Tool
| Description | Learn More
| Examples / Applications
| Reasons Why It Made the Top 10
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Google Reader
| Get all your blogs and news feeds fast
| RSS in Plain English
Quick Tour of Google Reader
Jason Rhode's 2 Minute Intro to Google Reader
| Request/require students to setup a free Google Reader account. Then, have them subscribe to the class blog, instructor blog, and/or other students' blogs in Google Reader. They only need to check one site, Google Reader
Faculty and students can share items that they find of interest in their Google Reader account for other contacts in their Google Contacts to view.
Students can subscribe to an instructor's shared Google Reader items to find news items that they might have interest in.
Jason Rhode's shared items from Google Reader
| Login to just one account to see updates from ALL favorite online blogs, videos, and any site enabled with RSS
Easily setup auto-labeling and sorting of new content
Star content for personal viewing later or share with others
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Google Alerts
| Get email updates on the topics of your choice | Make Google Alerts Your Virtual Research Assistant
| Create custom alerts on particular topic(s) of your research or teaching discipline to stay up-to-date on the latest news on the subject.
Students create custom alerts on topic(s) they are studying to see what the current developments are in the field. Note - The more specific the terms for the alert are, the more refined and potentially useful the results will be.
| Updates available as RSS feeds for viewing in
Google Reader
Because Google Reader can be access from any mobile device, these updates can be at your fingertips virtually anywhere.
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Google Calendar
| Organize your schedule and share events with friends | Share Your Calendar
Make a Calendar Public
Display a Calendar in Google Sites
Schedule Meetings in Google Calendar | Create a calendar for your class and post assignment due dates, class meeting times, etc.
Students then can subscribed to the class calendar and overlay it on their personal Google Calendar.
Students working on a group project can create a Google Calendar for the group, share ownership of the calendar among group members, and share with the instructor.
Embed a course calendar in any content area in Blackboard.
Sample Course Calendar: EDTC 6536 Fall 2008
| Let your co-workers, family, and friends see your calendar, and view schedules that others have shared with you. When you know when everyone is free or busy, scheduling is a snap.
With two-way syncing to your mobile phone's built-in calendar or a mobile version of Google Calendar that's made for the small screen, you can access your calendar while you're away from your desk.
Customizable reminders help you stay on schedule. You can choose to be notified by email or get a text message sent right to your mobile phone.
Invite other people to events on your calendar. Guests can RSVP to your events by email or via Google Calendar.
Access your calendar however and whenever you want by syncing events with Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal and Mozilla Sunbird.
Know where you're supposed to be even when you don't have internet access. With offline access, you can view a read-only version of your calendar no matter where you are.
Link to calendars and/or embed directly from within Blackboard
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Google Docs
| Create and share your online documents, presentations, and spreadsheets | Google Docs in Plain English
Brief Tour of Google Docs
| Post an information document for your class as a Google Doc rather than Word file for easy online editing.
Upload a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file for online editing .
Add collaborators to your document.
When ready to share with others, control the access and either make publicly available via a URL or grant access to particular individuals.
Sample online brainstorming using Google Doc
| Create and share online documents, spreadsheets and presentations. It's free. You can:
Access your documents online from any computer with an internet connection.
Add collaborators to your document and Docs will send them a link to access the doc online (no need to send email attachments back and forth)
Decide who can view and edit each document (only you, some people, or everyone)
Link to documents directly from within Blackboard (poor man's web disc)
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Google Maps
| View maps and directions
| Introduction to Google Maps
Create a "My Map" in Google Maps
Add Content to Google Maps
| Create custom maps for a given event
Map directions to a field trip or to the classroom location
Oral History of Route 66
| Easily create a custom map
Overlay additional content, such as photos
Save your map and share either via a link or even embed in Blackboard.
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| YouTube | Watch, upload and share videos | YouTube Help: Users Helping Users
| Faculty create weekly video introductions to the class activities and upload to YouTube for student viewing
Students create videos for class assignments and upload to YouTube for public sharing and posting/embedding in Blackboard
David Merrill's thoughts on instructional design
Student video response to reading and discussion
Jason Rhode's YouTube channel
NIU Quick Tips for Effective Instruction YouTube channel
| Create upload and share videos
Embed videos in Blackboard
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Google Sites
| Create websites and secure group wikis
| Google Sites Tour
How to Get Started with Google Sites
| Individual or group secure wikis
Sample student's e-portfolio
Sample K-12 class site
Sample team project site
Sample presentation / workshop site
Jason Rhode's e-portfolio
| Link to Google sites just like any other external link from Blackboard |
Google Mobile
| Get Google tools and services on your mobile device | Google Maps for Mobile with My Location
Google Search for Mobile
Google Maps for Mobile
Gmail for Mobile
YouTube for Your Phone
Google Latitude
| Search with Google from your mobile.
Download Google Maps for mobile to your phone, and never carry a paper map again. | Access Gmail, Google Reader, Google Maps, etc. from your mobile device
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