Moodle

1. Web 2 Applications
The Web has forever changed education from the one room
schoolhouse that began many years ago to the virtual classrooms
of today. The expansion into new media has been so extensive
that a new model has emerged to supply the endless appetites of
consumers. From reality TV to schools, the users have stolen the
stage by replacing corporations as producers of news,
entertainment, and learning. While creating instructional materials
by educators is nothing new, the ability to immediately share
content and methods through electronic resources has resulted in
a frenzy of access to user-created content.
Certainly access is no
panacea. For most users, the
problem isn't the lack of
information, but the lack of ability to find the right
information. Filters, metadata, tags and search systems
may be the most important infrastructure technology for
future environments. Therefore, much of the focus of Web
2 applications is not just creating new information but
organizing the existing information into useful content.
Another important function of Web 2 applications provide
valuable ways to communicate. In this module we will
explore some of the more popular Web applications for
collaboration and Web conferencing.
Web services come in the form of a “cloud.” Cloud computing refers to the use of Web-based
services that are dynamically scalable to the needs of the user. For example, files could be
stored on SkyDrive with Windows Live instead of a local drive. Many services have adopted the
utility computing model (pay for what you use), others are billed on a subscription basis, but
most are actually free. Cloud computing led to a proliferation of new applications on what is now
referred to as Web 2.0, which refers to a perceived second generation of Web development and
design to facilitate communication, information sharing, and collaboration. Web 2.0 concepts
have led to the development and evolution of Web-based communities, hosted services, and
applications, such as social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies
for classifying social tags.

2. Collectively, Web 2.0 applications represent
complex systems for managing multiple
tasks. O’Driscoll (2007) refers to this
collection as the iWeb, which consists of four
vectors: immediate, intuitive, interactive, and
immersive. He believes that as this three-
dimensional, avatar-mediated space
emerges, virtual worlds will combine these
qualities into a singularity, a worldwide virtual
platform that allows users to engage in what
matters most to them.
The “Immediate Vector” identifies 2D learning
applications, sometimes referred to as
flatland, that integrate with knowledge
sharing repositories where networked virtual
spaces emerge. These spaces integrate
synchronous sharing with asynchronous storage using products like SharePoint, Live Meeting,
Blackboard, and Webex.
The “Intuitive Vector” combines Web 2.0 technologies like blogs, wikis, podcasts, and social
media sites like Facebook and MySpace that use “tags” to access information and interact with
others about specific activities. As the Web enters the next dimension, most of the social
networking sites like Facebook and MySpace will replace Web pages with Web spaces to form
the “Interactive Vector.” Likewise in the “Immersive Vector,” synchronous 2D learning platforms
will become 3D as distance learning systems like Webex, Centra and Live Meeting integrate
with virtual spaces.
Complete the following tasks and post all of the links in a single message in the A2 discussion
topic for the following categories:
 Publications
 Timelines
 Surveys
 Scheduling
 Storage
 Collaboration
 Web Conferencing
Some sites require subscription or membership but the basic entry level for all of the
applications is free or available for a trial period. To avoid receiving spam, you may want to
create a temporary email account for registering the applications. Keep track of your login
information for later use.
WARNING: Some of these sites are publicly accessed. Don’t upload commercial
copyrighted items to public sites without permission.

3. Publications
Publishing documents and videos online is an essential part of distance education instruction.
Issuu provides Web space for sharing online publications by uploading documents to create a
personal magazine with articles and images, and it's fast, easy, and totally free. Choose one of
the applications below to create a library and share uploaded publications or videos. Solicit
access by your classmates.
http://issuu.com/ http://www.teachertube.com/ http://www.slideshare.net/
Timelines
Choose one of the following timeline creation tools. Dipity and Timetoast allow users to create
interactive timelines that can be shared on the Web. Choose one of the applications below to
create a timeline for a specific topic of your choice and share the link for access with your
classmates. Contribute at least one item to the timeline created by your classmates.
http://www.timetoast.com/ http://www.dipity.com/
Surveys
Collecting data from participants is very useful with online learning. Select one of the following
sites to create a survey or poll. Construct 5 randomized questions of various types (i.e.
true/false, multiple choice, short answer, etc.) with a customized format (your name, color
background, etc.).
http://www.polleverywhere.com/ http://www.limesurvey.org

4. Scheduling
Scheduling meetings and events can be tedious when users are on different email or calendar
systems. Also, arranging time with online instructors or students often requires a series of
messages. Using one of the Web 2 applications below, create a schedule and solicit several of
your classmates to respond with their availability.
http://www.doodle.com/ http://www.bookalesson.com/
Storage
One of the most popular uses of online tools is storage of files, especially for photos. Windows
Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft (see
following chart). A majority of these services are Web applications accessible from a browser,
but there are also client-side applications that require installation on a PC. There are three ways
in which Windows Live services are offered: Windows Live Essentials applications, web
services, and mobile services. Windows Live provides 25 GB of free space (SkyDrive) for
storing files online, sharing access, and communicating with members. Subscribe to Windows
Live and upload files. Create a group for an interesting topic and solicit members from your
classmates to join. Join at least 3 of your classmates’ groups. Create charts in Word for Box.net,
PicasaWeb, and Flickr like the Windows Live chart on the next page. Post the charts in the A2
Assignment drop box.
http://home.live.com http://box.net http://picasaweb.google.com http://www.flickr.com

5. Windows Live
Feature Description
Windows Live Desktop blog publishing tool
Writer
Windows Live A toolbar which adds itself to Windows Internet Explorer, allowing quick access to a
Toolbar user's Windows Live Spaces, Hotmail, Favorites and Live Search from a button on
the toolbar
Windows Live Sync File sharing and synchronization service acquired by Microsoft and now branded as
a Windows Live service
Windows Live AJAX based version social networking, blogging, and photo sharing site
Spaces
Windows Live Password-protected online file storage and sharing, includes Windows Live Photos
SkyDrive and Office Web Apps for management of photos and Office documents
Windows Live Allow users to manage their profile information and displays information about the
Profile particular user, their recent activities, and their relationship with other Windows
Live users
Windows Live Photo storage service which allows users to upload and share their personal albums
Photos and photographs with other Windows Live users
Windows Live Photo Similar to Windows Photo Gallery with additional enhancements that will make
Gallery posting photos to Windows Live Spaces and Soapbox easier
Windows Live The contact book service which allows users to keep track and synchronize their
People contact's information
Windows Live Video editing software similar to Windows Movie Maker with additional
Movie Maker enhancements that makes home video editing easier
Windows Live Instant messaging, personal file sharing and outgoing Voice over IP client
Messenger
Windows Live Mail Desktop mail client designed to succeed Outlook Express on Windows XP and
Windows Mail on Windows Vista, with full RSS support
Windows Live ID Works seamlessly with Windows Live services and allowing multiple sign-ins with
different accounts
Windows Live Free webmail service using AJAX technology featuring email, contacts and calendar
Hotmail services
Windows Live Home Provides a central location to access Windows Live services, monitor status
information, and navigate to other Windows Live sites and services
Windows Live Enable users to create their social groups for sharing, discussion and coordination
Groups
Windows Live A center for collections of developers' add-ons for Windows Live products
Gallery
Windows Live A suite of Windows Live software applications. Essentials are installed via a single
Essentials installer, which allows users to select and install only the specific applications they
wish.

6. Collaboration
Using team assignments in an online course is an excellent way to create community and
improve learning, but it's not always easy. Student collaboration in the online classroom, like
that in traditional face-to-face courses, requires careful course design, student preparation, and
team management, plus, a little extra creativity and perseverance. This 32-page anthology of
articles provides real-world guidance on how to implement team-based projects, troubleshoot
them, and promote their success. Many of the nearly 20 articles in the special report come from
Online Classroom – a popular newsletter devoted to improving the efficacy of online education.
Review the report on collaboration posted in the assignment folder before continuing with the
assignment. Here are some of the articles you will find in the report:
 Comparing Online Peer Interaction Methods
 Improving Results and Reducing Frustrations from Team Activities
 Keeping Teamwork Alive, Motivated and Enthused!
 Facilitating Student Interaction With Online Discussion Groups
 Online Process-Oriented Group Projects
Although more common products like Windows Live and Google Docs provide good
collaboration features, let’s take a look at other solutions that have gained popularity.
PBwiki gives small businesses and small teams/groups in larger companies an easy, secure
way to collaborate at work. People can communicate and work together with richly formatted
text, photos, videos, maps, and more. With Google Docs & Spreadsheets you can create basic
documents and spreadsheets from scratch. You can easily do all the basics, including making
bulleted lists, sorting by columns, adding tables, images, comments, formulas, changing fonts
and more. And it's free. You can also upload your existing files. Spreadsheets accepts most
popular file formats, including DOC, XLS, ODT, ODS, RTF, CSV, etc. All formatting and
formulas will come through intact.
Choose one of the following applications to simulate collaboration. Create a topic and provide
an item to begin the collaboration. Contribute at least 2 entries with each of your classmates’
topics.
http://PBwiki.com http://ubidesk.com http://docs.google.com

7. Web Conferencing
Distance Education has embraced many forms of social networking including text (chat, blog,
SMS, Twitter), audio, video, and file sharing. As one of the earliest examples of VOIP (Voice-
Over Internet Protocol) to gain popularity, Skype provides a reliable, high-quality, alternate for
global communications that combines voice and video. While most conferencing tools are
designed for synchronous communications and asynchronous forms were limited to email,
Grapevine blends the best of both worlds by allowing users to dip in and out of voice
conversations when they have time and gives the presence and feeling of sitting in the same
room with a group of people. Although Windows Live Messenger has dominated the market in
feature rich communications products, there are now many choices that target specific areas.
Choose one of the following applications to explore Web conferencing with your classmates.
Plan a discussion topic and meet online with your classmates.
http://home.live.com http://www.dimdim.com http://grapevinetalk.com
GO2WEB20
One of the best sites for information about Web 2
applications is Go2Web20.net. Visit this site and explore
the applications. Then create a table in MS Word like the
example below. Recommend 5 applications other than the
ones above with potential for online instruction and
provide a link. Give a brief description of features and a
specific example of applying the product for online
instruction. Hyperlink the logo and include the Web link in
the description for accessing the application. Post the
table as an attachment in the Webcourses discussion
topic for this assignment (A2). Review your classmates’ http://www.go2web20.net
recommendations.
Web 2 Applications
<your name>
Item Logo Link Features Example
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