Eight Technological Tool Reviews
1. Moodle
Link: http://campus.uogdistance.com/
My Rating: 4.5
Moodle is a useful web application for online class activities. The site is useful for students to stay up-to-date with their classes, to submit assignments, to anticipate future activities, and to communicate with fellow classmates among other functions. Despite its benefits, the numerous sidebars and the amount of scrolling required to search for the week's agenda cause a slightly cluttered feeling. Also, searching for particular dates, resources, and links is rather difficult. If these were grouped together in categories or were tagged, the search would be more efficient. Overall, I would recommend that classes use the Moodle to promote a paper-free classroom and a green environment.
2. Firefox
Link: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/upgrade.htmlMy Rating: 5
Firefox is a free, user-friendly web browser. With easy navigation and the added feature of pop-up blocker, this browser is very convenient. An added bonus is that the user can easily personalize various aspects of the browser to suit his/her personal needs (i.e. images on the taskbar, additional toolbars, etc.), which can be accessed for free at the Firefox website. I would definitely recommend this web browser for everyone since it is fast and (at most times) reliable.
3. Google Apps
Link: http://www.google.com/apps/My Rating: 5
Google Apps are additional features included with any Google account. Many useful applications can be found in Google Apps, including ad-free blogging, online photo albums, eBooks, and online documents among the many other features. I have been a G-Mail user since the beginning of my college career and have explored a few of the features. I had the chance to experience Blogger and Google Docs for the first time this semester. Blogger is an easy-to-use blogging site. Each section of the Dashboard is labeled and easy to navigate. The blog can be personally customized and several designs are readily available for application. Also, Google Docs is helpful for sharing and group editing documents. Creating documents and inviting others to view these documents is hassle-free. I would definitely recommend others to use and explore the various Google Apps. There are so many to explore!
4. Delicious
Link: http://www.delicious.com/My Rate: 5
As a free social bookmarking service, users have the opportunity to save interesting and important websites to their account. Retrieving one's saved bookmarks is made easy through the addition of tags, titles, and notes. In addition to the easily accessible and user-friendly bookmark list, users can find and share with other users who have bookmarked similar websites, which can add to the listing of more beneficial online resources. Personally, this is one of my favorite tools introduced in ED-271. I definitely recommend this website, especially to obsessively organized perfectionists!
5. Mediafire
Link: http://www.mediafire.com/My Rate: 4
MediaFire is a free online file storage site. Files can quickly and efficiently be uploaded and saved online. This website is convenient for those with many files and little memory space on their computer device. All commands and buttons are easily locatable. In addition, storing files online is free of charge! However, the biggest downside is that the website is filled with peskily invasive advertisements. Otherwise, the website is very convenient (as long as the individual is patient enough to evade the ads).
6. Vyew
Link: http://vyew.com/site/
My Rate: 3.5
Vyew is an online meeting place for groups, in which participants can share files and images, send instant messages, video conference through webcam, synchronize desktops, and make conference calls. Images and files can be marked, edited, and applied with "sticky notes." This tool is very useful for teaching, presenting, and meeting among other functions. Despite its versatility, Vyew is slightly cluttered and takes a little extra time to load. Also, while using this tool with my other group members, the "Talk" function that allows conference calls was very low quality, making voices almost indiscernible. If audio functions are not necessary for your group meeting, then this tool will be useful.
7. SpicyNodes
Link: http://www.spicynodes.org/My Rate: 4
SpicyNodes is an alternative presentation tool for Microsoft's PowerPoint presentation program. This tool is especially applicable to text-oriented presentations with very few images. Unfortunately, during creation and presentation, SpicyNodes moves and loads rather slowly, which can be a slight inconvenience. Shorter and superficial presentations may benefit the most from this device. Otherwise, this tool is helpful in making connections between points and ideas. (Tip: Use the same device that you created your SpicyNode project on during presentation to avoid unexpected malfunctioning!)
8. Moonfruit
My Rate: 4.5
Moonfruit is a free, user-friendly website builder. Signing up to build a website is quick and only requires three steps. To begin creating a website, the user chooses the type of website (business, personal, other), the design application, and the kind of information to be included on the site. Adding information and images into the desired slots is very quick and easy. (Caution: On some computer devices, the builder may take a little extra time to load.) This is my first time encountering this website builder, and it has left me with a very good impression so far. The imaging is beautiful and clean-cut, as well. Although there are no guides to specify the function of each button, users can figure them out by trying them all. I recommend this site to those who are interested in creating a website without hassle!
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