Become a Workflow Whiz!

Step One – Identify YOUR goals for a digital space/workflow?

  • As a space for you to store digital copies of handouts and other classroom resources?
  • As a space for you to give assignments online?
  • As a space for you to collect assignments online?
  • As a space for you to communicate with parents and the local community and showcase student work (i.e. newsletter)?
  • As a space for you to manage your curriculum and course materials?
  • As a space for students and teacher to engage in discussions and chats?
  • As a space to create self-paced or personalized learning experiences?
  • As a space to engage in a Professional Learning Network?
  • As a space to share your knowledge and expertise?
  • As a space to give online quizzes?
  • As a space to conduct polling?
  • As a gradebook?
  • As a space to give feedback and formative assessment?
  • As a space to host videos?
  • As a space to store favorite websites in the cloud?
  • As a space for your students to create digital spaces?
  • As a space for your students to store their work in a portfolio?
  • As a space where your students can present their best work in a digital exhibition of learning?
  • As a space to help manage a 1-1 roll-out with laptops, netbooks or chromebooks?
  • As a space to manage a 1-1 rollout with iPads or tablets?
  • As a space to contact you outside of class hours?
  • As a space for students to discuss work outside of class hours?
  • As a space that integrates well with Google Drive?
  • Give feedback and peer assessment?
  • We want to link up to Powerschool or another SIS?
  • Other?

 

Step Two: Decide between the 3 main choices and choose the best specific tool for you?

  • Blog

    • Blogger (great for Google Apps Users)

    • WordPress.com (free, hosted account with some limits)

    • WordPress.org (host your own wordpress site)

    • Edublogs (best if you want your kids to blog as well)

    • Kidblogs (best if you want younger students to blog)

  • Google Site

    • Other options include website creators or wikis, but really Google sites is the ideal

 

  • LMS

    • Schoology – my new #1

    • Edu20.org – more customizable and better for schools moving toward proficiency based assessment

    • Edmodo – Great tool, but not as well structured as the other two, and bit more public and open

 

Questions to Consider…

Google Site

Blogger

Hosted WordPress Blog

Edublogs

Kidblogs

Self-Hosted WordPress Blog

Edu20.org LMS

Schoology LMS

Edmodo LMS

How old are your students?

13+

13+

13+

Any Age

Any Age

Any Age

Any Age

Any Age

Any Age

Ease of use?

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Easy

Advanced

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Reliability and speed?

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Very Good

Very Good

Depends on your server

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Custom design options?

Limited

Limited

Many

Some

Some

Unlimited

Some

Limited

Limited

Extendible?

Yes, integrates with Google Apps

Yes, integrates with Google Apps

Yes, has many plug-ins available

Some

Not really

Yes.  Infinitely extendible, tons of WordPress plugins

Some connections with open API possible

Some connections with external apps

Some connections with external apps

Do you want a walled community, open site, or options for both?

Both

Both

Both

Both

Both

Both

Walled

Walled with some open features

Walled with some open features

Do you want a newsletter emailed automatically?

Yes – RSS Feeds available

Yes – RSS Feeds available

Yes – RSS Feeds available

Yes – RSS Feeds available

Yes – RSS Feeds available

Yes – RSS Feeds available

Limited RSS Feeds, but many automatic notifications

Limited RSS Feeds, but many automatic notifications

Limited RSS Feeds, but many automatic notifications

iPad Friendly?

Somewhat iPad friendly.  Editor issues.

Somewhat iPad friendly.  Editor issues.

Yes, has a great iPad app for uploading content.  Media uploads are a little glitchy, however.

Yes, same app as wordpress

Yes

Yes, has a great iPad app for uploading content.  Media uploads are a little glitchy, however.

Only text based editing and photo/video uploading.  No native app released yet.

Yes, one of the best apps for an LMS – very iPad friendly – integrates with Google Drive

Yes, almost as good as schoology’s app

Threaded Discussion Board?

Sort of, by using a shared Google Doc, but not the best option

Yes, up to two levels of commenting

Yes, but may need a plugin

Yes, via comments

Yes, via comments

Yes, but may need a plugin

Yes, but only with paid version

Yes

Yes

Collect student work?

Yes, Google Drive Folder

Yes, Google Drive Folder

Yes, Google Drive Folder

Yes, Google Drive Folder

Not sure?

Yes, Google Drive Folder

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Online Quizzes?

Yes, with a Google form – a bit complex

Yes, with a Google form – a bit complex

Yes, with some plugins, but very complex

Yes, with some plugins, but very complex

Not sure?

Yes, with some plugins, but very complex

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Showcase student work?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Not really

??

Yes

Give feedback on student work?

Yes, with Google Drive

Yes, with Google Drive

Not the best choice, other than commenting on student writing

Not the best choice, other than commenting on student writing

Not the best choice, other than commenting on student writing

Not the best choice, other than commenting on student writing

Yes

Yes

Yes

Filing cabinet of downloadable handouts?

Yes

Yes, with Google Drive

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes

Yes

??

Synchronous Chat Room?

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Not Yet/

Yes, with a paid app.

Give Feedback through audio and video?

Yes, but complex

Yes, but complex

Yes, but complex

Yes, but complex

Yes, but complex

Yes, but complex

Yes, but complex

Yes, extremely easy!

Yes, but complex

Collaborate with students, parents, and community members?

Yes, very easily.

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes

Yes

Yes

Post assignments and give automatic reminders via email and/or SMS?

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes, but not the best choice

Yes

Yes

Yes

Personal Learning Network

Yes, with Google +

Yes, with Google +

Not really

Not really

Not really

Not really

Not really

Yes

Yes, and it is very robust!

 

Other Tools to Consider:

Weebly.com – free and easy to use website creator

Pbworks and Wikispaces – free wiki sites

Moodle and Haiku LMS

Blogspot Blogs

Tumblr Blogs

Facebook

Twitter

Give badges for proficiency, competency, or Master (Credly, Classbages, BadgeOS WordPress Plugin)

Embed Google Drive folders – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLFNIuZ2ze4

 

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/03/picking-best-platform-for-your.html#.UdsCYlNQ2PU

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/creating-effective-blogs-websites.html#.UdsHalNQ2PU

http://edtechteacher.org/index.php/teaching-technology/mobile-technology-apps/299-ipad-blog