While some teachers may be struggling with integrating blended learning (any combination of learning on-site in a classroom with learning online), two web-based tools are making it much easier for teachers to accomplish this merger: Blendspace and Lesson Paths.
Blendspace allows for teachers to load content, websites, articles, videos (and a whole lot more) into an embedded, interactive grid that previews each step of a lesson. Each content type is numbered to suggest an order in which students can progress, but they may also explore in whichever order they choose.
Here is a Blendspace lesson that I created using Google Drive tutorial videos:
Lesson Paths is more linear in it’s design. When content is uploaded or links are inserted, they are added in a list that hovers on the left side of the screen. The first item on the list (in my case, the introductory video to my lesson) is loaded first, and the learner can navigate between content using the arrow at the top of the screen of by clicking on the item in the list.
While Lesson Paths does not support as wide a variety of embedded content, it does allow the creator to insert challenge questions, pop quizzes, or short articles of text on the spot.
Here’s the same Google Drive lesson created on Lesson Paths instead.
Both of these tools make the task of creating a blended learning environment very streamlined and simple for educators of any level. Try each of them to see exactly how you could use them in your teaching and learning environments, as they both offer strengths and weaknesses.
Teachers, schools, districts, and higher ed institutions have a wide range of platforms to use as their online “home base” for their students. Companies like Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Moodle, Edmodo, Schoology, and more recently Canvas by Instructure are all vying for the chance to become your Learning Management System (LMS) of choice.
With all of these options (along with dozens more) available, how do teachers, administrators, and tech coordinators decide which platform is best for their students? As a middle school educator and instructional coach, Here are some of the areas that need to be considered when evaluating which LMS is right for you:
1. Straightforward Set-up and Maintainance
In order for any LMS to be successful, it needs to be fairly simple for teachers to set-up and maintain their classes/courses in the online environment.
While additional training and professional development is almost certainly required for any new system, the administrative interface of the LMS needs to be intuitive. Teachers will not buy-in to the system if it is not user-friendly, and will be less likely to implement the system to its full potential if roadblocks are continuously encountered.
Additionally, maintaining class rosters and posting updated content for units and lessons needs to be as streamlined as possible.
2. Simple Student Access and Navigation
Although the learning-curve for a teacher to learn any new LMS is integral to its adoption, the ability for a student to pick it up easily is exponentially more important.
Students need to be able to join groups/classes, access content, and submit assignments with as little interference as possible. You will also want to keep in mind how content is presented from the student’s point of view (is it presented linearly in a “playlist,” as a page of multiple entry-points, etc.) and if it allows for students to easily explore related content on their own.
With this in mind, even the LMS with the most intuitive user interface may be challenging for students who are not as tech-savvy. Whatever LMS you end up deciding to use, a system of support for students (and parents) needs to be set up.
Whether this is by a help-center or FAQ section developed by the LMS company or a series of lessons/screencasts that you develop yourself, students and parents need somewhere to turn when they have questions about the learning system.
3. Ability to Embed Various Content
Most learning management systems can easily embed video and images, but any other content (interactives, ebooks, etc.) need to be tested to make sure that they can be embedded into the system easily.
I have been using Edmodo this year with middle schoolers, and for the most part embedding content has been successful. Some more complicated content did not successfully embed, and I had to post it as a link instead. While this worked out for me, I had to preface this to students and remind them to read the post and follow the link accordingly.
4. Connectivity to Student Information/Grading Systems
The biggest selling point of many learning systems and applications today is complete, back-end integration with student information databases and grading systems (such as Power School or Progress Book in the K-12 realm).
Having information about student enrollment, scheduling, and grades continuously connected and updated makes any learning application or program that much more effective. It allows for almost instant feedback and communication between the instructor and the student/parent, and aids in the analysis of data to make important instructional decisions.
What is even more rare to find among web-based learning platforms is the ability to link all student performance and assessment data into one central hub. While many companies are working toward this goal, finding a perfect combination of LMS with compatible learning tools and programs is somewhat challenging.
5. Universal Hardware Compatibility
Depending on the hardware that you school or organization has adopted, this is crucial to successfully implementing an LMS. While most of the popular systems tout cross-compatibility, there are some major differences in the user experiences of, say, the iPad app versus using the LMS on a desktop.
It is important that you know what features of your selected LMS will function of each hardware device that your learners may be using, and having foreknowledge of this before signing on to using one for a specified period of time will be very important. Testing out the experience of the LMS on all possible devices – from the administrative and student perspective – is extremely important.
Next Steps – Further Investigation
Over the next few weeks, I will be spending time researching some of the best Learning Management Systems available to educators and blogging about them as go. I will be looking at the feature-sets of many LMS platforms and evaluating them in the mentioned categories, and will note any major features that set each apart from the rest.
If anyone would like to share their own thoughts or experiences about a specific LMS, I invite you to comment to this or any of the future posts. Knowing exactly what you get from each system is very important, and getting a more complete picture of each available system will help educators and administrators make more informed choices for their students.
Also, any representatives from LMS companies are welcome to comment and leave their own feedback or add more information about the features that I may overlook. You can also follow me @EdTechToolkit on twitter to let me know what you think and keep up to date on my venture through different learning management systems in the coming weeks.
When I applied months ago to be a part of Google’s Explorer program for their wearable Glass, I didn’t think I’d hear back anytime soon. I assumed that they would be selecting from a pool consisting primarily of developers and media folk who would give some positive early previews of the device to feed into the hype continues to build for the platform.
I had the chance to try Glass in December of last year when I ran into Brad Griffith, President and Web Strategist of Buckeye Interactive. An Explorer himself, he was more than eager to share his Glass unit with me and let me test it out for myself. The initial “wow” factor was undeniable, and I was eager to have more time with the product to experience its potential. (read his experiences with Glass here)
An Unexpected Invitation
That being said, I was pleasantly surprised when I received an invitation email a few days ago from Google that I now had my chance to become a Glass Explorer myself. After trying unsuccessfully to wipe the grin on my face that was my initial reaction to reading this, I clicked the link titled “Get Glass” and started to reflect about my current situation: Is this new wearable smartphone accessory really worth the $1500 price tag?
My biggest concern with jumping the gun and shelling out over a grand for a cell phone accessory isn’t whether I’d actually use it or not. While some Explorers have mentioned that wearing Glass in public can be a bit strange and awkward, I’d relish in the attention and would enjoy explaining the contraption on my face to onlookers.
Rather, I am worried that becoming an Explorer and paying for an unfinished version of the product will come back to haunt me upon Google’s official release of Glass. How much will it cost? When will is be released? How much MORE will I have paid to get it earlier than others?
To Explore or Not To Explore
While I am leaning more toward declining the offer to pay to be a part of the program, I am curious to see what others have to think. If you were in my shoes, would you take a chance to try out Glass up to a year before others? Or would you ride it out and wait for the public release to (hopefully) nab it at a much lower price point in the near future?
Having the chance to own Google Glass (even with the high price tag) is tempting – but is it worth it?
When I initially received the invite, only the Tangerine and Sky colors were available for purchase. After checking again today, however, I’ve noticed that their other color options are now in stock (I’ve had my eye on Cotton from the beginning) which makes me reconsider giving it a go.
Leave a comment below or tweet @EdTechToolkit with your opinion, as I’m having a hard time convincing myself to make the transition to Glass right now.
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