Here’s some of the ed tech tools we’re using in ALST 600. Roughly in chronological order as they are used in class.
Our pre-course activities were built using Versal. It’s free platform allows you to pull in content from many other sources to create lessons. Here’s our sample. We embedded some Google documents that served as a discussion forum. We also used a Google form to gather locational information that was later displayed on this Google Map. We used this Google form to pre-select some topics for archival research project.
Our final projects will be curated into one (or more) iBooks and published on iTunes – making our work available across the world. We’ll use iBooks Author, a free Mac app to design the iBook. For more see my site Get Started with iBooks Author Note: this site was built with Google free Google Sites tool.
Kahoot! is a free online quiz game builder. Students can access and play along using any web-enabled device.
This website is built using WordPress. We’re using the Twenty Sixteen theme. It’s hosted at Reclaim Hosting. I highly recommend this service because its owned and operated by university academics and designed for student and teacher use. An academic account including a free domain registration is only $25/year.
I’ve created a YouTube playlist of how to videos. These screencasts were made using Apple QuickTime Player – an app built into Apple OS. A great way to “flip your lesson.” TechSmith’s Snagit is a free Chrome plug in that works great for screencasting and uploading to YouTube. Here’s video how to screencast with Apple QuickTime Player
We introduced our lesson on Place by checking out Gapminder World. It’s Motion Chart is a powerful data visualizer that explores multiple indicators and visualizes growth over time. Gapminder World has assembled 600 data indicators in international economy, environment, health, technology and much more.
Students are using HaikuDeck to design a brief presentation that uses words and images to depict “where they are from.”
Students will use Google MyMaps to design a map representation of an Alaskan place.
I flipped an intro to Historical Thinking lesson using TEDed. It’s a free lesson building tool that allows you to turn an existing YouTube video into a lesson. Here’s some video how-tos on using TEDed.
Image Credit: Civilian Conservation Corps, Third Corps Area, typing class with W.P.A. instructor ca. 1933
National Archives and Records Administration Identifier: 197144
