Widgets

Widgets??? What and Why

• wxWidgets — Free, extensible, cross-platform UI toolkit with a dockable user interface extension
• Juce — An extensive cross-platform UI toolkit
• FLTK — A light, cross platform, non-native widget toolkit
• FOX toolkit — A fast, open source, cross-platform widget toolkit
• FrugalWidgets - A minimalistic widget set for Win32
• GTK+ — The GIMP toolkit, a widget toolkit used by GNOME applications
• IUP_(software) -- IUP cross platform static/dynamic library C/Lua, Lua (MIT) licence
• JX Application Framework
• Microsoft Foundation Classes - The most commonly used widgeting toolkit for Windows.
• Motif
• Object Windows Library & OWLNext
• Qt — A widget toolkit used by KDE
• Standard Widget Toolkit — SWT for Java
• Swing — Java widget toolkit
• Tk — Toolkit part of the Tcl - project and often used by Perl and Python programmers
• Ultimate++
• Visual Component Library
• XForms

Sharing of Web Information

Sharing of web based information:

http://www.diigo.com/ (Diigo.com):

               -allows taking of personal notes or highlighting text information on web pages

-allows the bookmarking of this information for further review

-it adds tags to keep everything organized

-it allows the sharing of information with colleagues and friends through access to a web page

-allows viewers to add their own annotations.

View my bookmarks at http://www.diigo.com/user/rapm2020

Virtual Classroom (Synchronous interact) and Scheduling Software

Virtual Classroom software:

-Allows online synchronous class room sessions where participants can communicate through a microphone, writing on a white board, or preset response buttons.  This can be used for study groups or to handle problems or questions.   

www.elluminate.com  (used by ION)

www.BigBlueButton.org

www.dmdm.com (free)

Scheduling Software:

Allows individuals to view a calendar of your appointments and schedule themselves into an open spot.  So if students need one-on-one interaction, you can provide it easier.

 www.doodle.com : free

www.TimeTrade.com

Surveys and Polls

Surveys & Polls:

Feedback is important for understanding how well a certain type of media is working in the classroom environment and can be an invaluable resource in meeting the needs of each classroom style or student base.  These websites allow you to create polls and surveys centered around your needs. 

Survey:

www.surveymonkey.com or

www.zoomerang.com

               -free software services that allow users to create their own surveys

               -surveys can be linked to URL, twitter, or facebook

               -respondents can be provided with a URL to view the overall results

               -the creator can see individual responses and can remove blank or unwanted responses

               -provides for a wide variety of questions: open ended, multiple choice, ranking etc.

Polling:

http://www.polleverywhere.com/

-allows the gathering of live responses anywhere

-allows individuals to respond by text messaging or a URL

-allows creator to review poll results by individual and group

Sites for Wikis or Blogs

Wiki and Blog information

Wiki: collaboration websites-anyone with password can add content or edit content

-can use for group work or projects: everyone adds on to ideas

      (creator can see who added what)

Listing of Wiki Service options

http://pbwiki.com

www.wikispaces.com

www.wetpaint.com

Blogs: personal website similar to journal-only you can add information but others can access it to read if given the password

-most recent information at the top

Blog services:

Extensive list at http://supportblogging.com (also includes RSS services: pageflakes; reader.google.com; bloglines.com)

LiveJournal

WordPress

Blogger.com (google)

Typepad.com

Edublogs.com

Ways to use 'Twitter' in classroom

Ways to use Twitter in classes

twitter.com: standard app on many cell phones (bird symbol)

Ways to use it in classroom:

-To reinforce connect to real world: share daily interactions that link to class materials

-Create more productive classroom by forming links to other participants: share personal experiences

-Understand what people around the world are interested in: sports, political issues, holidays, etc

-Track a word, event, person: links student to any site using that word

-Track a conference

-Instant feedback on questions or concerns

-Select Teaching Moments based on current events

Information from “Twitter for Academia” found at http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2008/twitter-for-academia/

Preventing Cheating in On-line Classes

How to prevent cheating in online classes

** Develop a plan, outline the plan in the syllabus, and require students to sign a contract that the read and understood the assessment plan**

Monitoring who is really participating:

-Keep and monitor computer logs:

                -Who logs in when and where

                -How frequently

-Ask for writing sample to compare structure overtime

-Require use of camera:  for visual image of participant

-Collect data on each student’s interest and create individual formats based on each student

-Require some face-to-face contact throughout the class

Monitoring Testing:

-Give a few proctored exams: at university, libraries, or other joint communication facilities

-Give oral exams or quizzes: call and ask questions

-Give each student their own version of the exam or make sure to randomize the questions

-Place time limits on exams or quizzes: must complete in given timeframe

-Schedule specific dates and time for exams to be done in online chat or discussion formats

-Set specific date and time and require use of camera: monitor each feed

-Do not allow retakes or retries on exams or quizzes

-Use non-traditional teaching styles: video, projects, presentations, podcast, etc.

Ideas developed from “Tips, Tricks and How to Prevent Cheating in Distance Education” by Kathy Cercone of Housatonic Community College and located at http://web-pt.net/wyoming/online_testing.htm

Signs of Cheating in On-line classes

-Formatting issues: mixed or does not match with requirements (font, margins, tables, bibliography, etc)

-Check labels on documents: URLs, Website names, name of preparation services or individuals

-Grammar issues: wrong verbs, pronouns, etc (outdated paper)

-Wording structure does not match previous submissions

-Bibliography does not match paper or can not be verified

-Bibliography uses only old references: nothing new used

-Rhetorical style writing