Final Conclusion

I learned so much about Web 2.0 tools in the past 7 weeks. When the class started, I didn't even know what Web 2.0 tools were.  Now I have used many of them and even feel comfortable with exploring new tools instead of being intimidated by them.  I have already introduced my colleagues to many of the new tools and I know that we will implement many of them into our courses starting this Fall.

I am really excited about the future of my lectures and incorporating so many fun things to keep my students engaged.

Web 2.0 Tools in Medical Dosimetry

I created a presentation using SlideRocket on Web 2.0 Tools and how they can be incorporated into the  medical dosimetry program.

NoteMesh Review

Name of the Tool:

NoteMesh

URL of the Tool:

www.notemesh.com

Primary Category for this tool:
Productivity


Describe this tool in your own words:
NoteMesh is a Web 2.0 tool used to combine multiple students' class notes.  It creates a Wiki that can be edited by anyone that is registered to the class.  Once you register, you get a profile page which keeps track of all of your courses.  You can search for a course using the course and department number, of if the course has not been created, you can create the course.  Once you are in the course, you can add notes that can be edited by your classmates, or you can edit your classmates' notes.  The goal is to come up with one definitive set up notes for the class that everyone agrees on.  According to the website, "NoteMesh has a history feature, which keeps track of all the edits made to the notes.  With it, users can easily revert the notes back from a corrupted state."  This ensures that if one classmate edits the notes incorrectly, another classmate can revert the notes to the correct form.


What do you need to know before using this tool?
To use this tool you need to have basic computer knowledge.


What do you need to have before using this tool?
A computer and internet access is required to use NoteMesh

How do you use this tool? 
I used VoiceThread to create a presentation on how to use NoteMesh.





Create your own example of an educational resource using this tool:

Please describe how you might use this tool in a teaching environment:
I think this tool is great to use in the teaching environment.  As a student myself, I am experimenting with the best method of learning and retaining information for me.  I find that if I make my own lecture notes and act as if I have to teach the lecture, I learn the information the best.  Following this idea, if students collaborated together to create lecture notes, they could learn the information very well.
I could require the students to work together to make notes on the process of treatment planning.  They are always asking for a step by step guide.  Treatment planning is not a linear process, so I will not give them procedural notes.  However, if they are able to collaborate together on the main goals of the process, perhaps they can help each other remember and understand the information.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using this tool in the teaching environment?
NoteMesh could be very advantageous in the teaching environment.  Students could collaborate and learn from each other.  If one student is sick, their classmates can help them catch up with the material.  The disadvantage of this is that students could think that it is okay to miss class because they will just use their classsmates' notes.  It could also be potentially troublesome if someone posts misinformation and no one corrects it.

Would you recommend the Web 2.0 tool to others?
I did not find any problems with this tool and I would recommend it to others.

Google Groups

     

Name of the Tool:
Google Groups

URL of the Tool:
https://groups.google.com/

Primary category for this tool:  
Networking/Social Tool

Please describe this tool in your own words:

Google groups is a great place to join or create forums to connect with others around the 

world to discuss similar interests.  You can browse groups and join if the subject matter 

interests you.  Once you join a group, you can choose to receive email updates on new posts 

in the group or you can sign in to google groups to see posts if you prefer to not receive 

emails.  If you do not find a group already created for the subject you are interested in, you 

can create your own.  In creating your own group, there are many advantages.  You can 

decide who can join the group, who can post in the group, and who can see the posts in the 

group.  Google groups is very user friendly and can also be accessed through mobile 

devices.       

What do you need to know before using this tool? 

Google groups is very user friendly.  It could be helpful to understand the workings of a 

discussion forum so that the format makes sense to you.  

What do you need to have before using this tool?

To use Google groups, you must have a computer with access to the internet or a mobile 

device with access to the internet.  

How do you use this tool? Locate or create your own example of an educational resource 

created with this tool and discuss what you found or created.

I utilized Screenr to create a video of using this tool.   In the video, I created a Medical 

Dosimetry Students' Forum that could be used as an educational discussion forum.

Describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment:

Google groups can be used in many different ways in a teaching environment.  Currently, 

our students are communicating between themselves using the social network, Facebook.  

Google groups could be used to create a discussion forum for the students, as well as an 

avenue for announcements by instructors.  Unlike Facebook, instructors can moderate the 

discussions in Google groups.  Students could also be encouraged to search related 

dosimetry topics.  This could help with their networking and job search.  It could get them 

ready for working at a smaller institution and using discussion forums to help solve 

treatment planning, billing, simulation, and other medical dosimetry related problems that 

are commonly encountered.  

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment? 

The advantages of using this tool in a teaching environment are: the students are learning 

to troubleshoot some of the commonly encountered problems, they are networking with 

other dosimetrists, and they learn how to communicate in the virtual environment.  A 

disadvantage is that students could possible utilize the tool in getting assistance in their 

competencies.

Would you recommend this Web 2.0 tool to others, or suggest that they explore a different 

tool?

I would definitely recommend this tool to other users.  It is very user friendly.

Challenges and Rewards in Distance Education

Below is our VoiceThread presentation on the Challenges and Rewards associated with Distance Education:

How did our group collaborate in the making of the presentation?

Our group utilized email as the primary communication tool.  Shawn created the PowerPoint template for us to use, so we had a standard format from the beginning.  We split the question into three parts, and each were assigned a part: 

           1. The Challenges and Rewards for Institutions

           2. The Challenges and Rewards for Teachers 

           3. The Challenges and Rewards for Students

We then researched our area and created the corresponding PowerPoint slides.  Once all of the slides were complete I uploaded them to VoiceThread.  We were then each tasked with creating the comments for our own slides.

Your experiences using VoiceThread:

VoiceThread was very user friendly.  The only hiccup we encountered was once I uploaded the slides to VoiceThread.  I shared the link with Shawn and June and I was able to comment, but I did not realize that even though they could see the presentation they were not able to comment.  This was quickly remedied once Shawn told me he was not able to comment by checking the presentation's settings.  After that, it was very easy to create, edit, and save comments.

A reflection of how you think VoiceThread could be used in your presentation/professional life:

VoiceThread could be utilized in many different ways.  We could have our medical dosimetry students collaborate and create a VoiceThread presentation in their Cross Sectional Anatomy course, or really any course, and have their classmates comment.  An instructor could also create a presentation and pose questions for the students to answer.  The students would then be required to comment and respond to questions.  The possibilities are endless.