Setup Your eLearning Toolkit

For my classes, there are a few tools that I recommend online learners/educators get up and running with right away. These tools are some of my favorites for communication, collaboration, and personal learning network (PLN) or Personal Learning Environment (PLE) development.

Consider reading the Online Identity document.

There are four (4) tools or tool types for you to get started with. There are lots of tools we could set up, including personal websites, blogs, wikis, curation tools, other social media and networking tools but these are helpful to get started. Share what you set up or already use in the Set Up for Success conversation or in the social media/networks of your choice. Remember to use our #LDTIMOLO.

Tool #1: Google Account

What is it? 
It’s THE GOOGLE and includes Gmail, Drive, Hangout, YouTube, Calendar, Sites, Scholar, Blogger and MUCH MORE.

Why use it?  
It’s THE GOOGLE for heaven’s sake! Need I say more?

Resources

  1. Create Your Google Account Links to an external site.
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Tool Type #2: 1-1 or Small Group Webconferencing Tool

SKYPE

What is it? 
Skype is an instant messenger, webconferencing and much more communication tool.

Why use it?
To communicate with your small groups, a great tool for every eLearning Kit! 

Resources

Go to Skype to download the software. See the help resources provided by the Skype site. During the installation process, you'll be asked to create a Skype user name and to add contacts to your contact list. Note that there is a free version of Skype, so keep at it until you figure out the free version. Skip anything that asks you to pay unless you want more features.

GOOGLE HANGOUT

What is it? 
Google Hangout is a webconferencing, application sharing, broadcast capable and much more communication tool.

Why use it?
To communicate with your small groups, a must have tool in every a great tool for every eLearning Kit! You could use Twitter DM to gather contact information or use other identified strategies in the course.

Resources

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Tool #3: Twitter

Join Twitter and create an update with #LDTIMOLO

  1. Join Twitter at http://twitter.com.
  2. Create a post and at the end add #LDTIMOLO, you have a maximum of 140 characters. See an example of a Twitter account at http://twitter.com/desertjul. 
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Tool #4: Set up your Canvas Profile

  1. Look to the upper right and click on your name.
  2. Click Edit Profile. Click Manage Registered Services and register the services you want to register. I recommend Google, Skype and Twitter. But remember, there could be a MASSIVE number of adventurers in this MOLO and let's respect that.
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Tool #5: Set up something to help you archive your learning

  1. This could be as simple as a Google Doc.
  2. This could be a blog like tumblr, Blogger, Wordpress and note that these tools are great as website tools as well
  3. This could be a wiki like PBworks, Wikispaces and note that currently, my website is built from PBworks
  4. This could be a website like Weebly or Wix
  5. This could be a combination of tools