Web 2.0 for College Instructors - Recently Updated Pages

Apps for Instructors

Brent_Anderson — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:19:49 CDT

(If you add to this page, please make the changes using Explorer- otherwise, the widgets sometimes disappear!)

NOTE: When adding apps to this page, please give a special preference to FREE- or very low cost- online apps.
If users will have to make a special request for price breaks or premium features, please include a contact link.

iMeem...

(Note: I created this video in Animoto and then uploaded it to YouTube.)

What it is:
This is Animoto- a web 2.0 app that helps you easily create a professional looking video. You can use your own images and either choose the songs they have available (musical genres range from "hip hop" to "classical") or upload your own music files. The advantage of using this tool is that your video will be created with excellent special effects, timing, and modern aesthetics without having to know about video production.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
The main educational use of Animoto is to create videos about your subject matter that are VERY appealing and that are virtually guaranteed to hold your students' interest. You could also use this to create a short video "introduction" about yourself on a class wiki, blog, or Ning network. You could also ask your students to do the same, especially in a Ning network! It's also possible to "re-mix" your PowerPoint slides into an Animoto video.

Cost:
Free for educators- if you set up an educator account, your students will also be able to get free "Full Access" accounts!

WetPaint...

What it is:
As the video above describes, WetPaint is a wiki creation tool that makes it easy to create a wiki. The wiki is hosted for free by WetPaint- but ads will appear on the wiki pages. However, WetPaint will remove the ads for wikis that are used for educational purposes.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
WetPaint is a great choice for any kind of educational wiki. One of the most basic implementations of a wiki is to begin a course with a simplistic wiki and then have students add to it throughout the course. That way, they can see how much they have learned by seeing how the wiki develops and expands. A wiki could also be used with a language class by posting material that needs translation and having students do the translations... or, similarly, they could edit a document that has spelling or grammar errors. A wiki could be used to help students annotate poetry or other complex subject matter by creating pages that link to phrases or concepts in an original document. Learning teams could each have a wiki page that they add to throughout the semester or during projects, which would also facilitate sharing the projects with the whole class when they are completed. Students could have a wiki page where they leave "advice" for students taking the course in the following semester. Wikis can be used to gather information or survey a group- imagine a wiki based on "how is the class going so far?", "how would you improve this course?", "what areas could use more explanation?", etc. A wiki could be used to keep track of research for projects and papers. Some instructors are starting to use wikis in place of PowerPoint presentations because they are easy to create and have more features- plus, then the information is already online for students to refer to after the class. There is a wiki called "Wikis in Education" that also provides many ideas and links. Some instructors use wikis instead of websites to present courses because of their interactive nature... you're using one right now!

Cost:
Free + ads are removed for educators (upon request)

Ning...

(An interview with the Ning CEO, Gina Biancini.)

What it is:
Ning is a site where you can easily create your own social network (e.g. Facebook, MySpace). I created a Ning network for my CPD 150 students... to check out the network, you can visit: http://cpd150-stahl.ning.com/.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
Basically, Ning can be used to replace a course "website" because you can post all of the same information on a Ning social network. The main advantage is that you gain the ability for students to connect with each other in a way that is familiar to them through other social networks they are likely to have used before. They are also able to communicate with each other easily and the framework of a social network inherently invites students to interact and exchange ideas while getting to know each other better along the way. Ning is very appealing to Millenials!

Cost:
Free- ads can be removed for k-12 classes (upon request)

Jing...

What it is:
Jing is a web 2.0 application that lets you record what you see on your computer screen and turns it into a short, online video.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
Jing can be used to record tutorials for students. It would be especially helpful for subjects related to technology. For example, if students are going to use a wiki or online tool, you could record a tutorial showing them the main features and how to use them. The video is available online so that students can refer back to it anytime. Jing would also be appropriate for showing students how to use online databases or library reference tools. It could also be used to show students how to use conduct research online or how to browse a complex website or research analysis tool. Jing would also be great to use with classes related to programming, using Office suite programs, Photoshop, educational technology, and anything else where a narrated, visual explanation (available online) would be helpful to students. I used this tool for all of the tutorials related to Google Apps on this wiki site.

Cost:
Free

Remember the Milk...

What it is:
Remember the Milk is a reminder service that has very creative potential. Students can easily organize their tasks, receive reminders by email or instant message, they can set priorities, and manage the reminders by mobile phone. It can even interact with Google Apps and Google Maps.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
The primary educational use of Remember the Milk is to help you organize tasks for projects and important deadlines. It's easy to forget something when you get busy with other things. The automated reminders can be invaluable. One way to use this is to add reminders whenever you get started on a project. Also, it can be helpful if you want to remember to "check in" with a student about something or to follow-up on work (extra credit/make-up/honors). This is also one that you could recommend to your students if they are having trouble remembering due dates or keep "forgetting" assignments.

Cost:
Free

Del.icio.us...

What it is:
Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking site that enables students to create bookmarks and share them with anyone. Users "tag" websites with keywords and those are searchable within Del.icio.us, which means that it can also be used as somewhat of a search engine.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
The primary use for students is to share bookmarks of websites that relate to what they are studying or working on. They can also find related websites by exploring websites tagged with related keywords by the huge community of Del.icio.us users, which is a good way to find highly relevant online resources.

Cost:
Free

Meebo...

What it is:
Meebo is a website the enables users to instant message ("IM" aka "chat") in one place using a variety of chat clients like AIM, Yahoo, etc. The advantage is that you have one buddy list no matter what program your contacts might be using- you can communicate with all of them through one interface. Also, meebo has a video chat and image sharing feature that takes communication to a more interpersonal level than just text-based communication.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
The primary educational value of meebo lies in connecting people- whether it's students connecting with each other, students connecting with their instructor, or instructors connecting with each other. Using meebo, an instructor can communicate with students by placing a meebo IM window on their blog, wiki, or course website. Think about "virtual" office hours and not having to worry about which IM program each student uses. Meebo also has "groups" that could be used for groups to chat with each other about group projects, including the videocam (to provide the face-to-face experience) and file sharing capability.

Cost:
Free

Picnik...

What it is:
Picnik is an online tool for editing images and photos. While it is not a Photoshop replacement, it certainly has just about every option that could reasonably be expected. You can crop, resize, edit, remove red-eye, use special effects, change file types, etc. Then, you can save and share the image easily.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
The primary use for this in education would be to help instructors (or students) who are preparing visual materials for blogs, wiki pages, social networks, etc. Instead of purchasing an expensive photo editing package, this online tool enables most of the same edits and changes to a huge variety of image types. I used Picnik for most of the images on this wiki site.

Cost:
Free- there is an option for a "premium account" but you actually don't need to sign up at all to start using the tool online. Just make sure to click on the "photos" tab and then choose "upload photo" to get started without creating an account or ever signing in at all!

Urban Dictionary...

What it is:
The Urban Dictionary is a website where you can look up slang terms and phrases. It's extremely up-to-date. If you're a trend-setter, you can also post new slang terms or phrases and you can also vote on the definitions and examples provided. Warning: much of the content on the website is of an "adult nature".

Ideas for Higher Ed:
If you frequently hear strange phrases from your students, it might be worthwhile to look up what they are actually saying. I consider myself to be pretty modern and aware of new slang. But, every so often, a freshman student will say something and I have no idea what they are talking about. For example, one of my first year student groups named themselves "G'd Up"... so I looked up the phrase. Knowing what they are saying is usually a good thing!

Cost:
Free

Wordle...

What it is:
Wordle is a website you can take large amounts of text and create word clouds.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
You could use it as a discussion piece to take a digested form of text. It might be really interesting to use with the text from qualitative interviews. The possibilities are really endless

Cost:
Free

test

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:22:11 CDT

Favorite book: Anne of Green Gables

Great book loved by girls in grades3 and up

Links & Resources

socalangel — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:07:44 CDT

(Note: If you add a link here, please give an overview of the link/resource!)

The Changing Paradigm of "Modern" Education:

http://21stcenturylearning.wetpaint.com/
This is a wiki site with lots of information about how education is changing. Their wiki states "We are a community of educators embarking on a collaborative journey into the future of education, educational technologies and new curriculums in order to prepare our students to function in a competitive and rapidly changing global world." Although this wiki is focused on k-12 teaching, the principles and information is relevant at all levels of teaching. Excellent information about "Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants" and other key aspects about the upcoming (and current) Millenial Generation! Highly recommended!

Educational Technology:

http://clifmims.wetpaint.com
This is wiki site with information related to "education, technology, and more". You can see how Clif makes use of Twitter and Diigo. There is also a great section about Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0. The wiki is an extension of Clif's Blog.

U Tech Tips Wiki:

http://wiki.utechtips.com/
This wiki site contains a comprehensive chart of apps by platform (or browser). Most is free and it is growing all the time!

NMSUA COMM 291 Spring, 2008

DolphinaQuesti — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:16:34 CST

Welcome to the wide world of Communication in Cyberspace!

Apps for Students

knicker — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:36:59 CST

This wiki site focuses on Web 2.0 tools for college instructors. However, it might be helpful for you to also know about some of the tools available for students. Some apps, you may simply want to be aware of as an instructor in higher education- it can be very enlightening. Others apps may be useful for you to mention to your students (maybe even boost your ratings a little).

(If you add to this page, please make the changes using Explorer- otherwise, the widgets sometimes disappear!)

The apps listed here should meet the same criteria as those described throughout this wiki:

1) Free (or extremely low cost + a compelling reason why someone should pay for the service)
2) Based on the web 2.0 model
3) Directly related to higher education

The "FYI" Section- Some sites that your students are probably already using:

RateMyProfessors.com...

What it is:
This website enables students to post reviews about their professors. Students provide amazingly candid reviews about their professors. Here's an example: "Boring, she may be good looking but smart she's not. Anyone can teach a lab. Shes a lab assistant, not a professor. I don't recommend her." Because students are rating the instructors who teach their classes, they review professors, TAs, lab assistants, adjunct faculty- anyone who teaches any aspect of a course they are taking. The "stats" provided for each instructor are (emphasis added by me):

No. of Ratings: 32

Average Easiness: 4.4

Average Helpfulness: 4.5

Average Clarity: 4.4

Hotness Total: 38

Overall Quality: 4.4

Yes, "hotness" is a characteristic that today's students are looking for and instructors are evaluated accordingly on this website. Students can also post comments (and reply to other students' comments) and specific information about whether the textbook was actually used in the course, their level of interest in the material before taking the course, whether the instructor is still teaching or not, what grade they received, what section they were in, and whether attendance was mandatory or not.

It's not all negative, though, the website does provide a Top 50 list including:

Also, professors can post a video response to their reviews in a section called "Professors Strike Back".

The listings on the website are quite extensive and include listing of most faculty at most institutions, including all of the Maricopa Community Colleges.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
First, students use the site primarily for two reasons: (1) to praise/vent about their professors and their experience in the course and (2) to browse through reviews to know which sections to enroll in for a particular course. A concern there is that students will choose course sections for reasons like "easy" or "hot professor". Secondly, instructors sometimes enjoy looking up each other's ratings on this website for various friendly or nefarious purposes. A concern there is what the impact may be on collegial relationships and/or the possible influence of the reviews on professional evaluations.

Cost:
Free

Pick a Prof.com...

What it is:
This website offers several VERY unique capabilities. The most interesting is that the website provides data about how many A's, B's, C's, D's, and F's the specific professor has given in the past, in addition to reviews and comments posted by students. According to PickaProf, the grading history data comes from the colleges themselves, not student entered data. There is also a built in degree planner, schedule planner, and book exchange.

Although this website is new and doesn't have nearly as many listings as RateMyProfessors.com, it also plugs into Facebook, which means that it is likely to become very widely used. Currently, there are 2 Facebook plug-ins: 1) students can post professor reviews to Facebook and 2) students can post their current school schedule through this website into Facebook. I anticipate that the ability to share their opinions and schedules in Facebook will make this an extremely popular application. If they manage to create a book exchange plug-in, I think that would be even more the case!

Ideas for Higher Ed:
Clearly, the main purpose of this website is to provide students with as much information as possible when choosing a professor or section for a particular course. However, the main implication of this website seems to be that students want to choose courses where they are most likely to get an "A" in the course. While this may be true, I think this speaks to a growing problem in higher education that will not be easily solved, especially given the characteristics of the Millenial generation + the shifting foundation of higher education.

Cost:
Free

wePapers.com

What it is:
A free social knowledge sharing web application which allows college & university students and lecturers to share their papers, notes and other materials. Users can browse by category, institution, or search for papers. Every paper has a flash preview, and can be downloaded for free.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
1. For students- A platform to find, manage and share lecture notes

2. For lecturers and others- Easily publish papers for students, instead of using the current platforms (emails, blogs, websites etc). Get reviews on papers, and promote themselves.

Cost:
Free

The "Helpful Tools" Section- Some tools that your students might not know about:

eCalc...

What it is:
This is an online calculator with a "basic" and "scientific" version of the calculator. Because it is an online calculator, it has features like: a unit converter, equation solver, and decimals to fractions. There is a demo that shows many of the functions and capabilities of the calculators. There are also reviews of the different types of "real-life" calculators ("editor" reviews only). They also offer a sidebar gadget calculator to download for use with Microsoft Vista.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
The main use of this is for the ability to access a full-featured calculator anytime that you have internet access. Also, the calculator reviews may be helpful for students trying to decide between the different versions of calculators.

Cost:
Free

Textbook Revolt...

What it is:
This website attempts to solve the problem of high-priced textbooks. The premise is simple: students post textbooks they are willing to give away (for free) and search for the textbooks they want to receive (for free). It works on a simple credit system: give and you can receive (you start with 1 credit). It tracks your "gives" and "receives" and calculates how much money you've saved cumulatively. It even has a Facebook plug-in!

Ideas for Higher Ed:
The problem for most students is two-fold (1) the textbooks are expensive and (2) after the course is over, they may not want to keep the textbook and feel "ripped off" when the buyback price from the bookstore is 15% of the original price. The approach is unique because it works on a system of credits and students receive the textbooks completely for free versus other book exchanges where they can sell their books (theoretically) for more than what the bookstore would pay for buyback. This would be a great site to mention to students the next time they complain about the cost of a textbook!

Cost:
Free

GradeGuru...

What it is:
This website enables students to post their own notes and download other students' notes in virtually any subject area:

Students get "points" for uploading their notes that can be redeemed for a wide variety of "rewards" like: cash (through Paypal), vouchers for Amazon, Starbucks, STA travel, donations to Amnesty International, and even job and internship interview opportunities.

Ideas for Higher Ed:
The most apparent use of this website is for students to access notes if they missed class or want supplemental material on the subject. Also, students can put the notes they take to good use and get some extra "rewards" for them. Most importantly, this website could be an excellent resource for students who need special accomodations like a "note taker" for the class.

Cost:
Free

LiveMocha...

What it is:
This website connects students who are learning another language. It is essential a study/tutoring/social networking site for language learners!

Ideas for Higher Ed:
Students who are learning a foreign language can create a profile and teach others their native language while learning another language themselves. For example, I am a native English speaker and I would like to learn Hindi. So, I can help a native Hindi speaker with their English skills while they help me to learn Hindi. There are built in courses... but, connecting with other people across the world using a variety of communication tools is really the best part!

Cost:
Free

Home Page

etc695 — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:27:06 CST

Welcome to Web 2.0 for College Instructors!

The easiest way to go through the course is to view the pages in the section to the left called "site pages". The pages are listed in order and "What is Web 2.0?" is a good starting point- and so is the "Tips & FAQs" page- but you can explore the pages in any order that interests you.

There is an area called "The Sandbox" that provides some suggestions for activities you can try while exploring the materials about Google Apps. The best way to learn is by giving things a try. And, "playing" is a great way to learn!

Feel free to start a discussion "thread" using the link at the bottom of the relevant page (probably the best way to ask questions!) or send an email.

Note: I created this video introduction using Animoto- one of my favorite Web 2.0 Apps- uploaded it to YouTube, then "embedded" it into this page.

Please view this "Home" page using Internet Explorer because Firefox seems to have inexplicable trouble with the formatting and media!

Creating an Online Poll

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:00:04 CDT

Advanced Tutorial

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of how to use Google Spreadsheet, including the "share" feature.
It covers an "advanced" feature related to use in higher education.

Spreadsheets are associated with your Gmail account. When you log into your Gmail account, you already have access to Google Spreadsheet.
You just need to choose "Documents" from the link at the top of the page:

Then, create a spreadsheet:

Here is a sample spreadsheet:

Notice that, in addition to sharing the file, it is also possible to "chat" about the spreadsheet, use advanced functions and formulas,
and insert "Gadgets" that enable visual representations of the data (like a "motion chart" or animated "values over time" line chart).

Creating an online "poll"...

This video tutorial demonstrates how to use "form" feature to create a poll.

The forms option shown in this video is also a great way to do a "check in" about how the course is going. If you are implementing student-centered learning, you may want to use this capability to solicit feedback from students. You could use the formulas as described in the video to collate feedback and get a quick visual representation about students' perceptions about the course or areas they would like to cover in more detail or review.

Google Spreadsheet in Higher Ed

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:58:45 CDT

Teaching Ideas

The main use of Google Spreadsheet in higher education is to create spreadsheets that can be shared.
The current version of Spreadsheet has quite advanced features that are greatly enhanced by the ability to insert "Gadgets":

One of the most popular uses of Spreadsheet- aside from the usual purposes of a collaborative spreadsheet- is to engage students in tracking "real world" data in "real time". Since the spreadsheet is so easily updated by anyone it's shared with, students can track things like: stocks, financial data, weather information, energy statistics, US Census Data, Crime Reports, etc.

The "forms" feature can also be used to gather data online very easily, which could take the form of a poll, quick quiz, or "check-in".

TIP: When students save files, make sure they use their real name (not their email address, username, or nickname)!

Sharing a Document

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:56:30 CDT

Advanced Tutorial

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of how to use Google Docs, including the "share" feature.
It covers an "advanced" feature related to use in higher education.

Docs are associated with your Gmail account. So, when you log into your Gmail account, you already have access to a Google Docs.
You just need to choose it from the link at the top of the page:

Then, you need to create a new "document" file (as opposed to a presentation, spreadsheet, or form).

After you've created a document, you can explore the different options- but, the main usefulness is the ability to share the document with others.

Google Docs in Higher Ed

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:55:09 CDT

Teaching Ideas

Some ways that Google Docs is being used:

Essays
- Students can work on essays in a course like English 101 and have a history tracking changes to their work. They can share their work with the instructor who can easily add comments about the work right into the document itself. This way, no papers are moving back and forth- yet, both the student and the instructor have the most current versions of all the work at any time.

The BIG advantage here is that it would be hard for students to say that they "lost their work" because it is automatically saved as they work. It also cuts down on "fibs" about how much work they've done because the instructor can check their progress at any time with a detailed history. They can also access their work from any computer (including the campus computer lab or a library), so laptop/computer problems aren't much of an excuse for not doing the work. For group work, it's also obvious who contributed what to the project.

Lastly, it's simple for students to add their work to their personal blog, if they want to- a simple click will do it.

Vocabulary
- Students (or the instructor) can create a document that lists key terms as part of their note-taking or reading notes. They can update the notes at any time and easily share them with other students who can add to the document or make revisions.
Creative Writing
- There are many applications for creative writing. A simple example would be starting a story and then other students accessing the story and adding to it.
Poetry Portfolios
- An ongoing portfolio could be maintained throughout the semester or even throughout a degree program. By giving others access to the files, they could receive comments and revise their work at any time.
Essay Tests
- The instructor could create a document "template" with the essay questions. Students could "copy" the template and fill in their answers, writing the essay online and then submitting their final copy by the deadline. The instructor could easily grade with comments and suggested revisions to clarify errors, praise good ideas, and explain their grading.
Classwork
- Again, there are so many possibilities for this... I hope that other instructors will add more specific ideas to this section, along with how students responded to the use of Google Docs in the class.

TIP: When students save files, make sure they use their real name (not their email address, username, or nickname)!

Layered Calendars

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:53:54 CDT

Advanced Tutorial

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of how to use Google Calendars, including the "share" feature.
It covers an "advanced" feature related to use in higher education.

Layered Calendars...

This video tutorial demonstrates how to use layered calendars to keep track of classes and teaching information.

Google Calendar in Higher Ed

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:52:29 CDT

Teaching Ideas

The main use of Google Calendar in higher education is to keep track of important dates and events. Calendars are associated with your Gmail account. So, when you log into your Gmail account, you already have access to a Google Calendar. You just need to choose it from the link at the top of the page:

When you set up the calendar, make sure that you have it set to "Arizona" time zone... of course, only do that if you are in Arizona!

The image below shows a typical "setup" for a course calendar that I would create.
Notice the option to "embed this calendar", which would enable me to post this calendar into a wiki site, social network, or class blog.

With students, I have primarily used calendars to set up an outline of the course. Rather than printing a schedule on my syllabus, I enter the information into a course calendar. Then, I "share" the calendar online with my students and they can see when things are due. The advantage of this is that I have the ability to change the dates for assignments when necessary. If a student is absent for a class when you announce a change in the due date, they might get confused. But, if you tell students to check the calendar to verify when assignments are due, they will always have access to the most updated information.

Also, I set up multiple calendars and then use layers to keep track of everything.
Layers are my absolute favorite feature of Google Calendars!

Gmail "Labs"

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:49:21 CDT

Advanced Tutorial

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of how to use Gmail.
It covers an "advanced" feature related to use in higher education.

Gmail "Labs"...

This video tutorial explores a little-known feature of Gmail called "Labs", which is for people who like to play with new features! It's also an opportunity to improve Gmail because Web 2.0 apps only include features that people find useful... ones that aren't used tend to "disappear" to make way for newer, more popular features.

Gmail in Higher Ed

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:48:54 CDT

Teaching Ideas

The main use of Gmail and Google Talk in higher education is to communicate with students and colleagues. Using the features built into Gmail lets you store a virtually limitless number of email messages and organize them with multiple labels. The built in search capability is highly advanced and lightening fast because it uses the famous Google search method to search your emails. Simply put, Gmail has an extensive set of options built in that are very useful for college instructors:

"Reply" to email by chat/IM (Google Talk)

Organize messages with multiple labels for easy reference

Easily send and receive email in multiple languages

Use filters to automatically file your messages with appropriate labels

Use filters to automatically "star" important messages when they arrive

"Group chat" capability in Google Talk

Automatic "transcript" of all chat conversations (unless "off the record")

Messages sent to more than one person are automatically grouped into "conversations"

** Ability to send email from your Gmail account that appears to be from a different account! **

Mail Forwarding and Accounts

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:48:12 CDT

Advanced Tutorial

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of how to use Gmail.
It covers an "advanced" feature related to use in higher education.

Mail Forwarding and "Accounts"...

This video tutorial demonstrates how to forward messages to another email account. It also demonstrates my absolute favorite feature in Gmail- the ability to reply to emails as though you were writing from another account (regardless of which Gmail account you are actually writing from). If you have multiple email addresses for various purposes (e.g. for different colleges), this feature is excellent because it doesn't matter which account you are logged into- you could still receive mail (via forwarding) and reply to it as though responding from the other account, too!

Mail Filters

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:47:15 CDT

Advanced Tutorial

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of how to use Gmail.
It covers an "advanced" feature related to use in higher education.

Mail Filters...

This video tutorial demonstrates how to create filters and discusses why you might want to use them in college teaching.

Using Labels

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:46:28 CDT

Advanced Tutorial

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of how to use Gmail.
It covers an "advanced" feature related to use in higher education.

Using Labels...

This video tutorial demonstrates how to organize Gmail messages and explains why "labels" are more convenient than "folders".

Reply by Chat

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:45:34 CDT

Advanced Tutorial

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of how to use Gmail.
It covers an "advanced" feature related to use in higher education.

Reply by Chat...

This video tutorial demonstrates how to use the chat/IM feature called Google Talk that is part of Gmail and how to "reply by chat".

Conversations

etc695 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:40:45 CDT

Advanced Tutorial

This tutorial assumes basic knowledge of how to use Gmail.
It covers an "advanced" feature related to use in higher education.

Conversations...

This video tutorial demonstrates how Gmail organizes messages sent to more than one person as a "conversation".

Gmail

guest654321 — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:17:15 CDT

What is it?

Simply put, Gmail is the email program in Google Apps.
Instant "chat" (like Google Talk) is integrated into Gmail.

This course focuses on exploring educational applications of Gmail and Talk rather than on the basics of using the programs.

Therefore, if you haven't already created a Gmail account, you may want to browse through detailed instructions about Gmail or Talk's features and how to use them. Or, you might prefer brief, visual information about Gmail and Google Talk. The "Sandbox" also provides some things to try out if you are learning to use Gmail and Google Talk.

Once you have a Gmail account, you will be able to use that sign-in name to access the other Google Apps covered in this course. So, you should set up a Gmail account before continuing, if you haven't already!