This document provides information about various course tools for an online class, including VoiceThread, wikis, discussion boards, mindmaps, and project management. It states that VoiceThread will be used for students to post weekly assignments as part of a final portfolio project, where peers and instructors can provide feedback. Wikis allow for collaborative writing and compiling information. Discussion boards provide an opportunity for meaningful discussions unlike a traditional classroom. Mindmaps help identify goals and related tasks in a nonlinear visual format.

1. Course Tools
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2. Mindmaps
Wikis
Discussion
Boards
VoiceThread
Project
Management
Course Tools
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more information.

3. VoiceThread
This course requires an end-of-class project. Each week,
you will post a new component of your project to
VoiceThread. VoiceThread acts as a portfolio site. You
can decide what to post for each weeks assignment –
files, audio recordings, videos, cartoons, etc.
VoiceThread allows other learners and the instructor to
view the information, make comments, and provide
feedback to your portfolio. As you prepare your portfolio
on VoiceThread, you decide what is important to include
or exclude.
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4. VoiceThread
One of the goals identified as important in distance
learning is a program that is responsive to the learner. By
using VoiceMail portfolios, you identify and have an
active role in selecting your “best work” which
“represents a level of self-assessment requiring
thoughtful consideration of learning goals and progress
towards significant milestones.” (Simonson et al, 2012 p.
276)
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5. Mindmaps
Wikis
Discussion
Boards
Project
Management
Course Tools
Click on a course tool.
VoiceThread
Portfolio
Comments Added

6. A wiki is a web page with content related to
the course. “A wiki can be an excellent tool for
collaborative writing assignments and group
activities compiling information in a single
resource.” (Simonson et al, 2012, p.129.)
What’s a wiki?
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7. Why use wikis?
As mentioned in the introduction, distance
learning should be responsive to the learner.
By using wikis, you can add content that you
find relevant to the course or ask for more
information on a specific topic. Your
instructor and peers can add additional
details to the wiki article.
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8. Mindmaps
Wikis
Discussion
Boards
Project
Management
Course Tools
Click on a course tool.
VoiceThread
Collaborative materials
Great Content

9. In a traditional classroom environment, students are
asked to discuss topics within a lecture format. In
distance learning, students participate in
discussions by using the discussion forum. Unlike
the classroom setting, discussion forums give
learners an opportunity to read the question, think
about their response and post comments to the
board. “Contributions are apt to be more
meaningful, on topic, and well organized that those
in a traditional classroom environment.” (Simonson
et al, 2012, p. 274).
Discussion Groups
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10. Discussion Groups
Each week an assignment related to the
course reading will be posted. Post your
discussion response to the assignment by
Monday evening. Read through your
classmate’s posts and reply to two posts by
Friday evening. You will find the link to the
discussion boards on the left hand dashboard.
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11. Mindmaps
Wikis
Discussion
Boards
Project
Management
Course Tools
Click on a course tool.
VoiceThread
Interact with peers
Contribute to discussion

12. Mindmaps
An important part of Project Management is
identifying goals and related tasks. A mindmap uses
key words or phrase organized in a nonlinear format,
usually starting at the center and branching out with
individual ideas or topics.
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13. What’s in a mindmap?
The term “mind map” was first popularized by author Tony
Buzan (Buzan, 1982). Buzan identified the following
characteristic as critical to a mindmap:
 The main ideas are clearly defined and placed in the center
of the graphic.
 The relative importance of a sub-idea is indicated by its
proximity to the main idea.
 Links between ideas are clearly indicated.
 New information is easily added to a mind map because of
its nonlinear structure. (Simonson et al, 2012, p. 254).
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14. Mindmaps
Wikis
Discussion
Boards
Project
Management
Course Tools
Course Tool Mindmap
VoiceThread
Portfolio
Comments Added
Interact with peers
Collaborative materials
Great Content
Contribute to discussionVisually outline ideas
Identify goals