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What is a Digital Toolbox?

A Digital Toolbox is a collection of Web 2.0 tools that enrich the learning environment for learners and instructors. Curating Web 2.0 tools engage learners in meaningful ways as they take an active role in the learning process. Since many of these tools are interactive and user-generated, learners become creators, producers, editors, collaborators, and at times, evaluators. These tools are easy to use, accessible and can be mastered with little effort.

toolbox

Have you ever wondered whether or not your students actually grasped the concept just learned? Do you want to find innovative ways to engage learners? Well, there’s an app for that! Curating a Digital Toolbox will help you figure out what apps to use, when to use them and how to use them.

How can it be used?

Web 2.0 tools have the ability to support social and active learning by providing opportunities for social interactions & collaboration among peers, instructors, subject matter experts and others interested in the topic.  Examples of tools include social networking sites, blogs, virtual corkboards, video sharing sites, mashups and other web applications.


Best Practices for Using Tools from the Toolbox

  • …be PATIENT: it takes time to learn new tools for both the instructor and the student. Be patient when first starting to curate a Digital Toolbox.
  • …be SELECTIVE: using technology for the sake of technology can inhibit learning. Select a limited number of tools that align with the course objectives and assessments.
  • …be SUPPORTIVE: it is important to provide learners with instructions, tutorials and examples of the tools implemented into the course. Also, provide frequent and constructive feedback to help learners know they are on the right track.

How do I set up my Digital Toolbox?

Explore the tools below or come to “Appy Hour” every Tuesday or Wednesday hosted by the Instructional Design & Development team. Each week will host a different category of Web 2.0 tools from content curation to instructional videos.

  • Assessment & Review

    quizlet

    QUIZLET

    An online study and learning tool that takes the idea of flashcards to a whole new level.

    flipquiz
    FLIPQUIZ

    FlipQuiz is an interactive review site. Teachers can upload images, links, text, and video, turning review into an interactive gameshow.

    Watch a Video Tutorial

    socartive

    SOCRATIVE

    A cloud-based student response system that uses real-time questioning to help you inform instruction.

    poll-everywhere

    Poll Everywhere

    A real-time cloud-based response system that offers instant audience feedback through text, website, or social media.

  • Audio & Video
     audacity
    AUDACITY

    A free, open-source digital audio editing application. Not only is it an easy audio editing software application, it can also be used as a digital recording program.

    screen-cast-o-matic

    SCREENCAST-O-MATIC

    A site that allows users to create recordings of their screen activity and audio.

    youtube

    YOUTUBE

    A video-sharing website that allows users to upload, view, and share video content.

  • Blogs & Wikis

    tumblr

    Tumblr

    Part social-networking and part microblogging, Tumblr allows users to post text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos.

    wordpress

    WORDPRESS

    A free website or blog using customizable, mobile-friendly templates.

    pbworks

    pbworks

    A wiki workspace that allows collaborative editing of pages and files.

  • Content Curation

    diigo

    DIIGO

    A research and collaboration tool as well as social site for knowledge sharing. Special features; bookmark, highlight, and add sticky notes to webpages when researching.

    scoopit

    Scoop.IT!

    When researching a particular topic, Scoop.It will help discover and collect content, keeping it organized, and allowing user to share to various social media outlets.

  •  Images & inphographics
    thinglink
    THINGLINK

    ThingLink platform that hosts interactive images and videos. Choose an image; click to add tags, content links, comments, and descriptions. Share.

    Watch a Video Tutorial

    glogster

    GLOGSTER

    A tool that allows users to create virtual, interactive posters and share with others.

    canva
    Canva

    Canva is a tool that allows users to create virtual, interactive posters and share with others.

    Watch a Video Tutorial

  •  Instructional Videos & Resources

    creative-commons

    Creative commons

    A site that provides universal access to open educational resources without violating any copyright law.

     edex

    EDX

    A MOOC (massive-open-online-course) host to partnering universities and schools around the globe.

    khan-academy

    Khan Academy

    A platform that hosts a variety of short lectures, which allows users to learn concepts at their own speed.

    jamendo

    JAMENDO

    A music site that contains music published under Creative Commons.

    teacher-tube

    teacher tube

    An online community for finding and sharing instructional videos, documents, and audio files.

    ted-talks

    TED Talks

    A site that hosts recorded speeches that present “Ideas Worth Sharing” in fields such as technology, culture, design, science, and education.

    youtube
    YOUTUBE

    A video-sharing website that allows users to upload, view, and share video content.

  •  Interactive Boards

    padlet

    PADLET

    Padlet is an interactive bulletin board that allows learners to express ideas in real time.

    Watch a Video Tutorial

    pinterest

    PINTEREST

    Pinterest is a digital bulletin board that allows user to visually bookmark innovative ideas and share them within a community.

    Watch a Video Tutorial

    realtime-board

    Miro / Realtime Board

    An online whiteboard for team collaboration.

  •  Mind & Content Mapping

    bubbleus

    Bubbl.us

    A brainstorming or mind-mapping app that allows users to visualize their thinking.

    mindomo

    Mindomo

    Mindomo is an interactive mind-mapping tool that doubles as presentation platform, allowing content links.

    Watch a Video Tutorial

  • Productivity

    evernote

    EVERNOTE

    An app that serves many purposes such as digital filing, note-taking, and task managing. This app crosses all platforms, meaning what you do on your iPad is synced with your PC.

  •  Social Networking

    twitter

    TWITTER

    A social networking site in which users must “tweet” (share) a message in 140 characters or less.

    tumblr

    TUMBLR

    Part social-networking and part microblogging, tumblr allows users to post text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos.

  •  Outside-the-box

    wordle

    WORDLE

    Wordle is a site that creates word clouds from provided text, giving emphasis upon words that appear more frequently.

    Watch a Video Tutorial

    storybirf
    STORYBIRD

    Storybird is a digital storytelling community where artwork is provided that encourages users to write.

    Watch a Video Tutorial