Technology in Online Learning

In this wiki assignment, you will create an informational website discussing the different technologies used in online learning environments.

Perform the following tasks:

Step 1: Add to the Wiki you started in EDU 600.
Remember the Wiki you created in EDU 600 Introduction to Online Learning? This week you will add to it.

Note: If you have NOT taken EDU600 please complete the following steps to set up your wiki:

Locate a free wiki site
Perform an Internet search to locate a website that will allow you to create a free wiki. Listed here are some sites that you may want to consider:

• Google Sites (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Wikidot (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• WikiHow (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Wikispaces for Educators (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

It would also be a beneficial to do a quick internet search to get an idea of how to format your wiki. Search for good/poor examples of wikis to assist you in the design of yours. You could also search for examples of good/poor layout and/or visual design.

Examine the site features
Look over the features offered by the wiki site. Each site’s instructions and tools will vary, but most will have tutorials or step-by-step instructions for creating your wiki. If the site you are considering does not offer assistance, select another site.

Create an account
Most of the wiki sites will require you to create an account on the site. Make sure to hang onto your account information, as you will add to it throughout the specialization.

Step 2: Prepare the wiki site.
Access your Wiki from EDU600 and create a page. Label it “Online Technology.” Next find at least 10 different tools and technologies that support work in an online course. Group them into Functional Categories such as group work and collaboration, communication tools, presentation tools, task management tools, etc.).

Build your wiki page. The content of the wiki page should include the following:

• Develop your Functional Category titles and add the relevant technologies under each.
• For each technology, include URLs and describe each tool briefly including how it works, how it is typically used and by whom. Is it freely available or is there a charge?
• Include examples, suggestions or scenarios for use of the tools within each of the functional categories you have identified to increase the quality of teaching and support of student success.
• Include information regarding at least one emerging technology you feel will be useful in online courses in the near future either for instructional use or for students to use to support learning and assignment completion.
• Use a minimum of 3 scholarly sources, one of which may be your textbook to support your recommendations. Be sure to cite sources using proper APA formatting.

Step 3: Submit your assignment summary.
When you have completed the wiki assignment, prepare a summary of the process used to create the wiki. This summary should include the following:

• The wiki’s web address so the instructor can view it.
• A brief summary of the experience of creating this wiki.
• Your opinion on the usefulness of Wikis for teaching and learning and why.
• A link to your Wiki (please make sure that the settings on your Wiki are set to “public”).
• Save a copy of the summary in an easily accessible place and submit a copy to the instructor and submit via Waypoint.