TILT Quickie - Web-based Applications for Students and Teachers

'Back in the day', we used to run programs and applications off of CDs. With the expansion of the Internet, we now are able to purchase, download, and install these programs, but they often cost a lot. What's worse, installating these programs requires special permissions on our school servers most of us don't have (or know how to use).

What we're now seeing is a growth in web-based applications - that is, programs that run right through our web browsers. I've featured a few in previous episodes (e.g. Pod-o-matic for example). The 'new' Internet (sometimes referred to as Web 2.0) is producing more and more of these interactive web-based applications. Featured in this 'Quickie' episode of TILT are 3 fantastic examples illustrating this growing phenomenon:

• Think Free Office Online - (00:25) a web-based FREE word processor, presentation software, and spreadsheet that 'look and feel' very similar to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Project Cam - (04:06) a FREE, web-based communication application which features video, voice, and text chat as well as file sharing - perfect for communicating from classroom to classroom
• Document Converter eXPress - (07:30) this web-based program converts files to .pdf Adobe Reader documents as well as numerous other file types online for FREE

Good news everyone - I believe I've fixed the audio distortion you may have heard on previous episodes. Now I no longer sound like Darth Vader's little brother :)

Click to view TILT Quickie - Web-based Applications for Students and Teachers(22Mb MPEG-4 Video) (To save video, right-click on the link and choose 'Save Target As...' or 'Save Link As')

TILT Episode 5 - Problem-based Learning With Technology

Well, The Problem-based Learning (PBL) episode is ready and it's a large download (40+Mb). In this episode we begin with an overview of what Problem-based learning with technology is (to me). Next we look at going through the process of a PBL technology activity with the example of a science problem, 'How do we manage waste in our world?' The third segment features some example student end-products that can be created to show their understanding or solution to the PBL activity, and the episode wraps up showing 3 different online tools for assessing PBL activities.

It's a long episode and even at around 40 minutes I left out a lot of things. It's a big and important topic that I wanted to do justice to. Below are some show notes for those of you who'd like to skip ahead to certain parts of the episode as well as links to the websites mentioned in the episode. Thanks again to those who shared their great ideas and resouces for this episode - that is what TILT is all about. I encourage any teachers to send any tech-related ideas, resources, etc. to me for future show - tilttv@gmail.com

1. What is PBL with technology? (00:27-05:58)
2. Going through the PBL process with your students (05:59-13:03)
3. Ideas for creative end-products for PBL activities (13:04-30:59)
4. Assessing PBL activities (31:00-39:00)

Show Links:
Great educational websites repository - The Teacher List
Sample PBL Activity - How do we manage waste in our world?
To Excel in the Class is Elementary
To Excel in the Class is Elementary - Excel Timelines Section
Create-A-Graph
PowerPoint Games (Not Mark E. Damon's site, but access to his Millionaire and Jeopardy templates)
RadioWaves - Student-created radio programs (podcasts)
RadioWaves - Spokane Valley High School site
RadioWaves - BECTA site showing a video overview of RadioWaves
podOmatic - Online podcasting tool (no installations required - only a microphone/speakers)
PBWiki - free instant Wiki creation site
James Tubbs' Math Blog - The Future of Math
James Tubbs' Future of Math - Sample Student Blog
Rubistar - Online rubric maker
Quizstar - Autogradeable quizzes for your students to do online
Easy Test Maker - Website for making/editing paper test questions to print off



Large Google Video Version
MPEG-4 Version (48 MB)