2. Blended Learning Defined A combination of face-to-face and online elements It is used to support mentoring, teaching, and learning in both individual and group studies It allows mentors, instructors, and students both to develop relationships in person and at a distance
3. Determining Tools for Technology Generally, base choices on learning activities already in place (how you teach) This determination is also based on your technology experience
10. Commons Sites Sites can be used to: Provide specific details on upcoming events Give course information Offer links to pertinent sites Allow for ongoing dialogue between students through use of posts
19. Helpful Links Angel: https://esc.angellearning.com/ The Commons: http://commons.esc.edu/ Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/ Embedit: http://embedit.in/ Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/ Voicethread: http://voicethread.com/ MindMeister (through ESC): https://esc.mindmeister.com Dropbox: http://www.dropbox.com/ ESC Technology Help Desk: https://techinfo.esc.edu/ FITS ESC Info Site: https://sites.google.com/site/empirestatecollegeprojects/
Editor's Notes
How we (FITS) work with you to determine the tools you need for technology
Angel is a learning management system, used by ESC. It is great for blended learning as well as distance learning.
When setting up an Angel course, the important tab for adding material is the Modules or Content tab. Modules are like chapters of a book or segments of a course. One can choose to add content based on the order that the material is to be discussed (i.e., week 1, week 2, etc.) or by the material itself (Middle Ages, Baroque Period, etc.).Each module/folder can contain links to documents, discussion groups, dropboxes for papers, etc.
Additionally, you can add YouTube videos into your Angel Site. Directions are available – just copy the embed code from the YouTube video and in your Angel Course page, copy the code.
The Commons, the newest technology tool, is a great site to use to post information.
From the Commons main page, you can check out other sites to get ideas. You can also get started on creating your own site by clicking on the link “Create a Site!”
The Commons FAQs page is the best place to get information on the Commons as you prepare to create a site. Additionally, under Getting Started, there are quick-start guides and videos which are very useful. And if you have a question about something that is not answered in either the FAQs or the Guides and Videos, you can post it in the Commons Support Community.
The Commons sites may not fully replace Angel, but are an alternate way to connect with learners. The Commons sites are especially useful for presenting key information in the form of linked documents, web sites and presentations.
This is my site – I use it as a testing ground for the Commons, so that I can figure out how to do various things (add links, change themes, add tools, etc.).Several tools that I have successfully tested in the Commons are Embedit (an online tool for embedding documents directly into a site); Slideshare (another way to embed presentations); and, Voicethread (a useful tool for creating online chat, audio, or video discussions).
There are a variety of themes available in the Commons. You can preview the different themes by clicking on “Preview”; when you decide to choose a theme, click “Activate”
Google presentation is a great online tool for creating presentations that can be shared with students. It serves as a viable option to PowerPoint.
The Google presentations can be shared through a link that can be inserted into an email or into an Angel Course. Presentations can be collaborated on with a group synchronously or asynchronously; in other words, students can collaborate online and make changes (includes a chat feature). Much easier to add videos to a Google presentation than PowerPoint.
Mindmeister is one of the more recent tools the FITS have been researching. It is also a collaborative tool
WithMindMeister, you can map out discussions by adding “nodes” to the main idea and adding to these nodes.
Dropbox is a great place to store files and access them anywhere you have internet connection. You can start an account online, store files online, and also download the tool to your own personal computer. When you change and save a document, the changes will be synched.
