Application for Nursing Education Utilizing Web 2.0 - Weebly

Final Blog Reflection

Final Blog conclusion

As I began this journey, it was quite evident to me, that I knew very little, if not absolutely nothing about blogging. You may better understand why as your curious mind hovers above this blog. My experience all began on June 4, 2012 after electing to pursue two educational courses at University of Houston. This was actually the beginning of my anxiety/apprehension. Various thoughts filled my head…can I do this…how will I ever succeed in this course…do I need to drop this course and pursue another education courses? You see, I am not one of those computer whiz or internet savvy people. I can maneuver distant learning sites to complete my online courses and that was all.

 I can vividly recall the introduction to blogging on the first day of class. This was surely new territory for me. Several or most of my classmates seemed to have had an advantage or an edge over me. At least, that was my perception.  I can also recall having to complete the first blogging assignment. It seemed to have taken an eternity to get it done and not without several questions to the instructors of these two courses. By the way- they are to be commended for the patience and understanding in having to encounter students like me. Needless to say, my first and second assignments were ultimately completed. The tasks of future blog assignments got easier as my familiarity with blogging and utilizing of Web 2.0 tools improved.

My blog host is blogger.com I can now successfully post a blog and add new post to an existing blog without the apprehension. Although this activity began as a required course work, I now find it refreshing to read others existing blogs, share ideas and post opinions or facts with timely responses intriguing. However, I still do have some resistance in posting my blogs-especially with my photo. I guess because of my comfort level with blogging (…old school girl).

Overall, I had a positive experience. I gained new knowledge, understood the use of web 2.0 tools and how they can be utilized in a practical and professional manner. Learning that Web 2.0 tools can be classified as; critical thinking, collaborative, networking, problem solving, productivity and reflection tools were al valuable lessons. One of the tasks I enjoyed and will certainly use in the future is the ability to create online presentation using other applications other than PowerPoint presentation. The knowledge gained from my experience with blogging and utilizing VoiceThreads, screen capture tools such as Screenr and internet cloud storage tools will now become a value component of my professional life. I’m excite to know that document storage is not limited to a flash drive but can be stored in a manner that provides easy access from anywhere in the world once internet access is available. I’m now using Dropbox as a result if this class experience.

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to both Dr. McNeil and Dr. Robin for their expertise as well as their patience in teaching this class. I feel so fortunate to have encountered such a dedicated duo that showed the passion for what they do. I also would like to extend a sincere thank you to my fellow classmates for having me as part of the group. Thanks to all for an enjoyable summer session.

June

Wufoo Tool Review Module 6

1. Name of the Tool: Wufoo

2. URL of the Tool: http://wufoo.com/

3. Please select the one, primary category for this tool: Productivity Tool

4. Please describe this tool in your own words in about 150-250 words.

Wufoo is an internet application online HTML form builder that helps anyone create beautiful contact forms, online surveys and event registrations without having the task of writing a single line of code. It was developed by Infinity Box Incorporated. Wufoo comes with an automatically built database, backend, and scripts to enable you to start collecting data quickly and easily. Wufoo is an extremely versatile application that allows you to generate a wide variety of forms such as; contact forms, surveys, invitations, quizzes, and planners, database and poll. Forms can be built from scratch or there are templates available that will give you a good starting point for your forms which you can then customize as you desire. Forms are among the easiest, efficient and most popular ways to collect data as well as keeping your website visitors interested and wanting to come back. Everything is hosted by which means you can get started right away with access to a browser, internet connection, and just a little bit of time. It has readymade templates available or you can build your own.

Wufoo is cost effective. For example; making a form from scratch can be expensive and time consuming, since you more than likely will have to hire an IT person. Wufoo provides some main features such as; graceful degradation that can run without JavaScript, CSS, and cookies; 508 accessibility compliancy; both required and hidden fields; customized confirmation and redirection to WebPages; and password protection. There is a theme designer available and you will be able to add your own logo.

There are five membership options available: free, Ad Hoc, Bona Fide, Carpe Diem, and Ad Infinitum. The free membership of course allows one user to have up to three forms with ten fields, three reports, and up to 100 entries per month. Ad Hoc membership costs $9.95/month, allows one user to create ten forms with up to 500 entries per month and they will have access to twenty reports. Bona Fide membership costs $24.95/month, allows five users to create unlimited forms with up to 3000 entries per month with payment integration option. Carpe Diem membership costs $69.95/month, allows twenty users to create unlimited forms with up to 15,000 entries per month and it also comes with payment integration. And finally, the Ad Infinitum membership costs $199.95/month and allows sixty users to create unlimited forms with up to 100,000 entries per month. Please note the start up version is capable of producing a professional looking from even though it may not have all the bells and whistles that most free version of any software offers.

5.     Try using the Tool (you may need to sign up for a free or trial account) so that you will learn how it works and what its capabilities are - and so that you will be able to answer the following questions.

I’ve created an account have played around with the tool. I must say that Wufoo looks like one of the easiest form-building products to use. It’s really dead simple to use. The interface is slick and intuitive. Even a non-techie like me could use it. I created the form below in less than 5 minutes which included signing up for an account. I believe this would be very beneficial for small businesses without a dedicated web coder and a non- techies like me.

6. What do you need to know before using this tool?

One would need to have basic computer skills in addition to be able to navigate through different websites.

7. What do you need to have before using this tool?

Resources that will be required for using this tool are:  a computer and good internet access. I would not recommend dial-up version as it may be too slow because there is a little lag time in opening up the application.

8. How do you use this tool? (Write the basic steps using a numbered list)

1.     Create an account

2.     Login to your account (Immediately after log in it prompts you to create your own form).

3.     Click on “let’s go make one”

4.     Click on the different filed options available such as; single line entry, paragraph entry, name, date, e-mail address, phone number, etc. If you are creating a survey you have the option of using multiple choice questions or single questions, drop down menus (whatever information you deem necessary for your form).

5.     You can create a title for your form, choose to e-mail or share it; change fonts etc.

6.     If you want to edit by removing a field, click on the (-) sign on the right hand corner of the form and it will remove that field.

7.     Click saved, if satisfied with all the fields of your form.

8.     When dome go back into mange my form to retrieve the form that you’ve just created

9.     You can now integrate into different web applications such as blogs.

9. Locate or create your own example of an educational resource created with this tool and discuss what you found or created. Also, please include the URL for this example or embed it into your blog post, if applicable.

This video will demonstrate how to integrate data collected on Wufoo into any WebApps. Using a program called Automato. I can see using this to organize data collected from a presentation. I can also see using Wufoo to collect survey data for busy folks who may rather complete an online research survey for your business or research project, instead of using the traditional pen and paper form. I think that this is a good example of how you could use Wufoo by integrating it into another WebApps.

10. Include screenshots, audio podcasts, screencasts, or other multimedia elements that help describe the tool and how you used it. (Please indicate what program you used for this task.)

Here is a youtube video that describes how Wufoo is used. It’s a well organized sequence of steps that you can follow.

11. Please describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment (150-250 words).

Wufoo can be easily integrated into a teaching environment not only as a productivity tool but also as a collaborative tool. Below is another example on how I could use this tool in a teaching environment. This is a great tool for data collection and management. Wufoo can be used for textbook review forms, student registration request forms, teachers evaluation forms and project application forms. Teachers can create PTA forms on website since it has the ability to collect payment using Paypal etc., on a secured site (https//). I’ve included a step by step video demonstrating the use of Wufoo in creating a PTA form. This demonstration shows the easy to use features of Wufoo. Created forms can be edited at any time. Required fields can be also added in addition to a number of form management options such as, response to email, who the response and reply should go to. Should there be an automatic response generated on e-mail etc. Overall, this stool can be used to measure students’ productivity.

Here’s a second example of form building.

Here are two examples of reports Wufoo can generate for teachers. I can see using it to collect survey stats, students’ productivity on how often they access the check their assignments or participate in the forums, parental involvement with keeping up with the kids’ assignments as well as staying engaged and up to date on current activities etc.

12. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment? 

Wufoo is flexible, usable and is a good reporting tool. The interface is slick and intuitive. Wufoo allows you to integrate data collected on its forms into any WebAps using other programs like “Automato” (still in beta), that interface well with Wufoo. The video demonstration under question # 9 did a good job as demonstrating that. Even a non-techie person could use it. It’s really dead-easy to set up and to integrate in any blog you run. I must say that I was highly impressed by the excellent form-building and report-management/analysis tools that Wufoo offers. This would be a fantastic tool for business users who can now take the hassle of involving IT, in building forms and I suspect it may even spell trouble for the likes of Survey Monkey and other traditional web-survey services.” As a matter of fact Survey Monkey is currently in negotiation in purchasing Wufoo. What a good integrative Team!

Wufoo offers:

·       Themes to help match organization identity

·       Accepts payments without writing any codes

·       Allows for copying embedded code onto form

·       Helps with workflow

·       Make collecting data from people easy

One disadvantage I see with Wufoo is that it does not have its own ability to be creative with fancy typography as you could find in TypeKit which is a software service for adding custom fonts to your websites which are not free, although they have a free plan which is limited as any of the free options offered by most of these services. However, Wufoo does offer some nice custom fonts (called bell fonts or whistle fonts) that will enhance your form even more and they are free.

13.  Would you recommend this Web 2.0 tool to others, or suggest that they explore a different tool?

Yes…yes…yes. If businesses are smart, they would start looking into using form building tools such as Wufoo. This would significantly reduce cost, since approximately 80% of budgeted cost for an employee is compensation and fringe benefits.

Weebly Tool Review: Module 5

1.     Name of the Tool: Weebly

2.     URL of the Tool: http://kb.weebly.com/faq-pro.html

3.     Please select the one, primary category for this tool: It’s both a Communication and Networking/Social Tool.

4.     Please describe this tool in your own words in about 150-250 words.

Weebly is a web 2.0 tool is an online site builder that offers some advanced features, that can be used either as a communication for teachers or networking/Social Tool for business type advertising. Registration is fast and easy with only three required fields; username, password and an e-mail address. Once the information is inputted your accounts is immediately created and active. I will explore this tool as a networking /social interaction tool. Weebly was voted as one of the top 50 best websites in 2007 and 2009 by both Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine. The easiest and fastest way to create a website can be accomplished by utilizing Weebly. Here are some of the cool features of Weebly.

Free website

·       Nothing to download

·       Basic building element of Weebly website is a page

·       Ability to choose; page layout form existing templates although limited since most have similar layout and designs.

·       Two navigation panes; one at the top and the other at the side.

·       Website are created and updated form any computer with internet access.

·       Drop simplicity – allowing one to create their website n only minutes

·       Offers a Pro version with more features

·       Create up to 2 website with the free option compared to 10 with the Pro option.

5.     Try using the Tool (you may need to sign up for a free or trial account) so that you will learn how it works and what its capabilities are - and so that you will be able to answer the following questions.

6.     What do you need to know before using this tool?

One would need to have basic computer keyboarding skills.

7.     What do you need to have before using this tool? One would need a computer with a workable browser and internet access.

8.     How do you use this tool? (Write the basic steps using a numbered list)

Example on building a website

                                   i.          Create a free account

                                 ii.          Login to account

                               iii.          Choose a title for your website, which can be changed later if needed (e.g. Healthy Eating).

                                iv.          Choose a sub-domain can use the free domain, create your own domain or using an existing domain (e.g. of a free domain - www. Healthyeating.weebly. com)

                                  v.          Choose template design by clicking and dragging

                                vi.          Add pages- e.g. Product page, About page, Contact page, Statistic page

                              vii.          When all elements added and you’re satisfied, click Publish.

                            viii.          You have just created your own website

Here are some additional cost plans for Weebly

Weebly Pro Account:

·       Free trail of Weebly’s advanced features, only pay when you publish

• 6 months: $4.58 per month
• 1 year: $3.99 per month
• 2 years: $2.99 per month

Additionally, registering a domain name through Weebly costs:

• Weebly Plus Plan: $7.95 per month
• Weebly Premium Plan: $14.95 per month
• Weebly Ultimate Plan: $24.95 per month

9.     Locate or create your own example of an educational resource created with this tool and discuss what you found or created. Also, please include the URL for this example or embed it into your blog post, if applicable.

Here is a quick demo on Weebly for Education.

10.  Include screenshots, audio podcasts, screencasts, or other multimedia elements that help describe the tool and how you used it. (Please indicate what program you used for this task.)

11.  Please describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment (150-250 words).

As mentioned earlier this tool can be used as a communication tool and is quite adaptable for teachers. For non-techies like me, I can use this tool to create my own classroom website/forum. I visualize using it for assign projects. Weebly has the option to create a teachers dashboard. Students’ accounts can be created individually or in groups without the need for e-mail addresses (a time saver for teachers).This tool has the ability to use a special assignment upload element that allows intake of homework from students. I can create new pages such as; blogs which will allow students to interact with each other and build their own website. Pages can be password protected to ward off unwanted visitors. Weebly makes it user friendly for students by the demonstration of the simplicity of its interface for student logon. It’s easy to keep up with students updates. Sites can be easily updated, deleted or disabled for editing. For flexibility, Weebly's click-and-drag elements-Custom HTML, which allows you copy and paste chunks of code. This is extremely helpful if you want to add an element that the Weebly editor program does not yet offer as one of its features.

12.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?

Some of the advantages are:

·       Free website

·       Registration is quick and easy

·       No email required when setting up students account

·       Easy quick and drag method

·       Easy to create a professional looking website

·       Easy to choose a website address

·       Offers interfaces in several languages but support section is only available in English

Some of the disadvantages (few) are:

·       Some limitation in features with the free option (yet, enough to build a professional website)

·       The ability to have multiple users managing your website and being able to manage users since most of the other site management tools have that feature and weebly does not.

13.  Would you recommend this Web 2.0 tool to others, or suggest that they explore a different tool?

As a novice, this tool was intuitive and useful and would certainly recommend it to others as a tool of choice.

1. A description of how your group collaborated in the making of your presentation

We first discuss a Team Lead and who would be responsible for what on the first night of the assignment. Once that was established, we then discussed the method of collaboration that we would use. We all agreed on using e-mail. Our e-mail communication began on Monday night to further plan our tactics. By Tuesday we had a clear defined plan on how we were going to proceed. We collaborated on the process and that was actually the beginning of working out our plan. The work was easily divided up among the three of us with any wavering. We also agreed upon our posting deadline (Thursday). That was accomplished after going through a few revisions of the document.

 

 2. Your experiences using VoiceThread, 

 Although using voice thread was a new experience for me, it really was not overwhelming as I thought it would be. However, it was definitely learning curve for a computer illiterate like me. I did enjoy doing this exercise despite my questions, for areas in need of clarification to improve my understanding

3. A reflection of how you think VoiceThread could be used in your presentation/professional life.

As I reflect back, I believe that as we move into the 21st century, our current education model will be deemed obsolete. The rise in technology enhancement and personal demands to meet our day to day family and work needs, there is little doubt that this will continue to dominate how education material is delivered to future students. I can visualize the usefulness of this tool to deliver online material to distance education users. It offers collaborative and interactive capabilities that teachers/professors can integrate into online programs. I’ve already anticipate utilizing this method of delivery, especially when I’m unable to be physically present to deliver a presentation. Thanks for exposing me to this tool.

Cacoo Review - Module 3

Cacoo Review - Module 3

1.     Name of the Tool: Cacoo Review - Module 3

2.     URL of the Tool: https://cacoo.com/

3.     Category for this tool: Critical Thinking /Problem Solving Tool

4.     Describe the tool: Cacoo is a web cloud 2.0 tool that allows the user to collaboratively create meaningful diagrams, mind maps, network charts, creative diagrams, seating charts organize and share diagrams and much more, all from a library of catalogue of symbols and stencils. The bridging of stencils is easy to manipulate by bridging connectors. Cacoo organizes and has the ability to share diagrams in real time with its online chat option. This is advantageous to students who can collaboratively work together in editing and conversing about their work. Although diagrams can be openly shared, you have the ability to mark as “private” if the need arises. Cacoo offers it basic stencils free but can be upgraded for a monthly or annual fee. By purchasing the upgraded version, you have the ability to save diagrams in PNG, SVG and Adobe format. However, with Cacoo’s basic, you can only save in PNG and Adobe. In addition, you receive even more detailed and complex stencils if you purchase the upgrade.

5.     Cacoo Web 2.0 Tool

6.     What do you need to know before using this tool?

7.     You need basic computer skills such as; clicking and dragging selected items to desired place to effectively navigate the tool.

8.     What do you need to have before using this tool?

You must have a computer to use this tool with an updated web browser. (It seems that web browsers such as Firefox and safari work better with the web 2.0 tools).

9.     How do you use this tool?

a.      Log in to Cacoo

b.     Select your stencil of choice for your diagram

c.      Drag selected stencil and drop onto background

d.     Organized stencils into desired format

e.      Apply connectors to associate stencils to

f.      Chose to share diagram or mark as private

g.     Collaborate with others and edit diagrams if not marked as private

10.  If applicable, please create an example with this tool and either embed it in your blog or submit the URL if the example is located on another website.
 http://screenr.com/zV48

11.  Include screenshots, audio podcasts, screencasts, or other multimedia elements that help describe the tool and how you used it. (Please indicate what program you used for this task.)

Add caption

 
  
 
 

12.  Please describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment.

Cacoo is an appropriate tool that can be utilized in a teaching environment. However there are some limitations. One such limitation is the inability to export into Adobe, excel and word. With that said it allows for real time sharing and collaboration among students with its online chat feature. It can be used in computer science programming and networking, by sharing and creating flowcharts and computer network designing. Cacoo can also be used as a digital media for story-boarding short films. Cocoo would also be useful in math for students who can create and draw out a process on how to solve a problem, or for language arts on how to map out their arguments. This process is very supportive of visual learners.

13.  What are the advantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?

§  Easy registration

§  Access to more detailed and complex stencils

§  Some of the advantages of using this tool are: You can share it out with other students.

§  Can collaborate in real time with other students

§  You can add images and web links

§  Has an extensive library of stencils

§  You have access to create 25 diagrams before having to pay

14.  What are the disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?

Although the initial download is free; Cacoo has set a price on their tool. I discovered that after you have created about 25 diagrams, you are to show up the money. In other words the free ride is over and you need to pay up. Secondly, since the initial trial period is free you can only save your document as a PNG file. This limits ones option. Thirdly after trying and trying I discovered that you cannot embed your diagram into your blog, but you are able to share a link to the diagram.