A learners’ access to the toolbox – Pauline Hughes, 21^st March 2013.

 

I do not consider myself to be particularly “techie”, and all of the Internet skills that I have, I have learnt from attending classes at Open Door Adult Learning Centre. Of course I surf the Internet at home, using my personal computer, but mainly for holidays and insurance comparisons. Usually I find that I can get around most websites without too much problem.  I have been asked to access this toolbox, using an android-based 10” Tablet. This is a new technology to me.

 

Upon accessing the toolbox website I had expected to see pictures of “tools” to identify the different tools available. When I realised that the tools were available from web links, I quickly navigated around the toolbox website. The following are my observations:

Moving backwards and forwards from page to page is relatively easy.

All the tool links require 2 clicks to actually access the tool ?

A lot of duplication of tools within the different sections (steps)

Some of the “tool” descriptions sound wonderful, but the linked more detailed descriptions are more appropriate.

A would have expected rather more tools for the “teaching and learning” step of the journey, isn’t this the central crux of a learner’s journey?

Some of the tools have limitations, or restrictions, or cost money.

Access from the android Tablet to some of the tools proved a little awkward, especially downloading the PDF descriptors.

No right-click on the Android hindered me, but did not prevent me.

Useful tools identified, were Job Match, Go!Animate, Animoto and Google Docs.

Animoto / Khan Academy

currently Animato and Khan Academy are proving very useful with some of our group.
initial thoughts are about the ease of use  - which is good. With Khan Acedemy there's muh content that doesn't look relevant to us at the moment although some of the Maths resources are being adapted.
I'll get more details from practitioners in the next days or so.
Animoto generated the most interest in the group when first introduced, it looks like its use in the classroom might be limited. I'm waiting for comments from our Media team in case it can be a useful outside the classroom.

Animoto - a practitioner's view

Practitioner’s view of Animoto

In my opinion this tool does have some useful facets, but playing the devil’s advocate it also has some negative aspects. On a positive note, the tool has an easy interface that is “clean” and unfettered with clutter. It is very intuitive to use, and has just a few steps to complete a “project” from start to finish. Being a web-based application it has the ease of access from anywhere in the world, and from any I.T. platform. The finished projects in Animoto have the potential to be visually stunning, and effective. The tool generates the “project” in a few short minutes, and then provides the facility to upgrade the dpi, (at extra cost), to HD quality, and provides a number of sharing facilities such as Twitter and Facebook. The cost of purchasing the PLUS version is relatively inexpensive, and does facilitate some easy “upgrades” of video project outputs.

On the negative side, Animoto does have a “free” version, but limits the user to low-level dpi video output, and to video clip output limits to 30 seconds. The purchased PLUS account does facilitate upgrading video output to 480 dpi (MP4) and extends the length of video time for output to five minutes, but only the expensive PRO account facilitates “unlimited” outputs. There does not appear to be any facility to change the settings of the video output, it runs at the same frame speed, and other than the usual “play, pause and stop” facilities in any video player, it seems to be restrictive. Finally to achieve “web ready” video output cannot be achieved with the free version, the dpi is restrictive and can seem to be blurred or poor. We are likely to continue to use this tool beyond this project.

Overall I like Animoto, and would rate this as 7.5 out of 10, it has some usefulness, but along with this comes some restrictions.  -  Terry McHale  21 March 2013

Quizlet

Tested by our Functional Skills tutor who thought it was a simple to use learning tool which allowed you to create your own activities or use those already posted by others.  Wide variety of activities including - flashcards, Q&A, matching words to definitions, spellings, multi choice, defining terms against the clock.  Suitable for initial or summative assessment. 

Very like activities she had spent hours preparing by hands.

Good for homework as students are able to access on mobile devices and simple to use.

Definitely one for us to use in the future.

Job Match

During a very interactive staff training session tutors gave feedback on resources we have tried. 

JOB MATCH
Used by learners during A level Applied Business.  Students liked the site, finding it easy to input information and were provided with relevant local job opportunities.  They thought people their age may be more likely to access this information than search in job centres or local papers.  Resource also drew them to GOV. UK where they were able to access relevant research information about employers/employees rights and responsibilities which they have been able to incorporate into their course work. 
Tutors delivering Workskills and Employment & Personal Development courses indicated that they would built this resource into their scheme of work when supporting students needing support into employment.  Tutors supporting NEETs would also access the site. 
Positive feedback for a resource that the centre will use in the future.

Open Door's Admin input

Recruiting – Go!animate, can be very useful for this to advertise in class if we have short courses, new courses or even annual events

Inductions- Animoto ,Go!animate, are both very useful tools for inductions.

Teaching & Learning- Blogger could be very useful for day to day records of achievement as well as how they got on and how they feel that day. Job match also as a lot of students are normally actively seeking work. – Angela (admin) 19 March 2013

Animoto - first "test drive"

My feelings about Animoto are that although it is an impressive show that requires little design, its use will be limited within our Centre.  I feel that it would be useful as a marketing tool to attract new students and that a link from our website to a prepared Animoto presentation would be ideal.  It could be used as part of the induction process with photos of fire exits, hazards, specialised equipment and teaching rooms.  As a teaching and learning tool I can think of little use.  The only way in which I would possibly use it is for the students who have done or are doing Digital Imaging as they would find it easy to use and fun – I would suggest that they use the free version or download to their own computers.  I'll speak to the team regarding which particular aspect of the learner journey I feel it would/could be of most interest.  19 March 2013  -  Bev (Tutor)