Course Content: Emerging Formats

Over the past few years, many new technologies have emerged for distance learning. Below you'll find lots of options and suggested tools.

Be sure that end users have the plug-ins and other tools that might be needed to make use of these special features and formats.

Go to Multimedia Technology from Information Architecture for the Web for the basic plug-ins needed for online projects.

Audio

• Audacity. Open source software you can download and record your own audio.
• Evoca. Create, organize, share, and search voice recordings.
• Imeeb. Embed audio into your website, blog, or wiki
• Vaestro. Audio forum software that can be placed on your website.
• YackBack. Record your instant audio conference.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating audio and podcasting into your projects, go to Audio & Podcasting from Information Architecture for the Web.

Blogs

• Blogger
• Edublogs
• Book Club Blogs
  • Blogger Book Club from Roselle Illinois
• Course Blogs Examples
  • Advanced Biology Honor

Learn more from Blogging, Podcasting, and Vlogging from High Tech Learning.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating blogs into your projects, go to Blogs from Information Architecture for the Web.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating RSS and Syndication into your projects, go to Syndication from Information Architecture for the Web.

Collaborative Concept Mapping

• Bubbl.us
• Gliffy
• Thinkature

Collaborative Productivity Tools

• Google Docs. Users can collaborate on word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• ThinkFree. Alternative to Microsoft office.
• Zoho. Tools for writing, spreadsheets, shows, notebook, etc.

Learn more from Collaborative Web and Wikis from High Tech Learning.

Course Management Systems

• Moodle
• Nicenet

Learn more from Course Management Systems from High Tech Learning

Desktop Learning Spaces

Learn more from Desktop Learning Spaces from High Tech Learning

Email

Learn more from Email from High Tech Learning

Forums

• Google Groups
• Yahoo Groups

Learn more from Forums from High Tech Learning.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating forum into your projects, go to Forums from Information Architecture for the Web.

Graphing Tools

• e-Tutor Graphing Calculator
• FooPlot

Image Sharing

• Flickr
• Photobucket

Interactives and Multimedia Presentations Elements

• AuthorPoint. Allows people to share PowerPoint presentations.
• BubbleShare. Create and share slideshow.
• Expressr. Create and share slideshow.
• Slide. Create and share slideshow.
• SlideShare. Create and embed your slideshows. You can create original presentations or upload PowerPoint.
  • Math Example
  • Math Exam Review
• Thumbstacks. Create and share presentations.
• VoiceThread. Create and narrate slide shows. Also involve participants in commenting.

Learn more from Interactives from High Tech Learning.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating Flash into your projects, go to Flash from Information Architecture for the Web.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating PowerPoint into your projects, go to PowerPoint from Information Architecture for the Web.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating Slide Shows into your projects, go to Slide Shows from Information Architecture for the Web.

Multi-User Virtual Environments

• Second Life

Learn more from Social Networks and Virtual Worlds from High Tech Learning

Off-computer Environments

• Artifacts
• Physical Activities
  • Field trips
  • Lab assignments
  • Observations
• Print Materials
  • Notebooks
  • Textbooks

Online Documents

You can incorporate many types of online documents into your projects including both application files (i.e., Microsoft Excel, Inspiration) as well as PDF (Portable Document Format) files.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating documents into your projects, go to Documents from Information Architecture for the Web.

Screencasting Tools

• CamStudio. Open source software for recording screen and audio activity on your computer to create videos and Flash files.

Video

• Blip.tv
• Google Video
• SchoolTube
• TeacherTube
• YouTube

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating Video into your projects, go to Video, Videocasting, and Screencasting from Information Architecture for the Web.

Virtual Conferencing

Learn more from Virtual Conferencing from High Tech Learning

Web pages

• internal linking
• external linking
• images (thumbnails, full-sized)
• linking to audio and video
• embedding media elements
• embedding widgets

Learn more from Information Architecture for the Web.

Wiki

• PBwiki
• Seedwiki
• Wetpaint
• Wikispaces
• Wiki Project Ideas
  • Wiki Workshop
  • Wikis from Teaching Hacks.

Learn more at Wiki World from eduscapes.

To learn more about technical aspects of incorporating Video into your projects, go to Wiki and Collaborative Spaces from Information Architecture for the Web.

For many more Web 2.0 Tools, try Go2Web 2.0.

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