Final Reflections on CUIN 7356/CUIN 7376

Looking back on the past 8 weeks, I am sure that I haven't been this interested in what I have been learning in a long time. The course was intensive from the perspective of really trying to invest myself in the products I was creating.  I consider myself to be fairly good at navigating electronic tools, but I quickly realized that I wasn't a bonafied Web2.0 Tool user...

The process of learning to record, cut, & embed information into comprehensive blog posts was initially a rather tedious slow process.  Because my desktop computer at work has so many firewalls in place, despite the notion of being able to work from anywhere, I just couldn't get different Web2.0 tools to fully function at work, so I had to do nearly all my homework on nights/weekends. I heard a lot of "are you playing on your computer again?" at home.  It was probably a good thing in the end, because I had to install a number of sound/video free tools to be able to properly integrate things, so now my laptop is 'blinged out' with lots of tools for creating & embedding media on the internet.

The investment of my time in these projects, I believe, was a good investment. As the weeks passed, I gained proficiency working with the tools, and my projects became a little more comfortable to create. By the end, I was able to stretch a bit more on my final project without spending countless hours because I was much improved at navigating the tools I had and seeking out others relatively quickly.  I feel confident that I can move forward using Web2.0 tools in my work activities, and share them with others. I also got better at just using my electronics for personal use, so hopefully my family & friends enjoy the pictures/videos that I have started creating & posting to my Facebook account more frequently :)

From the standpoint of future productivity, I am already using LiveBinders for work. I have taken my initial project from class for the tool review, and am expanding it to provide residents rotating on my service with a more comprehensive introduction to the rotation and resources for learning. I am planning to use Cacoo or another diagramming tool to help out with a user's instructional guide for a procedure we do at work. I am fairly new to my position as an Assistant Program Director, so I am not quite to the point yet of engaging in educational research. However, the research proposals made me think a great deal about integrating these things into my program.as I move forward with programming, I definitely think that utilizing the Web2.0 tools will enhance the program and I plan to study our results if possible to share with others.

In conclusion, much was gained & learned in this intensive semester of study, with much practical & useful application for future endeavors! Well worth the time & energy...now if I could just quit my day job & focus on playing with my computer, I would be a happier camper!

Using Web2.0 Tools in Medical Education

To view my presentation in Prezi called "Connecting with Your Learners: Using Web2.0 Tools in Medical Education", click here.

LiveBinders

www.livebinders.com

A Productivity Tool

Remember punching holes in papers and organzing everything with dividers and tabs into 3-ring binders?  LiveBinders is a Web2.0 tool that helps you organize online web pages into an electronic binder. The tool lets you look at multiple web sites, Word documents, & PDFS within the same 'binder' window, organized by tabs, however you have put them together.  A user can also add a few comments about each tab , allowing the reader some insight into the creator's organization. The tool also provides a bookmarking tool one can install on their web browser so that pages can be bookmarked and added to LiveBinders during routine web searches.   After creating a binder, a link directly to the site can be shared with others. 

Using LiveBinders is great if you have multiple websites and documents that you would like to keep organized for yourself or to share with others.  You should be comfortable navigating the web to use this tool, and have a project in mind that utilizes websites and/or documents (Word/PDF) to be uploaded. Let's give this LiveBinder things a try using examples created in Jing/Screencast...

1. Signing-up for the website is free; just create a unique username and password. The tool does not allow you to sign-in with another web tools log-in.

2. Once you have created a user log-in, the site takes you directly to the LiveBinder creation page:



From this page, you can see that a binder containing instructions for creating your own binder is included.  Click on "Start a Blank Binder" to create your own.

3. Next, enter details to describe and create your binder:



4. Now that a binder is created, tabs can be added.



5.  Now, I want to add more URLs to my binder, but it can be a little time consuming to go back and forth between the LiveBinder site and my other sites, so I'm going to install the bookmarking tool. I have to go back to my LiveBinder dashboard, which is the 1st page that comes under my username, and select "Bookmark Tool," which takes me to a page with instructions. By following the instructions, I've added a "LiveBinder It" button to my IE toolbar. For the next step, I will use my new button.

6.  I've added a few URLs to my LiveBinder, which you will see in a moment.  I'm going to next show you how to use the toolbar button and add a subtab to the maintabs:



7. Next, you can add other types of files to your LiveBinder, including files uploaded from your computer and other types of media on the web:



8. After you have created a binder, there are options for sharing it across the toolbar in your LiveBinder window, which allows you to share your binder through email, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Purk, or use an embed code to share it on another URL. You can see the PedsNeph I've created here:

PedsNeph

The website for LiveBinder definitely promotes the educational value of this tool.  They have "Featured Binders," many of which are categorized under Education. There are other categories of the binders, including travel, crafts, business, etc. All the public binders can be searched, and LiveBinder features a "Top 10 of 2012" binder section - pretty cool!

Here is a link to view some of those really great project binders: http://www.livebinders.com/shelf/featured
Similar to the binder I've already started, I could definitely see using this tool to create resources for residents and fellow in graduate medical education programs.  To help create a library of resources, teams of residents could work together to create subspecialty binders to use as resources for their program.  It would be a great tool for a subspecialty rotation to use to create links of directions, resources, reading materials, self-assessment quizzes, and feedback tools to help direct trainees working on their rotation for the month. I think this has more ready to implement possibilities than any tool I've reviewed so far.

LiveBinders is great because it is simple and straightforward to use.  Currently, the entire tool is free, and each user has up to 100MB on storage space.  The capability to upload your own files definitely adds to its utility.  A user can add collaborators to their binder, so multiple people can work on the same project. I'm trying to think of some disadvantages of the tool...I think I need to work with adding more different types of files to see if they all upload properly. The limitation of 100MB could be a disadvantage if you really get productive with this tool, and currently a professional or advanced option doesn't seem to be even available for a fee.  If you are trying to organize your URLs or would like to present a batch of URLs to a group, definitely try this out!

HootSuite: Managing Your Social Networking Sites

Learn about HootSuite.com by viewing my SlideRocket presentation:



http://portal.sliderocket.com/CAULQ/8F36CC5D-BB4D-4941-8A54-B53B0861D3EE

HootSuite is a Web2.0 Tool that to be worth using, is for the individual who utilizes multiple social networking sites (facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc) and wants one go to place to manage it all. Where HootSuite really gains some power is in its' application as a tool for organizations using social networking as their advertising tool.  If you want to gauge usership and mentions out on the web, HootSuite comes equipped with analytical tools that integrate with a preset set of the most commonly used social networking sites. Without much use of or need for those social networking sites, HootSuite is be a little to be used routinely.

HootSuite is mostly touted for its robustness as a business marketing/tracking tool, and with the HootSuite University course offerings, it certainly has integrated itself into the world of Syracuse University, with whom it's partnered. Through the courses, one gains valuable insight into practical application of social busines marketings tools.  At Florida State University, the Admissions & Records Department utilizes HootSuite to enhance students' abilities to use Twitter for help (http://blog.inigral.com/using-hoot-suite-to-manage-student-communications/) by creating scheduling reminders through the application and managing student questions via Twitter through the HootSuite dashboards.

In trying to find applications in the classroom for HootSuite, I found this site (https://dev.wiki.itap.purdue.edu/display/INSITE/HootSuite) through Purdue University. There are multiple options provided, at the levels of Middle School, Secondary, & Post-Secondary Education. HootSuite is used as the management platform for an instructor to integrate the classes education through multiple other networking sites. As I mentioned in the SlideRocket presentation, an instructor could use the application to manage students exploring current events. Assignments and questions could be posed to the students, sent as scheduled messages initiated through HootSuite, and the students as questions and interact with each other through their social networking sites, including Facebook & Twitter. From the HootSuite platform, the instructor can follow the students' individual sites, monitoring their postings & links, then run reports the provide a comprehensive look at one's performance in the classroom.  From the medical education standpoint, instructors could create a forum for practiving evidence-based medicine this way, where pupils can post up-to-date links to articles & create posts describing their findings.

Moving past the initial idea that this was really a tool for business management, from an educational outlook, HootSuite seems like it has great potential as a hub for managing the use of multiple other social networking sites.  The ability to schedule messages, allowing one to send out reminders is a feature that seemed like a great bonus. The tool seems a bit complex to use at first, and really putting it to good use requires both significant investments in time and money if you want to participate in the HootSuite University. Otherwise $9.99/month maybe isn't the greatest sacrifice for all the benefits it can provide if one is willing to learn it himself! If you are interested in managing multiple networking site and/or persons using them, give it a try!

Using VoiceThread for Creating Group Presentations

Here you can view my group's presentation on " What are some major trends (the future) in distance education?"



http://voicethread.com/share/3222572/

To create this VoiceThread presentation, first we everyone met through a brief series of emails to introduce each other and select a method (GoogleDocs, DropBox, email) for sharing our presentation document.  Everyone in the group seemed amenable to whatever choice was selected, with no strong objections to a particular method except that we should use a Web2.0 tool for the experience. Ultimately, we used GoogleDocs because that was how the first series of slides was shared with everyone.

The presentation was created as a PowerPoint style slide show, where each member of the group created a few slides to contribute to the effort, and others were free to make edits and/or share additional information.  Deadlines were intermittently set throughout the week for creating slides & editing, with a goal of getting the slides posted to VoiceThread with sufficient time for each member to contribute comments throughout the weekend.   One member of the group got the slides posted up to VoiceThread, and we thought we were off & running...

VoiceThread was a little frustrating/quirky to use because of the changes it made in posting the slides. The slide had some changes in the formatting that were made, and one slide was even eliminated by VoiceThread. Since the slides were posted on our self-imposed timeline, once our comments started going up, we could no longer go back to edit the slides without reposting and recommenting on everything, so we had to improvise a little bit to get some of the information that had been deleted. In the end, it created a more informative presentation with fewer slides.  VoiceThread had default settings in how it was moderated, so initially we could not see each others' comments.  Nonetheless, it was relatively easy to provide commentary for enhancing our slides, and I'm starting to think I need to buy a WebCam to make the experience even more well-rounded.

For medical education, VoiceThread would be a great way for an educator to present a series of slides on a topic and allow students to provide comments and ask questions, that can then be answered back on the slides for the benefit of all participants.  The format allows the users access at any time, in any place.  For resident & fellow education, this would be a great tool when taking into consideration different rotation locations and different schedules/shift hours.

A possible new use of the tool could be creating an online research symposium, where learners present slides of their work instead of a poster presentation. Viewers could interact with the presenters through comments, possibly during scheduled windows of time.  In a blended format, in-person participants could interact with the presenters, as well as with the VoiceThread comments.The end products would be interactive and long-lasting, allowing users to benefit from the presentations beyond a 1-2 days in-person symposium.

Cacoo - For Drawing Diagrams & More

cacoo.com

A Creativity & Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Tool

Why do I need Cacoo?



https://voicethread.com/share/3210363/

Because you need a better way to create diagrams! Cacoo is a diagramming / chart creating draw tool with many options, pictures, templates, layouts, and more for creative, professional looking drawings.

To use Cacoo, you need a reliable internet connection and need to create a diagram.  It is helpful to have previously used a computer drawing program, even something as simple as the drawing options in Word or Powerpoint, so you know how to add boxes & text, but definitely not necessary.
To create a diagram, you need to create an account (more on that later), but before you even get started, the site has a nice tutorial link that provides a good overview of Cacoo’s capabilities. 

This overview shows you that Cacoo can make many sheets of diagrams using a library of shapes & easy link ups.

Multiple users can edit & follow the edits of the same sheet, and the diagrams can be saved as images or imbedded in blogs & wiki.

And while you are working on a diagram, a group can work on it all together in real time while chatting about the pictures.

So enough overview...using screenshots from Jing to step you through this (otherwise watching me create a diagram might take forever), let’s see if it’s really this simple…

1. To get started using Cacoo, first the user needs to create an account.  You can use a Twitter, Facebook, or Google account to login, eliminating the need to create MORE accounts & passwords:

2. Select “Diagrams” on the main page and you will enter the diagram creator, where one can create a diagram from scratch, or use a template:

Since we are new to this, I’ll just start with a template for now…have fun choosing just 1! 

I’m going to go with a basic flow diagram template

3. Next start editing your diagram. It works very similarly to paint & draw programs with auto-aligning of your boxes. Features in the window are easy to identify & use:

4. When you are done with your diagram, you have many options for saving and sharing. It can be exported into multiple formats (PNG only with the free version!):

 You can invite others to edit the diagram:

 And URL can be saved for imbedding into a blog:

I used the flowchart template and played with things, changing box features, adding connectors, arrows, a picture, and a different shape. You can see it here or click on the URL for it (https://cacoo.com/diagrams/JSR8iRObt1sJ9u2j):

Cacoo is a really nice tool for creating flowcharts!! It would have been much simpler to create this diagram (------>)   in Cacoo than using an older version of Powerpoint, because it is designed for just this purpose! (**topsecret info for my paper has been covered!**)

The tool can be used for concept mapping and mind mapping, great for having students explore concepts and work together, especially with the real time chat and edit features. Diagrams can be created to simulate equipment layouts, which would be helpful for creating teaching manuals. Flowcharts can be designed by students to outline process pathways. In design classes, students can create room layouts with furniture positioning.  Because the tool even includes figures and pictures, a user can create comics, greeting cards, and invitations.

Cacoo is really a drawing program with lots of extra templates, shapes, and extras that is setup to easily create balanced & well-aligned mappings, even when used for basic drawings.  Its’ format is quite user friendly, and really nice that the tool can be utilized online without need for downloading an application. The ability to have multiple editors who can work in real time together and follow their edits is really a powerful capability for this tool, especially compared to using traditional PC based drawing programs.  Creating up to 25 diagrams per year is free, and you can have up to 15 users per sheet.  The application recognized its’ utility for educational purposes (https://cacoo.com/academic), and gives educators an option to apply for the fully functional version for use until June 30, 2013, after which full use can be continued at ½ the price of the appropriate team version. 

If using the tool extensively, one may need to buy an upgraded version (https://cacoo.com/pricing) – a single user pays $4.95/month or $49/year, and more for multiple users with graded levels of cost. However, the pricetag comes with the upgrades including creating unlimited sheets, tracking diagram changes, and saving files as PDF, PPT, PS, & SVGs. There is also a “store” full of more complex templates and pictures that are for sale. 

On reviewing the tool and creating my very simple drawing, I really didn’t have any trouble using the tool, which was great! If you need to create a diagram for a paper, a work project, you want to map out some concepts, or design a new layout for your office furniture, give Cacoo a try!

Tagxedo: Creating Word Clouds

“Word cloud with styles”

www.tagxedo.com

A Creativity Tool

Tagxedo is a free web2.0 tool that allows one to create “word clouds” with a wide array of shapes, colors, and fonts styles. The end result is an artistic display of whatever you can display in words. The images created can be printed, saved to JPG, PNG, or IMG files, shared on Twitter and Facebook, linked directly to another URL, and printed at home. You can even send the image directly to zazzle.com and instantly create a t-shirt, mug, bag, and more with your word cloud on it.

To use Tagxedo, you really only need web access and words. You can add your own pictures for the clouds too, but they have so many options, that even if you aren’t feeling terribly creative, it’s already covered. To really personalize things, having a theme helps, but you can explore and design with their ready-made images.

Click here to learn how to use Tagxedo: http://screencast.com/t/MuuMQHVH

A completed design:

and the URL to the design: http://www.tagxedo.com/artful/70453287a95b4f5a

Using Tagxedo is an opportunity for endless creativity in a variety of different settings, and the site presents many links to lists of options for use, including a Tagxedo facebook page with examples and a blog with “101 Ways to Use Tagxedo.” In medical education, an instructor could use the tool to stimulate brainstorming with a visually appealing end result.  Topic exploration and learning may be facilitated with the end project being a word cloud of key words on the subject matter. One could create office artwork that teaches patients through visual and verbal representations of disease conditions. A caregiver could encourage the patient to create a word cloud that expresses their feelings, thereby imparting a therapeutic benefit to the tool.  Multiple images could be used together to compare/contrast or highlight positives/negatives of diseases and conditions. 

Stimulating creativity and providing outlets for artistic license is part of medical humanities, which is often overlooked in medical education. Implementing a tool like Tagxedo allows an educator to mix a little more imagination into routine learning, possibly providing a better foundation for recall and memorization for some students. Tagxedo is a great tool for this because it is free, easy to use, and creates art without the messiness of paper, glue, markers, and scissors.

While the tool is easy to use, there are limitations to just how useful it can really be. Word cloud are not well-organized and the words cannot be maintained in a certain order, so Tagxedo is certainly not a precise way to convey facts, figures, and information. Nonetheless, Tagxedo creates an impression, and when well thought out and presented, a lasting impression.