Technology+Toolbox

Technology Toolbox Critique Criterion for this critique of the Web 2.0 toolbox include the following:
 * Critique Summary: **

· User Friendly: refers to the interaction I had with the Web 2.0 tool. For this criterion, I asked myself these questions: (1) How easy is the tool to accomplish basic tasks the first time I encountered the design? (2) How many errors did I make trying to navigate the tool? and (3) How pleasant is the tool design? · Instructional Value: I evaluated instructional value the Web 2.0 tool would offer a teacher. · Cost: I evaluated if the product is worth the cost in regards to worth, excellence, utility and importance. · Conclusion Validity: Is there a relationship between the program and the observed outcome? Or in layman’s terms; does the tool do what it is suppose to do?

Overall, I evaluated the use of the Web 2.0 tools for instructional use for adult students in college, technical, military, or remedial instructional settings.

Criterion was based on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5) which ranges expressed the following:

54321
 * User Friendly ||

Exceptionally user friendly--Exceptionally hard to use || Instructional Value || 543-2---1

Absolutely will use---Will never use || Cost || 5-432---1

Free---Horrid value || Conclusion Validity || 5-432---1

Exceptionally valid-Doesn’t perform as advertized ||

1. Agregators: Wizz RSS
 * Tools Critique: **

User Friendly || 4 || Very easy to use and there is a wide variety of RSS ( Really Simple Syndication) feeds to choose from. || Instructional Value || 5 || Depending on the content chosen, Wizz RSS would be very useful to keep students informed on the subject’s/course’s most current events. || Cost || 5 || Free || Conclusion Validity || 5 || This aggregator absolutely performs as advertized. || 2. Social Bookmarking: Furl
 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||

User Friendly || 5 || It was very easy web tool to find your way around. The web page was also very fung shui. || Instructional Value || 3 || This site lets students save a web page and then find others. It could be used as a networking tool. || Cost || 4 || Free but there are lots of advertisements. || Conclusion Validity || 4 || There are better tools out there for social bookmarking/networking. || 3. Search Tools: Rollyo
 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||

User Friendly || 5 || I tested this site by the best way possible, I “Rollyo-ed” myself. It worked better than the yahoo search engine. || Instructional Value || 5 || Rollyo also allows a user to share searches. This would be extremely valuable for two or three people researching a topic to help share information gathered. || Cost || 5 || Free and the advertisements were not obnoxious. || Conclusion Validity || 5 || This search engine worked better than advertized. || 4. Webstart: PageFlakes
 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||

User Friendly || 4 || User friendly but restricted in application, you can upload a word document but you have to sign up for the service. || Instructional Value || 3 || This would be better for providing information to children, not as useful for adult education. || Cost || 4 || Free, costs if you want to upload word documents. || Conclusion Validity || 4 || PageFlakes advertises it’s ability for certain features but after a little searching you realize you have to pay for the extra features. || 5. Weblogs (Blogging): Class Blogmeister
 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||

User Friendly || 4 || Easy to use but it takes some time to learn how to get your students signed up. || Instructional Value || 5 || This instructional blog works well with wiki and allows educators to comment on student’s entries. || Cost || 5 || Free || Conclusion Validity || 5 || This blog totally performs as advertised. || 6. Wikis: PbWiki
 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||

User Friendly || 5 || PbWiki brags that it is as easy to use as making a peanut butter sandwich. It is easy to use…I guess it is peanut butter jelly time, where you at, where you at…. || Instructional Value || 3 || Student s can author group essays but…and this is a big but…even if 1 student is logged in, teachers can not modify content. This would become annoying if you had 56 students. || Cost || 4 || Basic use is free, to upgrade costs. || Conclusion Validity || 4 || Because of the limited ability to update, PbWiki is not a great as a peanut butter sandwich. ||
 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||

7. Web-based Word Processing: Google Docs & Spreadsheets


 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||
 * User Friendly || 5 || Superbly easy to use. Look out Microsoft, you have some competition. ||
 * Instructional Value || 5 || This allows students to keep documents current and allows then to import existing files or create new files. Multiple users can edit the same file at the same time. Sweet! ||
 * Cost || 5 || Free ||
 * Conclusion Validity || 5 || Google Docs and Spreadsheets performs as advertised. ||

8. Creative Writing: Glypho


 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||
 * User Friendly || 4 || So easy to use, a 6 year old could use it and I think they do. Its look and feel is very child like. The users come in and write plot twists and add chapters to stories. ||
 * Instructional Value || 2 || Because of the child-like feel and the user has to wade through lots of bad poetry/writing to find a gem, I would not recommend its use for adult learners. ||
 * Cost || 5 || Free ||
 * Conclusion Validity || 5 || It does what is says it can do. ||

9. Web-Based Spreadsheets: Zoho Sheet


 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||
 * User Friendly || 4 || It took a little bit to work the sheets but overall it is easy to use. ||
 * Instructional Value || 5 || Because the Zoho accepts PDF and HTML formats, it makes it a versatile. I could see math or business students making great use out Zoho sheets. The accounting spreadsheets are state of the art. ||
 * Cost || 4 || Low cost for the most impressive features, only $15 a month. For the low cost you get free project management software. ||
 * Conclusion Validity || 5 || Between Google and Zoho spreadsheets, Microsoft excel is getting some stiff competition. Zoho performs better than advertised. ||

10. Assessment, Surveys, Polls: HotPotatoes


 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||
 * User Friendly || 4 || HotPotatoes allows you to make interactive yet simple web games and puzzles for students. It also let teachers make self graded quizzes. It was a little confusing to get started, once started; it was fun to make crossword puzzles. ||
 * Instructional Value || 3 || Good for testing the lover levels of Bloom’s taxonomy (knowledge and comprehension) but not good for levels at the application level or higher. Therefore, I would not use this service to assess adult learners. ||
 * Cost || 5 || Free for basic service, there is a fee to upgrade. ||
 * Conclusion Validity || 3 || Not good for a full assessment tool. ||

11. Podcasting & Screencasting: Audacity


 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||
 * User Friendly || 5 || This digital audio editor and recorder is simple to use and the site is easy to navigate. ||
 * Instructional Value || 4 || Unless you were teaching music or having your students listen to recordings, I don’t see much instructional value. ||
 * Cost || 5 || Free ||
 * Conclusion Validity || 4 || Audacity performs as advertised however, it lacks quality equalizer controls. ||

12. Video: YouTube


 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||
 * User Friendly || 5 || It was exceptionally easy to upload and view video. ||
 * Instructional Value || 5 || I was able to incorporate videos depicting good and bad job interviews. I can see adult educators using YouTube to add variety and humor to the classroom. ||
 * Cost || 5 || Free ||
 * Conclusion Validity || 5 || YouTube has faced criticism over the offensive content in some of its videos, but adults are aware of this problem. YouTube performs as advertised. ||

13. Photo and Drawing: Google SketchUp


 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||
 * User Friendly || 4 || This refined drawing tool enabled me to make three-dimensional drawings with out much fuss. ||
 * Instructional Value || 4 || I can see interior designer, architect or engineering students using this program. ||
 * Cost || 2 || ScketchUp costs $95. I would only recommend it to engineering/architect or construction type students. ||
 * Conclusion Validity || 5 || Google SketchUp performs as advertised. ||

14. File Sharing: Openomy


 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||
 * User Friendly || 4 || Openomy is an online file system that allows you to store files and access them from any computer. It was a little hard to navigate at first. ||
 * Instructional Value || 3 || It is always nice to have extra space to store and share files, however, other than that application, it is little use. ||
 * Cost || 4 || It is free up to 1G . ||
 * Conclusion Validity || 5 || Openomy allows you to store files, and performs as advertised. ||

15. Webquests and Games: edHelper

User Friendly || 5 || So easy a caveman could use it. || Instructional Value || 2 || Excellent for elementary school students but not good for adult students. It lets you make simple educational games like crossword puzzles and math quizzes. || Cost || 3 || Basic service is free, but to create a crossword puzzle or jeopardy game over 50 words, it costs $19.95 a year. || Conclusion Validity || 4 || edHelper claims to be slightly more sophisticated than it is. The cavemen would be slightly disappointed. || 16. Presentation Tools: SlideShare
 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||

User Friendly || 4 || Overall it was easy to use but it would take some time to learn all the bells and whistles. || Instructional Value || 4 || Students can embed, comment and view uploaded presentations. It would allow students to make team presentations and access from any computer that has internet access. || Cost || 5 || Free. Upgraded users can use extra features such as messaging. || Conclusion Validity || 5 || The quality is as advertised. ||
 * Criteria || Rating || Comments ||