic success.

I created a Biteslide mini-presentation to provide additional, differentiated instruction for students struggling to master the skills associated with the different uses of the verb “estar” (to be).

2.1.1 Web Tools

by  The Daring Librarian 

Among the wide variety of Web 2.0 tools that can be used for student learning and instruction, there are three categories that are particularly relevant: communication tools, collaboration tools, and social bookmarking tools.

In language instruction, communication tools such as blogs and microblogs are invaluable tools to enhance students' language-learning opportunities. Blogs can be used to integrate academic vocabulary in a meaningful way when analyzing facts, summarizing events, and expressing opinions. Students' writing skills can be improved through the use of blogs. In the world language classroom, the more opportunities students have to use the target language meaningfully the greater chances of them becoming proficient. Spanish language learners can greatly benefit from using blogs as online journals to communicate with their classmates using the target language.

Collaboration tools such as wikis allow students to submit, review, and discuss content collaboratively. In the online environment, having students collaborate on a wiki is particularly beneficial since it gives them the opportunity to interact and construct meaning together in the target language. Instructors can also provide feedback in a more timely manner by reviewing students' wikis as they develop their work, and by making corrections when needed. Wikis offer all the advantages of formative assessment tools since students' progress can be evaluated throughout the development of their wiki pages.

Lastly, social bookmarking tools are an effective way to access bookmarks anywhere and at anytime. It is a great means for students and instructors to network and share bookmarks with each other. For example, in order to organize materials for each thematic unit of study, students can compile a list of resources using a social bookmarking tool. They could bookmark the sites that they find more useful and interesting, and organize them by tags (vocabulary, grammar, irregular verbs, culture, etc). Students can also network and share their bookmarks, benefiting from seeing their peers' bookmarks and using their tags.

1.1.3 Appearance Quest

 by  TangYauHoong 

Instructional sites that are designed following best practices:

IXL is one the Web's most comprehensive K-12 practice sites. Widely used by schools and families, IXL provides unlimited practice in more than 4,000 math and English topics. This site is colorful, fun, and interactive. The content is organized like a textbook, making it easy for students to scaffold their learning.

BrainPop is a comprehensive website that covers multiple disciplines. All the sections are extremely engaging and helpful for kids of all ages. There are instructional videos and games that help students practice skills in a fun way.

LearnEnglish Kids has lots of online games, songs, stories, and activities for primary school children learning English as a second language. It is a highly interactive, eye-catching instructional site, even for very young learners. Kids can have fun and learn English at the same time.

Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. It is a comprehensive website that covers multiple disciplines, using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps. All the lessons present content in a very engaging way.

iCivics is a web-based education project designed to teach students civics and encourage them to participate in the democratic process. Civic learning is promoted through interactive and engaging digital resources. iCivics is one of nine nonprofit organizations around the world to receive the 2015 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. According to its Executive Director, Louise Dubé, “iCivics has become the largest and most popular digital civic instructional resource in the country.”

In my opinion, the following instructional sites fail to exemplify sound design ideals. They all lack eye-catching images, graphics, and multi-media. The delivery of content is not clearly organized, which in some cases looks confusing and, in other cases, feels overwhelming. Font and color choice, as well as arrangement, seems to be problematic, too.

• Enchanted Learning  http://www.enchantedlearning.com

• Cool Math Games  http://www.coolmath-games.com

• Web Spanish Lessons  http://www.june29.com/Spanish/

• Jiffy Spanish  http://www.jiffyspanish.com/lessons/

• Spanish Made Easy  http://www.davidreilly.com/spanish/

1.1.2 Creating a Content Map Quest

Using bubbl.us, I created a content map to explain the uses of Ser and Estar in Spanish.

Ser vs. Estar

1.1.1 Time Management

 by  âœ¿ SUMAYAH ©™ 

In the online learning environment, effective time management practices are critical in order to ensure academic success. Ritika Trikha, in 10 Must-Have Tools for Time Management, suggests several digital time management tools that have the potential to help students and instructors use their time more efficiently by getting more done in less time. Among these tools, the following ones can be particularly useful to students who struggle with organizational and time management skills:

MindMeister – This tool lets students customize an easy-to-revise virtual mind map. MindMeister is best for visual learners because it's focused on goals rather than lists and orders. Students can also easily collaborate with others on a project.

List.ly – This is a great tool for those who prefer lists. It is highly engaging and makes it easier to receive crowd-sourced feedback.

Toggl – This simple program is for those students who want to keep track of how long they have been working on a project. They can try to beat their time on given tasks to improve efficiency. Toggl also saves all their work and is accessible on Mac, PC, and mobile phones.

Grid Analysis – This tool is designed to help students make decisions more effectively. They can list their options in a table format and then various factors as columns. The application lets students score each option and then helps them make the best decision based on the factors they input.

StayFocusd – This is a Google Chrome extension that will block students' biggest time-wasting sites. It works like a timer, and asks students to set the maximum time they want to waste on their customized time-killer sites before they are blocked.