ED-271 Technology Assessment

1. Google Apps
Google Apps generally refers to the suite of Google services such as Gmail, Docs, and Scholar. There are four different versions of Google Apps: Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Google Apps for Government, and Google Apps for Education. I think Google Apps is very helpful when you have a class that has many documents, in Google Apps for educators you are able to share documents online at anytime and form any location. Another benefit is that it is and easy to use. The video provided shows a little about Google Apps. I would give this technology tool a 4 out of 5.

2. Moodle
Moodle is an open source, online, interactive teaching and learning environment enabling educators to use technology in classroom. I would give Moodle a 4 out of 5 because it is a very useful tool if teachers are eager to teach through technology. Your students will be able to log onto the site and use it in many ways, they are able to check their grades, take quizzes, and view files attached by the teacher. Another very interesting component that is useful is the ability to have online chat with students inside the classroom, it helps for those students that are shy by letting express their opinion without verbal use.


3. Firefox
Firefox is a web browser similar to Internet Explorer, Safari, and Google Chrome. It is said to be faster, safer, and has better web experience. I would give Firefox a 2 out of 5, simply because I am not a big fan of Mozilla Firefox. I have not fully seen the capacity that Firefox is able to do but it mentions that as of March 2011, Firefox is the second most widely used browser.




4. Prezi
Prezi is a new and fun way to make present presentations. You apply your thoughts, ideas, videos and pictures on a large canvas and show their relationship with placement and scale. I would give Prezi a 4 out of 5 because it provides a more interesting and active way to present information you need to show to your audience. At first it may be overwhelming due to the huge blank canvas you might be confused where to start, but after watching the video provided as a guide to making your presentation it should make things easier for you. It takes a lot of playing around and use to fully understand how to use. I would say Prezi is a more interactive presenter compared to Microsoft's PowerPoint.




5. PhotoStory3
PhotoStory 3 is program that takes pictures of your choice and easily narrate them by adding titles, background music, and create a movie. This program is somewhat similar to Microsoft's MovieMaker but with the use of pictures only not video. I would give PhotoStory a 3 out of 5 because the ease of access is very easy and displays all the options in viewable places but the quality of the finished product is poor. At times the title you add is very hard to view and the image is sometimes distorted.




6. LiveBinder
Livebinder is a free tool that acts as your 3-ring binder for the web. Teachers can use this to collect research, organize them neatly and easily, and present and share them with ease. I would give Livebinder a 4 out of 5. This tool is very useful for teachers who have many resources and important sites that they want to share with their students. It simply bookmarks websites that you want to keep and save onto your binder. It is very easy and simple to use all is needed is to create tabs and simply insert the address of your desire into the tab and saving the website. Teachers can easily save and share their binders by providing a link for their students to go, to view the work.






7.Wix
Wix is a free website builder and it makes Flash websites with an easy drag and drop online platform. I would give this tool a 3 out of 5 because there are some level of difficulty to understand the usage of Wix. With Wix you given free templates to choose from and you are instructed to make a website of your own using the template. Wix does not allow you to make a website from scratch and design it fully as your own. When using Wix I had a very difficult time using it to it's full potential because there was a lot of icons and options to choose and it was not fully explained how to use some of these icons without having to watch the tutorial. As you use Wix more and more I think it would be a good useful tool for students to use as a way to present ideas through making of a website. Teachers can assign a final project and use Wix as the main way to put their ideas and what they have learned throughout the year.






8. Blogger
Blogger is a free weblog publishing tool from Google for sharing text, photos, and videos. I would give blogger a 5 out of 5 because this technology tool is very useful and efficient. It's free and easy to access all that is needed is a GMail account. Blogger can be used by teachers everywhere by asking students to post homework, presentation, and ideas for the class. You are able to share your blogger with everyone around the world and there are many fun option you can use such as changing your template and color.