“Cutting-Edge Technologies for Online Instruction and Communication” Co-presenter with Dr. Kaye Bray, TWU SLIS Assistant Professor. Texas Library Association Annual Conference April 2008.

1. Kaye Bray, Ph.D. Greg Hardin, M.L.S.
Assistant Professor Reference Librarian
Texas Woman’s University Texas Woman’s University
kbray1@twu.edu ghardin@twu.edu

2.  To provide faculty and librarians examples of
multimedia tools to supplement online
instruction
 To demonstrate tools for asynchronous
versus real-time communication
 To demonstrate the need to use online tools
appropriately for best results

3.  Technology - The practical application of
science to commerce or industry (WordNet 3.0)
 Multimedia - The combined use of media, such
as movies, music, lighting, CD-ROMs, and the
Internet, as for education or entertainment.
 Communication - the imparting or interchange
of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech,
writing, or signs.
 Instruction - knowledge or information
imparted.

4. 1. Drum 12. Games
2. Letter/Card 13. Listserv
3. Telegram 14. Chat
4. Spotlight 15. Video Conferencing
5. Picture 16. Blog
6. Music 17. Web Page
7. Telephone 18. Wiki
8. Newspaper/magazine 19. WebQuest
9. Television 20. Podcast
10. Cell Phone 21. Bookmark Sharing
11. Email 22. Virtual World

5. “I believe that the
motion picture is destined
to revolutionize our educational system
and that in a few years it will supplant
largely, if not entirely, the use of
textbooks.”
Thomas A. Edison, 1922
Movies, television… Technology will not
replace books and teachers. It is just a
tool!

6. 1. Email
2. Podcasts
3. Web Page Spinoffs
a. Blogs
b. Bookmark Sharing
c. WebQuests
d. Wikis
4. Google Earth
5. Online Videos
6. Virtual Worlds

7. Communication / Instruction

8.  Communication
 Collaboration
 Communication
 24/7 access
 E-pals
 Fast notification to large groups of people

9.  The Teacher is in Control
 Customize Blocked Words
 Zip file & Picture Scanning
 Grant or Deny Student Usage
 Web-based for Access Anywhere
 Fully Customizable
 Custom Features
 Domain
 School Website Login

10.  TWU Libraries Ask a Librarian
http://www.twu.edu/library/form/aska_form.htm

11.  Email:
 Asynchronous
 Pull technology
 Private (on own computer)
 Ubiquitous
 Listservs enable discussion
 Relatively easy to manage (archive)
 Limitations: Spam, filters; limited mailbox sizes;
synchronous expectations; not totally private as can
be read by system administrator

12. Communication / Instruction

13.  Podcast
 iPod + Broadcast = podcast
 Vodcast
 Video Podcast
 Accessible World Wide
 Anytime - Anywhere
 No Special Hardware or Software
 Listen straight from the web browser
 Download to a MP3 player

14.  Any data file type can be podcast
 Audio, Video, PDF, etc…
 Easy to find
 Share the Subscription URL
▪ (just like a web page)
 Difference between podcast and audio file

15. Allows Asynchronous
Professional Development
(include blog for collaboration)

16.  Book Talks
 Booktalks Quick and Simple by Nancy Keane
http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/podcast
s_list.htm

17.  Audio and Video Podcasts
 ASU Libraries
http://www.asu.edu/lib/librarychannel/

18. • Video Podcasts
Ash Middle School Library Webpage
http://fc.ash.nl/%7Emvelthuizen/

19.  Audio Podcasts
 Denver Public Library
http://podcast.denverlibrary.org/

20.  Teachers can collaborate to contribute to a
podcast on curricular topics
 Podcasts for students: Word of the day
 Audio recordings of guest speakers
 Students can create podcasts to communicate
their research, debate issues, share their
writing, review literature, etc.
 Educators can utilize some of
the great educational podcasts
on the Internet!

21.  Poetry podcasts
 Book talks
 Student debates
 Fan fiction
 Example: Episcopal School of Dallas
 Poetry http://esdnet.esdallas.org/~hansellm@esdallas.org/

22. Foreign Language:
 Pen pals via podcasting
 Class podcast in another language
 Commercials
 Foreign Language Lessons: http://www.podcasting-
station.com/showrss.php?category=Educational%20Podcasts%3A%3AForeign
%20Language%20Lessons
 Example: Episcopal School of Dallas
 Spanish http://esdnet.esdallas.org/~skeltonz@esdallas.org/

23. Math:
 Daily word problems
 Research on great mathematicians
 Dan’s Math Cast: http://www.dansmath.com/pages/podpage.html
Science:
 Research on scientific events
 Nasacast: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/
Social Studies:
 Historical tours
 Days in history
 Example: Alaska Podshow Podcast http://www.alaskapodshow.com/
 Example: Episcopal School of Dallas Student News
http://eaglecast.wordpress.com/

24.  LibriVox - http://www.librivox.org/ - free
audio books from the public domain
(volunteer to record chapters)

25.  Audio and video
search engine:
http://www.podscope.com/
 Educational Podcast Network:
http://www.epnweb.org/
(podcast programming that may be helpful to
teachers)
 <itunes:keywords>: This tag allows users to
search by key words

26.  Podcasts:
 Asynchronous
 Type of push technology
 Great for recordings of guest speakers and
communication
 Regular feeds with updated information
 Most can be Google searched
 Give you the latest news
 Using RSS feeds, they can be subscribed to
 Limitations: Pull technology; more difficult to
create; no feedback; overwhelming # of podcasts to
choose from; not private

27. Communication / Instruction

28.  Web + Log = BLOG
 Old Style
 Email Listservs
 BBS (Bulletin Board Systems)
 Online Diary
 Online Journal
 Commentary
 News
 Social Networking

29.  What’s on a blog?
 Text
 Images
 Links
 Other Types of Media
 Post a Comment Feature

30. The Infamous…

31.  Ex. Library Media News
http://lm.lisnews.com
Create your own: http://www.blogger.com
Ex. Library Media News
http://lm.lisnews.com
Create your own:
http://www.blogger.com

32.  Pen Pals
 Blog with other classes
 Blog with professionals in the work force
 Blog for tech support

33.  Current Professional Information, Best
Practices, Book & Technology Reviews,
Publicity/Outreach, Advocacy,
Simplicity/Ease of Use
 Can be set where everyone can read and
everyone can edit/few can edit, or it can be
set up by a secured login.

34.  TWU Libraries Information Blog
http://twulibraryinformationbulletin.blogspot.com/

35.  TWU Libraries Help Blog
http://twulibraryhelp.blogspot.com/

36.  Blogs:

Asynchronous

Type of push technology

Great for announcements and information

Most can be Google searched

Give you the latest news

Using RSS feeds, they can be subscribed to
 Limitations: Pull technology; Comments
awkward for discussion; overwhelming # of blogs to
choose from; not private

37. Communication / Instruction

39.  Bookmarks:
 Asynchronous
 Facilitates distribution of list of relevant Web sites
 Can be used for collaboration, with different
people adding to the list
 Can be access anywhere with Internet connection
 Limitations: Pull technology; doesn’t lend to
discussion about Web sites; not private

40. Communication / Instruction

41.  What is a WebQuest?
 According to WebQuest.org at http://webquest.org/index.php:
 "A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson
format in which most or all the information
that learners work with comes from the web."

42.  What is a WebQuest?  A WebQuest includes:
 Learning Activity  Introduction
 Lesson Document  Task
 Inquiry Oriented  Process
 Use the WWW
 Process

43. Can be created with HTML or Web editor
Websites such as http://www.zunal.com/ allow you to
create your WebQuest free using their system
Templates are provided at Websites such as
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/designpatterns/all.htm

44.  WebQuests:

Asynchronous

Lends for collaboration

Great for tying assignment into the curriculum

Teaches students to use technology as a tool

Can be created by teacher or by students
 Limitations: Pull technology; time and skill is
needed to create the WebQuest in addition to the
curriculum-based lesson

45. Communication / Instruction

46.  Hawaiian wiki-wiki
 quick / fast
 WikiWikiWeb or Wiki
 Quick Web
▪ First Wiki created by
Ward Cunningham
▪ March 25, 1995
▪ Added to the Online
Oxford English Dictionary
▪ March 15, 2007

47.  What's a wiki?
▪ A wiki is an online document (a webpage) that can
be edited right inside the web browser by anyone
with access to it.
 Wikipedia www.wikipedia.com
 Launched in 2001 by, it is the largest, fastest
growing and most popular general reference work
currently available on the Internet.

48.  Wiktionary
www.wiktionary.com
 a collaborative project to
produce a free-content
multilingual dictionary.
 PBWiki - http://pbwiki.com/

49.  Collaborative software
 Replace intranets as we know them
 Scope & size, currency, multilingual, multicultural,
cost is free, inaccurate information does not
remain long – those who take “ownership” of
certain topics are passionate and vigilant
 Can be set where everyone can read and everyone
can edit/few can edit, or it can be set up by a
secured login.

50.  Teachers can collaborate and contribute to a
wiki on curricular topics
 Students can create wikis to communicate
and collaborate their research, debate issues,
share their writing, review literature, etc.
 Educators can utilize some of
the great educational wikis
on the Internet!

51.  Wikia.com
 http://k12.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
 Example: Teacher Tech Tips
 http://mrlindsay.pbwiki.com/Teacher%20Tech%20Tips

52.  Teaching and Writing Persuasive Essays
 http://writersrock.wetpaint.com/page/Teaching+and+Writ
ing+Persuasive+Essays/?zone=module_d1&t=anon

53.  Wikis:

Asynchronous

Social and collaborative tool

Easy to manage (easier than creating a web page)

Versatile
 Limitations: Pull technology; anyone can edit
an article, consensus over credentials; lack
accountability & authority; lack of consistency;
sense of anarchy and chaos – a “wild west
mentality”

54. Instruction

55.  FREE!
 Virtual Field Trips
 Science Lessons
 Astronomy
 Geography
 History

59.  Google Earth:
 Great for giving a perspective of the world
 3-D representation of sites that aren’t easily
accessible
 Limitations: Sites that are up are limited

60. Instruction

62.  TWU Libraries Subject Guide Pages.
http://www.twu.edu/library/search/guides.htm

63.  TWU Libraries Subject Specialists Pages.
http://www.twu.edu/library/research/subject_specialists.htm

64.  TWU Libraries- Avoiding Plagiarism Tutorial
http://www.twu.edu/library/tutorial/plagiarism/player.html

65.  Online Videos:
 Asynchronous
 Adds another dimension to instruction
 Creates a more personal interaction
 Use of both visual effects and sound to gain viewer’s
attention
 Limitations: Pull technology; time consuming
to create; learning curve; more efficient when
viewed with fast Internet connection

66. Communication and Instruction

67.  Habbo Hotel
 Ty Girlz
 Webkinz
 Gaia Online
 Second Life

68.  Opened in 2000
 “Hangout for Teens” (for ages 13-18)
 Social networking website w/customizable avatar
 Guest rooms can be created & limited to specific
users
 Used by youth organizations to educate about
Internet safety, drug education, etc.
 Credits, bought w/$, are used to buy virtual
furniture, etc.
 http://www.habbo.com/

69.  Opened April 13, 2007
 It’s a Girlz World!
 For ages 10-15
 Special code on girl doll label that allows access
 Avatars, games, chat room, & virtual economy
 http://www.tygirlz.com/

70.  Opened April 29, 2005
 Special code on stuffed animal label that allows
access
 For ages 10-15
 KinzCash earned by answering knowledge
questions, playing games, etc.
 KinzChat – users cannot type, but can choose
phrases from list
 KinzChat Plus – words are restricted, must have
parental permission
 http://www.webkinz.com/

71.  Opened February 18, 2003
 Create customizable avatar & virtual homes
 For ages 13-18
 Gaia Gold earned by playing fames or posting to
forums – can also be bought at Target
 http://www.gaiaonline.com/

72.  Virtual World
 Launched in 2003, popular in 2006
 Downloadable client program – Second Life Viewer
 Motional avatars (residents)
 Local chat & global IM
 Residents create most content of world
 Building & selling virtual objects
 Linden Dollar exchangeable for currencies
 http://www.secondlife.com/

73.  Main grid for 18 & over
 Teen Second Life developed 2005
 For ages 13-17
 New identity/age measures proposed
 http://teen.secondlife.com/

74. http://www.myepets.com/
http://www.hasbro.com/littlestpetshop/
http://www.bratz.com/
http://www.shiningstars.com/

75.  Virtual classrooms - universities
 Host lectures & projects online
 Librarians – Info Islands – virtual reference desk
 Info Islands – educational tools & services
 ISTE – first non-profit educational organization to
purchase island
 Hope for future prek-12 educational uses

76.  Picasa - http://picasa.google.com/ - to share & manage
photos (free)
 Shrink Pictures -http://www.shrinkpictures.com/create-
avatar/ - shrink pictures to Avatar size
 Yahoo! Avatars - http://avatars.yahoo.com/index.html
- using Avatars on
Yahoo!

77.  SitePal - http://www.sitepal.com/
 Voki - http://www.voki.com/ - Create a character,
make it talk, take it anywhere –
free, but includes ads

78.  An avatar is a computer user's representation of
himself or herself, whether in the form of a three-
dimensional model used in computer games, or a
two-dimensional icon (picture). (Wikipedia)
 Name for character in Ultima (series of computer
games) 1985
 Enhances online communication or conversation
capabilities
 Makes more interaction more personable
 Can be fictional representation or actual photo
 Introduce topics or aid with instruction for those
who are better audio/visual learners

79.  http://www.signingavatar.com/products/cddescript.html
 SigningAvatar™ software uses computer-
generated, three dimensional (3D) characters called
"avatars,” to
communicate in sign
language with facial
expressions

80.  Virtual Worlds:
 Synchronous
 Participants can create individual characters with
unique identities
 Participants can interact
 Not bounded by physical laws
 Information can be manipulated in ways that are
not normally possible in the real world
 Real-time voice communication is possible
 Limitations: Learning curve; expense

81.  Keep current!
 Insert one space after ending punctuation.
 Always capitalize the global Internet.
 Small percentage of people do the posting to blogs
and wikis (1% of people create 99% of the postings
or edits)
 Great online resources such as
http://dictionary.reference.com/ and
http://whatis.techtarget.com/
 Image Resizer from Power Toys
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/p
owertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
 Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net.
LAME MP3 Plug-in:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/windows

82.  An important role of the librarian and all
educators is to be life-long learners and
encourage others to do so.
 One way we can do this is to keep current with
changes and new computer technologies and use
them appropriately.
Thank you!