Voice threads

Voicethread provides several outlets for communication from the instructor.  These include phone, web cam with microphone, text uploads.  This type of site can be utilized by a single instructor, a department or an educational site.  Through voicethread instructors and students can respond to information presented.  Students and instructor can present statements, ask questions and respond to information being presented. There is a small fee for this use.  The cost for one instructor and fifty students is 99.00 dollars.  The site collates all the groups information for easy access and interaction.  This type of site would be an excellent choice for in class, online and blended courses.  The greatest advantage with this choice is the collation of information happens at the site level which increases convenience for the instructor.
                                                                            Reference:
ed.voicethread.com

Video slide shows.

Video slide show through Animoto.com is free for educational use.  This site provides the ability to provide students with presentations that include images, video clips, music and text.  With this application teachers can add music to a PowerPoint presentation giving them added value.  This application allows several possible access sites. These include Face book, YouTube, personal blogs and downloading to a DVD.  Down loading to a DVD allows great portability.  The instructor can take the presentation with them almost anywhere.  The instructor can also provide covered information to a student who misses the presentation when initially presented.
                                                                           Reference:
Animoto.com

Cell Phones as a communication device for students and instructors.

The utilization of cell phones has become so common place that students and instructors alike depend on them as a communication device.  Instructors can utilize them to inform students of assignments, class changes or cancellations.  With smart phones you can look up medications, diagnosis, normal lab values and much more.  While the use of cell phones has become common place for many I must caution uses about possible HIPPA and liability issues.  You should never take pictures with your cell phone in the clinical setting.  If you do and you post any information related to the person even something as simple as where the picture was taken can result in a liability issue with your employer or school.  Also many facilities have a no cell phone policy.  This has become an issue to the point that some business have mad it against policy to have your cell phone in the building at all.  Ensuring that you protect those you are trusted to care for in very important and proper cell phone use is a integral part of the nurse responsibility.

                                                                       Reference
www.natcom.org/CommCurrentsArticle.aspx?id=1970

Survey Monkey

Survey Monkey can be utilized to assess student feedback related to the effectiveness of presentations.  There is a small fee for each completed survey.  This cost may need to be a part of the students tuition cost if utilized exclusively by the institution where you provide education.  Survey monkey can be set up to be accessible to a specific group or to a vague group.  When choosing how to survey students for responses it is important to take into consideration the cost and who is responsible for paying the cost of the completed surveys.  Check out survery monkey in a web search.  Do you think it is a good site or can the same job be accomplised with out the added cost of utilizing this site?  Let me know what you think.

Voki

http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=5420192&height=267&width=200

Accessing this site you will be able to see and hear a voki I published.  Give it a try.  It was actually fun to do.

I attemted to attach the voki and was unable to do so.  Click on the URL above to see the voki I created.

Classroom technology integration.

I have found an article titled "Integrating Technology in the Classroom"  written by W. A. Fryer in this article he provides access to articles, strategies, digital storytelling examples, handouts, reference websites and online PowerPoint presentations related to integration of technology into the classroom.  He also provided information about digital discipline which is important in any class room setting.  To access this site go to www.wesfryer.com.  Another site that I accessed provides free downloads of templates which can be downloaded and converted to fit the course you are teaching.  this site is http://www.educationworld.com.  Try these sites and let me know what you think about them, if they are appropriate for us in integrating technology into the adult classroom.

Voki and Avatars

Voki and avatars are technological ways in which you can provide information in an animated process which can add fun and intertainment to any presentation.  A site to check out is www.voki.com  from this site you can choose a Avatar then type into your computer what you want to say and the computer will animate your choice including voice and movement.  By using this method it will provide a means of adding amination to a presentation that could be simply words on a page.  Check out the site and have fun creating your Avatar.

References
www.voki.com
Blog@voki.com