A back channel is everything going on in the room that isn't coming from the presenter!  The back channel is where people ask each other questions, pass notes, get distracted, and give you the most immediate feedback you'll ever get.

Tapping into the back channel lets you tailor and direct your presentation to the audience in front of you, and unifying the back channel means the audience can share insights, questions and answers like never before.  A back channel is saved so you have a transcript of the information discussed. 

Tips for Use

• Log onto the site, create a room (see More Information (pdf document) for details), encourage students to post notes, comments, and resources.  Then access the transcript at the end of the session—you can post it to your web page.

• Applications:  Brainstorming, immediate feedback, transcript of resources, discussion, lectures, etc., minutes of team meetings,

More Information (pdf document)

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http://googledocs.lz95.net Username: first initial/last name (example:  aschmitz) Password:  google1 the first time . . . you will be prompted to change your password Creation Tool, Collaboration Tool Handout

Google Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables you and your students to create, store and share instantly and securely, and collaborate online in real time. You can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There's no software to download, and all your work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any computer on which the Internet is accessible.  Excellent for group work.

Tips for Use

• Access the site and add it to your bookmarks.  Students should be encouraged to do the same on their home computers.

• There will be a learning curve to using Google Docs.  Like you, some student will have used it; some have never seen it.  Do not just assume everyone is “on board” with this online suite. 

• When “sharing” a document, set it to “private”.  This means that only the individuals who are invited to work with the document are able to do so—not the general public.

• Consider who should be the “owner” of the document.  That individual will be able to assign rights to edit or only view documents.

• Notice that shared documents can be shared to edit or shared only to view

• Applications:  Any project that requires collaboration or input by more than one person.  Any assignment for which you want to guarantee that the work is available from day to day—no files left at home! 

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http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/ Creation Tool, Presentation Tool

Bookr is an online book creation tool. Using photos from Flickr and text short photo books are created. The book is then published with an email notification to the person of your choice.

Tips for Use

• Type your subject in the "Tag" fill in box and click search to get images

• Use the small white boxes to the right of the book to move to different pages and to add pages

http://edu.glogster.com Nickname (same as a user name but can be seen by others if you share your document with the public).  Password:  As always, set one you remember! Creation Tool, Collaboration Tool General Information Handout

Glogster allows you and your students to create Glogs which are online multimedia posters.  Text, photos, videos, graphics, sounds, drawings, and attachments may all be included.  A nice change of pace from the traditional poster board, Glogster allows for even more creativity in a variety of ways as well as the increased opportunity for differentiated instruction.  Think in terms of formative or summative assessments and allow students to enhance the connections among curriculum, instruction and assessment.  Work is stored online so it is accessible wherever the Internet is available to you and your students.  Projects can be linked or embedded in a blog or wiki. 

• Tips for Use

• Teach students to think about the purpose of their Glog, to think about the subject of the Glog, and to think about the kind of content you are going to put in it.  A paper “scratch” plan might be a good idea. 

• What is the focus?  What is the best organization for the page?  How will you make it visually effective?  Will more than one page be needed? 

• Using the “free” version of the software, you will want to register for a teacher account.  It will require that you link the account to the school.  This will allow you to generate student accounts with safe logins and passwords.  Teachers are able to monitor activities within accounts throughout the learning process.  Student accounts can be created without providing email addresses or other contact information.

• Using the “free” version, up to 50 accounts may be “linked” to a teacher at any one time.  You have the opportunity to delete and reassign your 50 accounts.  An Excel spreadsheet may be used to create the accounts.

• Accounts can be monitored by the teacher.

• A document may be saved as “private” or “public.” 

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https://bubbl.us/ Creation Tool

It is a concept mapping web 2.0 application, similar to Inspiration. It allows the user to make graphical representations of ideas using "mind maps."
 

Tips for Use:

• Create an account, this allows for sharing of mind maps as well as keeping track of all of your work

• If using with students, let them learn the bells and whistles, basic instruction is all that is needed to get a mind map posted.

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Today's Moodle   http://Moodlehs.lz95.org – High School Moodle http://Moodlemsn.lz95.org – Middle School North Moodle http://Moodlemss.lz95.org – Middle School South Moodle http://Moodle.lz95.org – Elementary and Training Moodle http://moodle.com/ - Moodle Website with support materials Creation Tool, Collaboration, Resource

Moodle is a collaborative learning environment with dozens of integration possibilities. Some uses in the district include blogs, posting of classroom materials, interactive quizzes, and class calendars. Learning Environment: blogs, forums, quizzes, and a whole lot more!

 Tips for use:

• Prior planning for your Moodle will be invaluable when creating the layout.

• Collaboration activities such as forums (blogs) require a class policy or guidelines set in advance of activities.

Link to Institute Day Moodle

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http://cusd95reading20.wikispaces.com/ http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers Collaboration Tool, Creation Tool, Presentation Tool

Wikispaces is a wiki creator allowing educators a free account upgrade. Wikis have multiple uses in the classroom including collaboration, creation and posting of information.

Tips for Use:

• Upgrade to a free K-12 Subscription
• For ease of use, add users using the User Creator
• Once the wiki members are added monitor what is being posted or shut down the interactive aspects

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