Open source educational technologies for teaching and learning
1. Open Source Educational
Technologies for Teaching &
Learning
Sponsored by Google
Potential Online Educational Resources :
Robert Mugonza
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2. Key terms
∗ Open Source Tools : Programs that perform a very
specific task, in which the source code is openly
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published for use and/or modification from its
original design, free of charge.
∗ Educational Technologies : Are tools that might
prove helpful in advancing student learning and
may be measured on the impact they cause in
individuals.
∗ Web Based Learning: is associated with learning
materials delivered in a Web browser, via the world
wide web.
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3. Why these technologies??
∗ Don Knezek, the CEO of the International Society for
Technology in Education, compares education without
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technology to the medical profession without technology. “If
in 1970 you had knee surgery, you got a huge scar,” she says. “Now, if you have
knee surgery you have two little dots.”
∗ Technology is helping teachers to expand beyond linear, text-
based learning and to engage students who learn best in
other ways. Its role in schools has evolved from a contained
“computer class” into a versatile learning tool that could
change how we demonstrate concepts, assign projects and
assess progress.
∗ However, in the slides to follow, technology has shown its
potential for improving education.
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7. E-books
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E-books hold an unimaginable potential for innovating education, though
as some schools have already discovered, not all of that potential has
been realized yet.
Google
“A digital textbook that is merely a PDF on a tablet that students can
carry around might be missing out on huge possibilities like models and
simulations or visualizations,”
And so many as per this website:
http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-in-education/
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8. Tools role in teaching & Learning
• In an on-line multimedia learning environment,
tools avail an environment where:
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– teaching & learning is ‘one-to-one’ (individual)
– more interactivity (in normal classroom, it varies with the
class size).
– learner-centered.
– Learner monitoring & grading system,
– And so many others.
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9. Free web tools for teaching & Learning
∗ There is a rich variety of free web tools that helps
students, teachers, and homeschool parent-
teachers share their learning with other students,
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teachers... even the world.
∗ My focus in this presentation is on webware -
Google
freeware - that can be used in any subject area.
∗ This is a sampler of the different kinds of web tools
available to kids and educators. There are more
than 300 and more of free web tools listed on
www.LearningReviews.com .
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11. #1 Google Earth
∗ A global view across the curriculum
∗ Did you see that one coming? Most of
us have seen Google Earth in action on
CNN News as they zoom in on some
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disaster. But GE's uses for learning are
limited only by the imagination of
students and teachers.
∗ If you're studying Earth Science, I can't
imagine doing it without a volcano or
mountain tour like those you can
download from Mountains and
Volcanos. History teachers can help
students explore Ancient Rome in 3D.
∗ Be sure to take a look at the Google
Earth for Educators for lessons,
tutorials and tips, and a teachers'
forum.
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12. #2 ePals
Connect with other students worldwide to learn
For a global view from a different perspective,
try out ePals. Many of you may have heard of its
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usefulness in foreign language learning as a
secure means that a class in one country can
communicate with classes in other countries.
But it is so much more than that. It combines
secure e-mail and blogging features. The
collaboration features make it useful for
virtually any subject area and grade level. You
can create your own project, or choose from
several available on the website.
ePals is completely Internet-based and nothing
needs to be installed on your desktop or laptop
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13. #3 ThinkFree Online Office
MS Office-compatible freeware
∗ How about a free substitute for
Microsoft Office?
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∗ You can opt to work completely
online, or download the desktop
version. If you opt to download
the desktop version, you can work
on documents online from
anywhere, and synchronize them
with your home or office
computer when you return to it.
∗ Visit :
http://member.thinkfree.com/member/goAboutService.action?page=o
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14. #4 OpenOffice
word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, Microsoft compatible
∗ If you'll be working just from your desktop or
laptop, consider using Sun Microsystem's
OpenOffice. This productivity suite has a word
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processor, spreadsheet, database and
presentation package that all look very similar
to MS Office.
∗ Aside from these features, OpenOffice.org
provides forums where users can resolve
problems, study tutorials, and share
templates. Altogether, this highly rated open
source software provides lots functionality for
teachers, students and parents.
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16. #6 Many Eyes
Data visualization and collaboration
∗ IBM's Many Eyes is a
visualization and
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collaboration tool that puts
a whole new twist on your
data and charts. It's simple.
You upload a data set, then
pick a visualization tool.
∗ Among the visualization
tools are maps, graphs, bar
charts, histograms,
scatterplots, pie charts, tree
maps, word trees, and tag
clouds.
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17. #7 Wikispaces for Educators
Collaborate in a private, ad-free online environment
∗ Teachers and students can now
create their own Wikipedia-like space
for collaborating on and
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communicating what they're learning.
∗ You can learn more about it at their
Wikispace blog. There's also an
excellent collaborative wiki for
teachers, Classroom 2.0, with some
great ideas for classroom uses of
wikis.
∗ Create your own "Wikipedia" of
classroom learning.
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18. #8 Audacity
Create digital music for multimedia
presentations
∗ Audacity is a downloadable
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software sound editor. This
award-winning sound editor
helps students and teachers
personalize their projects.
∗ The digital recordings can
then be used in
combination with
presentation software or
video software.
∗ Convert your favorite old
records and tapes to digital
recordings
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19. #9 Flickr and Picnik
Edit and share your photos
∗ Flickr is a website where you share
and edit your photos. Flickr handles
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the organization and sharing, and
its partner, Picnik, provides the
photo editing features.
∗ You can create private groups of
students and teachers to share and
view photos.
∗ Flickr has integrated itself well into
established online applications and
services, such as blogs and
Facebook.
∗ You also have Picasa, for your
desktop photo management. Try it.
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20. #10 Photoshop Express
Upload, edit, & share photos with freeware version
of Photoshop
∗ Adobe has created a free
webware version of their
best-selling photo editing
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software, Photoshop
Express.
∗ They offer a free
membership that includes
2GB of file storage, the
ability to organize and share
photos, and many of the
most frequently used editing
features.
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21. #11 Slide Rocket
Presentations with a twist
This webware eases the task of
collaboration on a presentation,
as each member of a team can
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work online on the presentation
at the same time.
The feature set and effects go
far beyond what is available in
PowerPoint.
Your presentation can include
video as well as the usual
spreadsheet documents, pictures
and text.
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22. #12 VoiceThread
Using VoiceThread, you
combine pictures, documents
and videos to create a personal
narrative around your theme.
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Then invite other students or
teachers to look at your
presentation and make
comments
This gives all students a unique
secure access to the site under
their teacher's email account.
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23. Open source e-learning
applications
A variety at a glance.
Efront
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Moodle
Dokeos
Caroline
Ailas
Sakai
Olat
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24. Open source software:
eFront
It is an open source eLearning platform to assist
with the creation of online learning communities
while offering various opportunities for
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collaboration and interaction through an icon-based
user interface.
The platform offers tools for content creation, tests
building, assignments management, reporting,
internal messaging, forum, chat, surveys etc.
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25. Open source software: Moodle
Open source software: Moodle
Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning
Environment (MOODLE) is a free source e-learning
software platform and modular design allowing any
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developer to create additional modules and
features.
Many universities and colleges use it in their daily
teaching and learning.
It is a free source software (ie) the developer can
make modification based on their needs.
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26. Open source software: Dokeos
Dokeos is an open source online learning
software.
Sponsored by Google
It provides all the features needed for e-
learning and blended learning management :
From Authoring to Reporting.
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27. Open source software: Claroline
Claroline is an open source of
elearning and eWorking platform
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allowing teachers to build effective
online courses and to manage
learning and collaborative activities
on the web.
Special type for MUST.
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28. Open source software: ILIAS
ILIAS is a powerful Open Source Learning
Management System for developing and
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realizing web-based e-learning.
The software was developed to reduce the
cost of new media in education and further
training and to ensure the maximum level of
customer influence in the implementation of
the software.
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29. Open source software: SAKAI project
Open source software: SAKAI project
The Sakai CLE is a free, community source,
educational software platform distributed under the
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Educational Community License (a type of open
source license).
The Sakai CLE is used for teaching, research and
collaboration.
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30. Open source software: OLAT
OLAT is free software and is open
source Learning Management System
Sponsored by Google
that supports any kind of online
learning, teaching, and tutoring with
few educational restrictions.
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31. Way forward : Teaching aids will change
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32. OTHER OPEN SOURCE RESOURCES & OTHER
TOOLS FOR YOU.
# Google Docs – Google.
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# Live@Edu – Microsoft.
# etc…
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33. References
Awesome Web 2.0 Technology-in-education
Tools for Teachers and http://mashable.com/2010/
Students By Lravid
Sponsored by Google
Learner founder : And thank you for now
www.LearningReviews.com
Edutechwiki :
http://edutechwiki.unig
e.ch/en/Educational_tec
;);)
hnology .
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Notes de l'éditeur
You download the Google Earth software to your desktop or laptop. This is memory intensive software, so if your system is older, check out the minimum requirements to run it first.
All this, and ePal will match you with a class of students in China, Australia, India, Iraq, Bolivia, Kenya, or even across town -- 200 countries and territories. The email and blogs use translation software in six languages, so don't let lack of proficiency in the other class's language hold you back. And if you're learning a foreign language, I think this is THE place to go to practice it.
ThinkFree Office 3 combines wordprocessing, spreadsheet and presentation software into a free software and webware combination. It's compatible with older and newer versions of Microsoft Office and has the look and feel of MS Office.
In addition to its other features, OpenOffice contains a Draw module that makes it easier to create graphics, organizers, flowcharts, etc. Another module, Math, helps you to create math equations using symbols, then embed the equations in Write, the wordprocessing module.
Flickr is a website where you share and edit your photos. Flickr handles the organization and sharing, and its partner, Picnik, provides the photo editing features. You can create private groups of students and teachers to share and view photos. Flickr has integrated itself well into established online applications and services, such as blogs and Facebook. You also have Picasa , for your desktop photo management. Try it.
Adobe has created a free webware version of their best-selling photo editing software, Photoshop Express. They offer a free membership that includes 2GB of file storage, the ability to organize and share photos, and many of the most frequently used editing features. To guide you through all of these features, Adobe provides a series of How-to Videos inside the Help link. Photobucket or Picasa account to edit share and download photos on those sites.
This webware eases the task of collaboration on a presentation, as each member of a team can work online on the presentation at the same time. The feature set and effects go far beyond what is available in PowerPoint. Your presentation can include video as well as the usual spreadsheet documents, pictures and text.
Using VoiceThread, you combine pictures, documents and videos to create a personal narrative around your theme. Highlight or mark points you want to make about the images as you discuss them. Then invite other students or teachers to look at your presentation and make comments There are teacher and school options for VoiceThread that charge a small fee. This gives all students a unique secure access to the site under their teacher's email account.