TWO for the price of ONE

Kaushik, P. (2012). Management & Collaboration (online image)
Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/1mwxJhg

TWO for the price of ONE: read this post and learn about TWO NEW TOOLS! That's right, this week was quite busy! As mentioned in my post, "Voice your opinion on Voicethread!", this week we explored Voicethread! But we did not just stop there, we also explore Polldaddy. As we move into collaborative knowledge we continue to learn new tools that help communicating and the development of users knowledge! Both of these tools are accessible and FREE to use. I know I say it all the time but that word- FREE- is music to my ears #StudentProblems. Now how do these tools work? Why are these tools so effective for learning and RETAINING knowledge that we build on these online communities?

*Blogger Challenge: Can you describe these tools and why they work in 150 words or less?!*

GO! 

Brief Overview: 

1) Voicethread: allows users to interact with the slideshow to contribute and engage with the information. Can be used as a storytelling aid, research tool and assessment tool. 

2) Polldaddy: allows you to create online surveys where students can cast their vote as well as see other users feedback and  answers. BUILD off their answers.

Why do these tools work? Here are a few facts on memory retainment: 

10% remember what they HEAR

20% remember what they SEE 

65% will remember if you combine voice (hear) and visuals (see). 

*Simple math....carry the one... yeah- 65% is WAY better than 10% or 20%* 

By combining the visual of the Voicethread presentation, or the visual of the polling data learners have a HIGHER chance of remembering the knowledge they have learned.

Both of these tools would fit into my P.L.E. under a direct means of communication, but for a scholarly purpose. I believe that these tools are both STRONG collaborative tools that will help in an academic context. They both are online networks *cough P.L.N. cough* that allow users to build off of others knowledge, and can benefit the learner by seeing their fellow users thought process!

GIPHY. (2014). School (animated gif).
Retrieved from: http://gph.is/1b51ZHm

Work, work, work, and no play? I found an article on my Feedly this week that ties nicely into the theme behind our classes Voicethread. The Globe and Mail posted a story about employees and their constant attachment to their work. Work is no longer 9am-5pm, it is now taken home with workers and many send emails after hours. Seeing as these online communities are available and accessible at all times, it is hard to draw that line between "work and recreation". I think it is important that we still remember how even though these tools are available- it does not mean they are always necessary. What do you guys think? Any tips on how to break the endless email cycle?

That's a wrap!

XOXO