This document summarizes and rates 8 different technology tools that the author explored in their technology course. The tools included Moodle (rated 5/5), Firefox (rated 5/5), Google Apps (rated 5/5), LiveBinders (rated 4/5), Oovoo (rated 3.5/5), Voki (rated 4/5), SlideRocket (rated 3.5/5), and Wix (rated 5/5). For each tool, the author provided a brief description of the tool's features and their experience using it. Overall, the author found the tools introduced them to many useful classroom and personal technologies and helped them become a more efficient technology user.

1. EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY
TOOLS
By: Hazel Q. Reyes
ED271-02 Fall 2012
Dr. Cyrus

2. This technology course has offered so much learning for me.
It has introduced me to many tools I can use in the classroom
and for my personal use. Though I found some tools easy to
use, others took time to explore. I am still learning how to be
an efficient technology user.
I assessed eight technology tools in which I listed some
features of what each tool has to offer. Also included is a brief
description of my experiences exploring with these tools. I
rated the following technology tools using a scale from 1 to 5,
five being excellent.

3. •Communication with instructors and classmates is easily done via
email or using the Moodle messaging system.
•Variety of content from instructors are provided: audio and video
lectures, files such as pictures, presentations and links to other
websites.
•Able to have discussion forums with classmates.
•Can upload and submit assignments.
•Includes a grade book to check your progress at anytime.
This tool provides numerous features to help keep me updated in the
classes I was taking in the university. When changes are made to
assignments or class schedules, the Moodle is the best way to get
the information. The only thing you need is a computer and internet
connection.
Moodle Rating: 5 http://campus.uogdistance.com/login/index.php

4. •Free web browser
•Advanced security
•Browsing is easy and efficient
•Browse multiple sites at once, each new site appears as a new tab
(not a new window)
•Features include spell check, private browsing, tabbed browsing, one-
click bookmarking and many more
•Has a Firefox Support Site if you need assistance
Firefox Rating: 5 I have used web browsers such as Internet Explorer
and Google Chrome and I recently tried Safari a few times. It was only
the latter part of last year that I started using Mozilla Firefox. The big
difference and probably the most important for me is the speed.
Through experience, Firefox has been fast, safe and secure.
Firefox Rating: 5 http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

5. •Can create documents, calendars, presentations and spreadsheets
•Share your online documents
•Contains blog searches
•Contains image searches
•For business use: online office tools for any size of business
•For educational purposes: tools for educators and students at all levels
•For personal use: gmail, calendars and more
This is one of my favorite tools! I say this because since I enrolled into this
technology class, I have had the opportunity to learn about this amazing tool
and all the extra things it had to offer. I only recently opened a gmail account
because it was a requirement for this class. One of my favorite features of
Google Apps is the shared document. It took me awhile to learn how to
create a document, so when I began sharing documents with my group
members, I felt a bit of accomplishment. The shared documents proved to be
helpful when doing group projects.
Google Apps Rating: 5 http://www.google.com/apps/index1.html

6. •Organize resources in a binder
•Organize binder by tabs and subtabs
•Can edit binders anytime
•View links like pages in a book instead of URL's on a page
•Saves time and is paperless
•FREE
Livebinders is a great tool for teachers to put their resources together
in one place. This tool holds important information that can be edited at
anytime. One of my first assignments in technology class was to create
a livebinder, being a non-technology person I had a difficult time with
this assignment. I had to spend extra time learning how to use this tool.
LiveBinders Rating: 4 http://www.livebinders.com/welcome/learn_more

7. •Video chat room
•Group video up to 12 people
•Video call recording
•Send video messages
•Instant messages
•Screen sharing
•Send files
•Available on desktop and mobile
•Some services are free, other services have a fee
Oovoo is a web conferencing tool that allows people to video chat and
send instant messages at the same time. My group members and I used
the Oovoo tool to communicate when we were not able to meet face to
face. We were able to complete our assignment with the help of Oovoo.
On the negative side, we did have connection problems at times. The
picture and sound were sometimes unclear. Oovoo offers many features
but some premium services require a fee.
ooVoo Rating: 3.5 http://www.oovoo.com/FeaturesList.aspx

8. •Animation
•Effective language tool
•Website offers lesson plan ideas
•Use as a motivation for learning
•Create and customize your own character
•Provides fun in learning
The Voki tool lets you create an avatar character using colorful animation
and various sounds. Your Voki character can be posted to any blog, website,
profile and be used in class presentations. This effective learning tool can
motivate students to participate and help them develop language skills and
comprehension in a fun way. Though Voki includes text to speech in over 25
languages, there are some words and names that are pronounced
incorrectly. Features for the Voki classroom management system for
educators include a 15 day free trial.
Voki Rating: 4 http://www.voki.com/create.php

9. •Easy to use
•Easy to import videos and photos
•Easy to share with collaborators and friends
•Smooth transitions from slide to slide
•Free
Slide Rocket is an online presentation tool that allows you to do great
class presentations. Though I have not yet used this tool in any of my
projects, I did spend some time exploring this tool. Like any other tool I
explored, it took me awhile to learn what the rocket can do. Automatic
saving of work done is a plus. On the downside, I did have some
difficulty when I wanted to undo a certain slide. I'll be exploring more
about this tool because I am considering to use this for an upcoming
presentation at my workplace. Another great feature is it's free!
Slide Rocket Rating: 3.5 http://www.sliderocket.com/

10. •Website builder
•Includes a variety of creative designs and templates
•Customizable (style, color, text, background)
•Drop and drag editor
•User-friendly
•Free, secure and reliable
Wix is a website builder and another great tool for doing presentations.
Creating a Wix account is easy if you just follow the given simple steps. This
tool provides a variety of creative designs and templates to choose from. I
was able to use this free tool for my group presentation. I was able to edit
my work and make changes with little difficulty. The steps to add tabs and
images were also easy, a user-friendly tool.
Wix Rating: 5 http://www.wix.com/