Peer Review

Just-in-time Training 2U (Web 2.0 Tools Mobile Apps)

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Jan 10, 2013 by Teacher Education

Bookmark

Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Just-in-time 2U (Web 2.0 Tools Mobile Apps) are series of animated videos designed to familiarize educators and students with the latest Web 2.0 tools for social networking, sharing, collaboration, communication, presentation, bookmarking/annotations, content creation, survey/voting, assessment, and publishing. The site also suggests ways to use the tools for educational purposes and provides additional resources.
Type of Material:: Tutorial
Recommended Uses:: The learning material can be used as part of a workshop on the uses of technology in the classroom or as part of an introductory educational technology and instructional design class. Students and educators can also use it as a independent learning resource.
Technical Requirements:: Smartphone’s such as iPad, Android or any website such as Internet Explorer, Foxfire or Google Chrome. You can test how it appears on Internet Explorer at http://ipinfo.info/netrenderer/
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The learning goals are to provide a description and to suggest educational uses for each mobile application. Basic instructions are given to set up accounts and how to begin using each application.
Target Student Population:: •Effecyive usage of the tools include tutoring for middle and high school core content areas , special needs populations and English Language learners (ELLs), Online learning -for freshman-graduate level; preservice training in teacher preparation programs, program development and training in business and organizations. Preservice teachers and educators would be interested in using this learning resource.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: There are no pre-requisites.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The material presented reflects the identification and application of web 2.0 tools that may be used to support 21st century learning skills. There are screen shots in the videos which provide step-by-step instructions on how to use the learning resources and set up accounts for each application.
Concerns:: There were 10 categories of Web 2.0 tools for the components of The tools for subject specific areas. However, because the last two categories were not completed , it may have been best not to include them in the listings. The videos are repetitive by stating the same information in the overview and applications section. Also there are no additional instructions or demonstrations for the educational uses that were suggested in the videos and application section. Without actually showing how to use the mobile applications for educational purposes, the learning material is just an overview of different mobile applications with basic instructions to get started. The same information is located on the mobile application websites.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The videos can teach novice mobile application users about different mobile applications that are available and how to use them. The applications are listed in one centralized location and there are additional videos and PDF files in the additional resources section.
Concerns:: Users will have to take the initiative to learn more advanced skills in order to use the applications for educational purposes. There may also be concerns regarding school policies regulating the use of social networking tools by teachers to communicate with students outside of the classroom, age requirements to set up accounts, and how to protect intellectual property over the internet.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The Just-in-time Training 2U (Web 2.0 Tools Mobile Apps) site is very easy to use. The tools are categorized by purpose such as booking/annotation tools. The user can just click on the arrow to see the names of the mobile applications available for that purpose. Clicking on the name of the application reveals links for an description, uses, how to video, and additional resources.
Concerns:: None.

Other Issues and Comments:: •There were no statements to alert the learners of the frequency that web 2.0 tools accessed from website are changed , and may be replaced with a tool that includes additional features, which may differ from the overview and application of the initial web 2.0 tool provided in the jitzu tutorial. There was no content posted under the Survey/Voting Tools, Assessment Tools, and Publishing Tools categories.
Creative Commons: