The course tutorials in which we have participated thus far have given us the opportunity to expand our "technology bank" of tools that can be used in creating an online learning environment.
My favorite has been one of the digital bookmarking tools, Google Bookmarks. I went into detail as to why this is my favorite in my discussion activity in Week 3. In a nutshell, however, I find it so incredibly useful as it enables me to access no matter where I am, the hundreds of AP Calculus and AP Statistics websites that I have bookmarked over the past many years. I have three computers from which I work: my personal laptop at home, my school laptop, and my computer in the studio from which I teach my inter-active video conference classes. Google Bookmarks allows me to pull up any one of my saved websites regardless of the computer I am on!
The other tools we have investigated are FaceBook, Twitter, Wikis, aMap, and Muzy. My personal thoughts on these varies as I feel their use depends upon that which is being taught. I very much can see usefulness of these ... but not so much in my own teaching of Calculus and Statistics. I have started a Twitter feed for my NCSSM Online AP Calculus class (7 whole followers!). We use it to send reminders to the students about due dates, tutorial sessions, etc. The students seem to like it. My Online students also have set up their own FaceBook group so that they can collaborate and work and support one another. As for the other tools, I do not see myself using these but, again, I am sure in other areas of instruction, they would be very useful.
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