The week 9 survey used SurveyMonkey; an easy-to-use web-based survey creation program. SurveyMonkey has several plans available for purchase and also has a free version that allows for 10 questions per survey and a maximum of 100 responses per survey. SurveyMonkey includes over 15 question types. Once the survey is created, SurveyMonkey generates a link to the survey that can be shared with others. After the responses are complete, SurveyMonkey displays basic descriptive statistics and charts for each question. The analyzed data can be downloaded as a PDF document with the free version and paid plans include the ability to customize the analysis or download the results in several formats, including Excel.
We will see later in class that you can also create surveys (for free!) in Google Forms the results of which are compiled in a Google spreadsheet.
To create these videos, I start by creating a basic presentation in Powerpoint. The animations in the video were done with the animation feature of Powerpoint (primarily using the basic appear and disappear animations.)
To record the presentation with audio, I run the PowerPoint presentation as a slideshow and capture the slideshow and my audio with a screencasting tool. In this class, you will learn how to use a free screencasting tool (like screenrec). I happen to have Camtasia, a full-featured screen recording and video editing software package that is available for purchase, and I use the Camtasia recorder to capture my videos. Although Camtasia has very easy to use editing tools, I generally do not edit the Last Week-This Week videos, I just use the Camtasia recorder to capture the videos. I tend to use a headset/mic or a USB mic for my recordings rather than the built in mic in my computer because they give better sound quality.
The screencasted video is uploaded to my YouTube channel. You will have the opportunity to set up your own YouTube channel later in this class.
To create these videos, I start by creating a basic presentation in Powerpoint. The animations in the video were done with the animation feature of Powerpoint (primarily using the basic appear and disappear animations.)
To record the presentation with audio, I run the PowerPoint presentation as a slideshow and capture the slideshow and my audio with a screencasting tool. In this class, you will learn how to use a free screencasting tool (like screenrec). I happen to have Camtasia, a full-featured screen recording and video editing software package that is available for purchase, and I use the Camtasia recorder to capture my videos. Although Camtasia has very easy to use editing tools, I generally do not edit the Last Week-This Week videos, I just use the Camtasia recorder to capture the videos. I tend to use a headset/mic or a USB mic for my recordings rather than the built in mic in my computer because they give better sound quality.
The screencasted video is uploaded to my YouTube channel. You will have the opportunity to set up your own YouTube channel later in this class.
The Sign-up Sheet for the Technology Tools was created in a document in Google Drive. Google Drive includes a variety of productivity programs that exist in the cloud including programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and drawings. In each of these programs, you can create and edit documents individually or collaborate with others.
Advantages of Google Drive programs and documents:
- Because Google Drive documents are stored in the cloud, you can share (provide access) in a variety of ways. You can share full access to the document or you can create a shareable link with access that ranges from viewing to full editing.
- Documents created in Google Drive can be simultaneously edited by more than one person. I frequently use Google Drive when a colleague is not in my office and I need to collaborate on a document. We get on the phone or zoom, each of us opens the document in Google Drive, and then work on the document together.
- Since documents are in the cloud they are available from any computer or device with a browser.
- Documents can be downloaded to a computer for offline use.
- Documents can be saved and/or opened in other popular productivity programs such as MS Office.
- It's free with a Google account. (FYI: your ISU email is a Google email.)
Disadvantages of Google Drive programs and documents:
- Accessing the document in the cloud requires an internet (or mobile) connection. If you are offline (and have not remembered to download your document or Google Drive for the desktop), you will not be able to access your documents.
- Each of the programs in Google Drive has a more limited tool set than similar paid programs like MS Office (although the Google Drive programs are getting better all the time!)
- Getting Started with Google Docs (Google for Education)
- Google Drive tutorials (Google)
Obviously, our blog assignment uses Blogger, the Google blogging tool. I will be sharing more information on Blogger as the semester continues!
The web-based form you used to add your blog URL was created in another Google Drive product, Sheets, which is Google's (free) spreadsheet program. The Google spreadsheet operates like Microsoft Excel, with a slightly less robust set of features.
As you have already seen, Google has many tools and products available for us (scroll to the bottom of the page on this link to see all the programs, or click on the "9-dot" square in the upper right of your screen anytime you are in a Google application, like your email).
Why were these tools effective for our week 1 class?
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