June
11
edX- Reviewed by Crystal Donlan
- Details: 2012; MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Harvard University
- Web-based; iOS, Android mobile applications
- Cost: Free(mium); Courses are free; Verified certificates and programs of study are fee-based.
- Review:
- edX is a MOOC (massive open online course) provider that offers its users the opportunity to engage in an extensive variety of free or affordably priced university-level content. I have utilized this app in a learning environment both by introducing site content to my learners in f2f class settings and by taking courses for my own professional and personal development.
- edX spans a number of 21st century skills including creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving, and communication and collaboration through its promotion of accessible education to “everyone, everywhere;” the app also supports the exploration of identity across perspectives in an informal learning environment.
- At-A-Glance – Highlights in relevant learning themes:
- Instructive app
- Knowledge- and skill-building app
- Cognitive and affective learners’ needs addressed through expert content and learning resources offered in pursuit of career, academic, or personal goal attainment.
- Applicable pedogogical models:
- Authenticity and personalization ; collaboration may be indirect within archived courses where discussion content is available but not necessarily active.
- Ubiquitous access across devices and environments, PLE, student-centered
- RASE: Resources and activity are provided, but in archived courses support and evaluation may be absent due to the content no longer being “live.”
- Informal learning
- Risks: As some courses employ archived content, failure to complete in a timely manner could become an issue for unmotivated learners.
- Discourse- and affinity-identity; Supporting learning across contexts
June
11
TED- Reviewed by Crystal Donlan
- Details: 1984 (founded), 1990 (annual event), 2006 (online); TED Conferences, LLC
- Web-based; iOS, Android mobile applications
- Cost: Free
- Review:
- TED is a media conglomerate hosting and posting a wide variety of short presentations on a broad range of topics under the slogan “ideas worth spreading;” the app provides thousands of “TEDtalks” available in over 100 languages. I have utilized this app in a learning environment both by introducing site content to my learners in f2f class settings and by watching for my own professional, academic, and personal growth.
- TED spans a number of 21st century skills including global awareness, civic literacy, media literacy, information literacy, health literacy, financial/economic/business/entrepreneurial literacy, environmental literacy, ICT literacy, initiative and self-direction, social and cross-cultural skills, leadership and responsibility, critical thinking and problem-solving, and communication and collaboration through its vast and ubiquitous reach.
- At-A-Glance – Highlights in relevant learning themes:
- Instructive app
- Knowledge- and skill-building app, Learning- and teaching-support app, Reference app
- Cognitive, social, affective, and psychomotor learners’ needs addressed through expert-delivered content offered in pursuit of career, academic, and/or personal goal attainment.
- Applicable pedogogical models:
- Authenticity and personalization ; collaboration may be indirect – for example, when offered a TEDtalk as part of a class discussion forum.
- Ubiquitous access across devices and environments, PLE, student-centered, knowledge synthesis, learning across time, learning across locations
- RASE: Resources are provided, but activity, support, and evaluation are dependent upon extended facilitation.
- Informal learning
- Risks: Without appropriate scaffolding within the learning environment, may be considered optional or entertainment.
- Nature-, institution-, discourse- and affinity-identity; Supporting learning across contexts
June
11
Schoology- Reviewed by Crystal Donlan
- Details: 2009; Jeremy Friedman, CEO
- Web-based; iOS, Android mobile applications
- Cost: Free to students and independent educators; Institutional subscriptions, which offer additional features, are fee-based and confidential.
- Review:
- Schoology is a web-based, open-source, user-friendly learning management system (LMS) with a social media feel. “It is a convenient place to quickly and easily find all aspects of this course: assignments, class information, discussions, updates, assessments, and instructional materials. The site makes it easier for students to engage with each other and with the course material in an accessible online format. This LMS acts not only as a depot for course information but allows for online interaction, assignment submission, testing opportunities, and rich communications outside of the on-site class. Many colleges and universities utilize LMS formats for hybrid and online courses in order to enrich the student experience and promote meaningful engagement” (Donlan, ENG:102 syllabus Spring 2019). I have utilized this app in a learning environment by introducing site content to my learners in f2f class settings and by extending the learning environment into the online platform for workshops, discussions, assessments, and self-paced learning.
- Schoology spans a number of 21st century skills including creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving, visual literacy, information literacy, media literacy, social and cross-cultural skills, initiative and self-direction, and communication and collaboration through its functionality as a materials depot as well as through its extended functionality as a portal for extended applications such as MERLOT, Quizlet, CommonLit, and PBS education apps. The app also supports the exploration of identity across perspectives in a hybrid (formal to informal/blended) learning environment.
- At-A-Glance – Highlights in relevant learning themes:
- Instructive app
- Learning- and teaching-support-app; Knowledge- and skill-building app; Communication app; Collaboration app
- Cognitive, social, and affective learners’ needs addressed through instructional content and learning resources offered in pursuit of expanded course content knowledge and collaborative engagement.
- Applicable pedogogical models:
- Authenticity, collaboration, and personalization ; conversation, data sharing, customization, and contextualization facilitate learning in an asynchronous environment.
- Ubiquitous access across devices and environments, PLE, student-centered, multiple learning tasks
- RASE: Resources, activity, support, and evaluation are provided for both students and educators/site administrators in this very inclusive platform.
- Formal and informal learning
- Risks: If utilizing free version, must initiate student buy-in in order to facilitate the online learning environment.
- Institution- and discourse-identity; Participatory culture
June
11
Quizlet- Reviewed by Crystal Donlan
- Details: 2005; Andrew Sutherland
- Web-based; iOS, Android mobile applications
- Cost: Free; Quizlet Teacher is $3/month billed as an annual $35.99 fee after 30-day free trial
- Review:
- Quizlet is a study application that offers students the opportunity to interact with learning content through tools (such as flashcards and quizzes) and games; Quizlet also offers educators the opportunity to build original content, monitor student progress, and organize instructional material into manageable chunks of study content. I have utilized this app in a learning environment both by introducing site content to my learners in f2f class settings and by embedding the app into my LMS for student practice; although I have not yet engaged in original content-building, I plan to incorporate that practice into my upcoming semesters.
- Quizlet spans a number of 21st century skills for students including basic literacy, cross-disciplinary thinking, initiative and self-direction, and flexibility and adaptability through its interactive academic practice opportunities; it also incorporates 21st century skills for teachers, such as leadership and responsibility, creativity and innovation, and productivity and accountability through its creative opportunities.
- At-A-Glance – Highlights in relevant learning themes:
- Instructive app
- Knowledge- and skill-building app
- Cognitive and affective learners’ needs addressed through expert content and learning resources offered in pursuit of career, academic, or personal goal attainment.
- Applicable pedogogical models:
- Authenticity and personalization ; collaboration may be indirect within archived courses where discussion content is available but not necessarily active.
- Ubiquitous access across devices and environments, PLE, student-centered
- RASE: Resources, activity, support, and evaluation are provided for students; resources, activity, and support are provided for teachers, while evaluation is represented through student data and feedback.
- Formal and informal learning
- Risks: The basic (free) app does not allow original content-building; although many existing resources are available, a paid subscription is required in order for teachers to create course-specific materials.
- Institution- and discourse-identity; Multiple learning tasks; Knowledge synthesis.
June
11
MERLOT- Reviewed by Crystal Donlan
- Details: 2011;California State University
- Web-based; iOS, Android mobile applications
- Cost: Free
- Review:
- MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) is a 20-year (circa 1997) project of the California State University system; its .org search site (established in 2011) serves as a broad and extensive open-source depot of peer-reviewed teaching and learning resources; the MERLOT system offers community portals, content-building tools, and collaboration/contribution/authoring opportunities. I have utilized this app in a learning environment both by introducing site content to my learners through an embedded app in my LMS, and by engaging with its content-builders, portfolio features, and professional communities for my own personal and professional development.
- MERLOT spans a number of 21st century skills including creativity and innovation, initiative and self-direction, visual literacy, and communication and collaboration through its expansive teaching and learning community and its ever-developing battery of resources; the app also supports information and media literacy through its search and development tools.
- At-A-Glance – Highlights in relevant learning themes:
- Instructive app
- Knowledge- and skill-building app
- Cognitive, social, and affective learners’ needs addressed through expert content, learning resources, collaboration opportunity, and community support.
- Applicable pedogogical models:
- Authenticity, collaboration, and personalization
- Learning artifacts, agency, data sharing
- RASE: Resources, activity, and support are provided; evaluation is embedded through peer-review.
- Formal and informal learning
- Risks: Mobile app is choppy and limited in comparison to the website; this could become a deterrent for learner engagement.
- Institution-, discourse- and affinity-identity; Supporting teaching and learning across contexts; Customization by content area and teaching/learning role