Introduction
Hello and welcome to How to Create An eLearning Ecosystem! An eLearning ecosystem is an online learning system that effectively utilizes web tools to their optimal potential and connects the tools together in meaningful ways. Effective use of web tools ensures that resources are not wasted, that is, instructors' and learners' time and energy. Web tools chosen for eLearning environments must be easy to use, accessible to all, and promotes collaboration and sharing of knowledge. These components help to motivate online learners, as well as, the instructors to build interactive learning communities. There are many websites and tools that support instructors to integrate web-based content into online instruction. This webpage will review and list the tools that rank highly in sharing content in the following categories:
In addition, this webpage will illustrate and model how easy it is to integrate web-based tools into online instruction using and embedding a mind mapping tool called Mindmeister.
- Audio
- Presentation Software
- Social Media
- Tutorials
- Video
- Webquests
In addition, this webpage will illustrate and model how easy it is to integrate web-based tools into online instruction using and embedding a mind mapping tool called Mindmeister.
Integrating Web-Based Tools Mind Map
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Audio
Podcasts
Podcasts are series of audio and video files that can streamed or downloaded for listening or viewing at a later time. They are ideal for education particularly in distance and online learning when learners are not able to participate in live or face-to-face lecture sessions. They are also very easy to subscribe to via an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, if a website provides that option. RSS feeds alert you when there are new podcasts and keeps you up-to-date within a series, so you'll never miss a thing! For some examples of podcasts, visit: http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts.
Skype
Skype is an application that allows you to make text, phone and video calls. They are free between Skype users. Skype allows users to make landline or cell-phone calls as well, but for a fee. Skype is useful when collaborating with peers or instructors online or at a distance in real-time, using either the instant messaging or video conference features. Skype also allows the transfer of documents! To learn more or to sign up, visit: http://www.skype.com.
Podcasts are series of audio and video files that can streamed or downloaded for listening or viewing at a later time. They are ideal for education particularly in distance and online learning when learners are not able to participate in live or face-to-face lecture sessions. They are also very easy to subscribe to via an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, if a website provides that option. RSS feeds alert you when there are new podcasts and keeps you up-to-date within a series, so you'll never miss a thing! For some examples of podcasts, visit: http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts.
Skype
Skype is an application that allows you to make text, phone and video calls. They are free between Skype users. Skype allows users to make landline or cell-phone calls as well, but for a fee. Skype is useful when collaborating with peers or instructors online or at a distance in real-time, using either the instant messaging or video conference features. Skype also allows the transfer of documents! To learn more or to sign up, visit: http://www.skype.com.
Presentation
Prezi
Prezi is a flash based application, that allows users to create their presentations on one large canvas, rather than on a series of slides. Prezi allows the user to slide, zoom, and rotate through text, images, and video to present ideas. This nonlinear approach is meant to add flair to any presentation, improving the chances that the main ideas will be remembered. www.prezi.com
Slideshare
Slideshare is a large, online community for sharing presentations. One of the more popular websites, Slideshare is also great for sharing documents, PDFs, videos and webinars. www.slideshare.net
Google Presentation
One part of Google Docs, Google’s take on the presentation slideshow allows anyone with a gmail account to create presentation slides. Text, images, and video are easy to add, and these slides can easily be shared with others, and provides a familiar collaborative environment. Existing PowerPoint presentation slides can also be imported to Google Presentation for sharing. www.google.com
Voicethread
Voicethread is a collaborative, multimedia slideshow that allows people to view and post comments via voice, text, audio, or video. Voice and video commenting take place with your web browser, and there is no software to download or install. Images, documents, and video can be easily shared with others. www.voicethread.com
Mindmeister
Mindmeister is a free web based collaborative mind mapping tool that allows users to brainstorm ideas for projects or presentations. The software allows group members to view, share, and edit ideas, for project planning. www.mindmeister.com
Prezi is a flash based application, that allows users to create their presentations on one large canvas, rather than on a series of slides. Prezi allows the user to slide, zoom, and rotate through text, images, and video to present ideas. This nonlinear approach is meant to add flair to any presentation, improving the chances that the main ideas will be remembered. www.prezi.com
Slideshare
Slideshare is a large, online community for sharing presentations. One of the more popular websites, Slideshare is also great for sharing documents, PDFs, videos and webinars. www.slideshare.net
Google Presentation
One part of Google Docs, Google’s take on the presentation slideshow allows anyone with a gmail account to create presentation slides. Text, images, and video are easy to add, and these slides can easily be shared with others, and provides a familiar collaborative environment. Existing PowerPoint presentation slides can also be imported to Google Presentation for sharing. www.google.com
Voicethread
Voicethread is a collaborative, multimedia slideshow that allows people to view and post comments via voice, text, audio, or video. Voice and video commenting take place with your web browser, and there is no software to download or install. Images, documents, and video can be easily shared with others. www.voicethread.com
Mindmeister
Mindmeister is a free web based collaborative mind mapping tool that allows users to brainstorm ideas for projects or presentations. The software allows group members to view, share, and edit ideas, for project planning. www.mindmeister.com
Social Media
Facebook
Facebook currently is the world's number one social networking site. Initially created for college students, Facebook now has 800 million users from all walks of life. Facebook has much potential to be integrated into education since most students already have a Facebook account and it's easy to use. The site has many tools that would aid instruction, such as the Facebook Group Page, which is also known as a discussion forum and is more private, and the Facebook Fan Page, which is great for larger groups and marketing. Facebook is continually improving their social media services, such as giving users more control over their privacy and what they share. For more information on Facebook in Education, visit: http://www.facebook.com/education.
Google+
Google+ is the latest in social media developed by the folks at Google. Anyone can sign up, even if they do not have a Gmail email account. Although it would make it much easier! Integration of and access to other Google products is what makes this social media tool so appealing in education. This makes sharing of Google collaboration documents very streamlined and extremely accessible. Text chatting via Messenger and video conferencing through Hangouts are a few other features that Google+ has to offer. For more information or to sign up, visit: http://plus.google.com.
Classroom 2.0
For more tips and ideas on how to integrate social media tools into your classroom, Classroom 2.0 is a great resource to share best practices and insights with other instructors.
Facebook currently is the world's number one social networking site. Initially created for college students, Facebook now has 800 million users from all walks of life. Facebook has much potential to be integrated into education since most students already have a Facebook account and it's easy to use. The site has many tools that would aid instruction, such as the Facebook Group Page, which is also known as a discussion forum and is more private, and the Facebook Fan Page, which is great for larger groups and marketing. Facebook is continually improving their social media services, such as giving users more control over their privacy and what they share. For more information on Facebook in Education, visit: http://www.facebook.com/education.
Google+
Google+ is the latest in social media developed by the folks at Google. Anyone can sign up, even if they do not have a Gmail email account. Although it would make it much easier! Integration of and access to other Google products is what makes this social media tool so appealing in education. This makes sharing of Google collaboration documents very streamlined and extremely accessible. Text chatting via Messenger and video conferencing through Hangouts are a few other features that Google+ has to offer. For more information or to sign up, visit: http://plus.google.com.
Classroom 2.0
For more tips and ideas on how to integrate social media tools into your classroom, Classroom 2.0 is a great resource to share best practices and insights with other instructors.
Tutorials
Atomic Learning
Atomic Learning is a subscription-based service that helps empower educators with training and support to embrace technology in and out of the classroom. Online tech workshops for creating and using wikis and other web 2.0 tools are available, as well as software tutorials for programs like Microsoft Office, Dreamweaver, Google Docs and Photoshop. www.atomiclearning.com
Route 21
Created by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, Route 21 is a web-based interactive tool designed to show educators how 21st century skills can be supported through standards, assessments, and curriculum and instruction. With Route 21, teachers can learn about what other states are doing to revitalize education in the 21st century. http://p21.org/route21/index.php
Jing
Jing is a free web-based software program that allows users to create tutorials through their web browsers to enhance online communication. Screen captures are easy to do, and screencasts are easy to create and share with others. Voice recordings also aid in creating training videos, and help to reduce the time and effort spent in training others. www.techsmith.com/jing/
Screenr
Screenr is a web based program designed to make it easy to create and share screencast tutorials. Simply click on record, add your voice, and share the link with others. It is compatible with Windows and Mac, and can be viewed on iPhones as well. There is no download required, as everything takes place in your web browser. Screenr has received high praises from the New York Times and Cnet, for its ease of use. www.screenr.com
Atomic Learning is a subscription-based service that helps empower educators with training and support to embrace technology in and out of the classroom. Online tech workshops for creating and using wikis and other web 2.0 tools are available, as well as software tutorials for programs like Microsoft Office, Dreamweaver, Google Docs and Photoshop. www.atomiclearning.com
Route 21
Created by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, Route 21 is a web-based interactive tool designed to show educators how 21st century skills can be supported through standards, assessments, and curriculum and instruction. With Route 21, teachers can learn about what other states are doing to revitalize education in the 21st century. http://p21.org/route21/index.php
Jing
Jing is a free web-based software program that allows users to create tutorials through their web browsers to enhance online communication. Screen captures are easy to do, and screencasts are easy to create and share with others. Voice recordings also aid in creating training videos, and help to reduce the time and effort spent in training others. www.techsmith.com/jing/
Screenr
Screenr is a web based program designed to make it easy to create and share screencast tutorials. Simply click on record, add your voice, and share the link with others. It is compatible with Windows and Mac, and can be viewed on iPhones as well. There is no download required, as everything takes place in your web browser. Screenr has received high praises from the New York Times and Cnet, for its ease of use. www.screenr.com
Video
Animoto for education
Animoto is a web-based tool that allows you to create videos using your own video, powerpoint slides, image and audio. With an Animoto for education account, educators are able to make unlimited videos with no time, images or audio limitations. Educators also receive 50 student codes, making Animoto not just a tool for educators, but also as a way for students to create and share projects of their own. This is a tool that easily integrates other technology tools and at the same time is easily integrated into other instructional tools.
Animoto is a web-based tool that allows you to create videos using your own video, powerpoint slides, image and audio. With an Animoto for education account, educators are able to make unlimited videos with no time, images or audio limitations. Educators also receive 50 student codes, making Animoto not just a tool for educators, but also as a way for students to create and share projects of their own. This is a tool that easily integrates other technology tools and at the same time is easily integrated into other instructional tools.
GoAnimate
Similar to Animoto.com, GoAnimate allows you to create custom animations. With this free web-based tool you can easily make animations using your own characters and storyline. GoAnimate can be used by instructors to present content and by students to create and share projects.
Similar to Animoto.com, GoAnimate allows you to create custom animations. With this free web-based tool you can easily make animations using your own characters and storyline. GoAnimate can be used by instructors to present content and by students to create and share projects.
KEEPVID
This free website allows you to save streaming video from websites like youtube and Google Video in various formats ranging from mp3, MPEG, windows media player and more. This site is a useful tool for integrating videos into webquest and other web-based instructional platforms.
This free website allows you to save streaming video from websites like youtube and Google Video in various formats ranging from mp3, MPEG, windows media player and more. This site is a useful tool for integrating videos into webquest and other web-based instructional platforms.
Webquests
Webquest is a term for a model of creating lessons that integrate instruction, web content/ resources and facilitates learners engaging in higher level thinking skills. Webquests can be created using a variety of programs, from a word processing document with enabled links, to websites that include video, audio, other asynchronous and synchronous tools. This model has been shown to be beneficial in addressing various learner levels and styles. Content sharing and accessibility are major components of a webquest. There are several sites, Creating a Webquest is an example, that describe the basic goals and advice for producing an effective webquest. The mindmap image, by Dr. Ruffini, shown below, acts as a quick reference guide, showing a summary of the major components and procedures in creating a webquest. Webquest.org is an excellent resources that allows you to search for examples and create/ share your own webquests. This cite also provides resources for instructors and acts as an e-learning ecosystem.