Exploring Web-based Applications: Zoho Sheet

• Describe your experience as a user of the application. What functions did you like and what functions did you find frustrating? Why?

I chose to review Zoho Sheet more many reasons.  I teach Computer Applications and we teach students Microsoft Office. I wanted to see how similar Zoho was to Office.   I found Zoho Sheet very familiar and easy to use.  If you are familiar with the layout of Microsoft Office Excel 2003 then you will have an easy transition.   The icons are similar to Excel and I had no trouble guessing what icons did what. However there are some drawbacks to using Zoho that Offices uses are used to.

Zoho is Excel at a basic level.  A lot of the advanced functions are not there.  One big thing I noticed missing was the print fuctionallity. Students have a hard time visualizing what their Excel document will look like when it is printed.  I think this comes from using Microsoft Word and what you see is what you get.  In Excel you have lots of options on how you would like the document printed.  I would like the ability to add a header and footer, center horizontaly and verticaly and have the option of printing it in diffrent layouts.  I found this missing and a big drawback. One way around this would be to use this if you were using a computer that did not have Excel.  Sheet has the ability to save as an Excel document.  You could then save it using Zoho as an excel document and them open it with Excel when you get to a computer with Excel to have these printing abilities.

Think about its application in the classroom

• What knowledge or skills would students need to use the software?

Users who have basic Microsoft Office Excel knowledge would not have any trouble using this applications.  Students would need some instruction on how to use this program before they were giving an assignment.

• How can you share the products you create with this application

In Zoho is a share button.  This allows you to invite participants via email address.  You can also communicate in other ways.  You have the ability to email all the users at once to notify them of any changes or important information.  You can also chat with members live inside the document that you are working on. This allows for collaboration outside of school.

• How could you see the application being used to teach a particular subject matter?

I could  see this used in a Computer Applications class as an alternative to Excel.  It could also be used in Math and sciences classes.  The real benefit is the ability to collaborate on documents without having to email the document to everyone and then take everyone's additions and add it to one document.

• What are some things a teacher could do to help students collaborate using this application?

The teacher would have to have the ability to teach them the application and also show them a guided example in class on how to collaborate using Zoho.

• What sort of organization or managerial considerations will a teacher have to take into account?

Teacher would first have to learn how to use the application.  The teacher would then have to decide how to incorporate the application in their class.  This would also determine how to organize students.  Teacher would have to have students sign up for Zoho accounts.

Web 2.0 and the Classroom

• What instructional strategies would fit well with using blogs in the classroom? Why?

At the beginning of the semester we talk about ethics in Engineering. I could assign students a topic (genetic engineering, genetically engineered foods, stem cells). Students could take a pro or against stance on an issue and use a blog to share there thoughts.  Students could also share there thoughts about topics in the news related to ethics and engineering.  Students cpuld then respond to each others topics.

• What instructional strategies would not fit well with using blogs in the classroom? Why?

Brainstorming project ideas. I feel that I could use a wiki more then a blog. A lot of the instruction in my class would benefit from collaboration than one person sharing there and others responding.

• How could you see Blogs being used in your classroom with your subject matter?

I would like to try the ethics in engineering unit.  I would normally do a classroom discussion but I think it would be good to see students use a blog to share their thoughts.  I think the dialog would be much better and it could then extend far after we covered it.  Students could also interact with experts on both sides of a topic.

Wikis

For this assignment we and had an opportunity to explore the use of wikis. I have used wikis in my classrooms in the past.  http://ohs-nemonator-msu.pbworks.com/ was a wiki that I used a couple of years ago in my Engineering I classes.   We worked on a collaborative project with Michigan State University called Nemo.  Nemo was a robotic fish that used a new polymer to propel itself. Our takes were to program, build and design a fish that we could control wirelessly through a computer.  I used the wiki as a means for the classes to communicate as well as to share information about out progress.

Next using  Wikipedia we were  to add on or create a page for the school we taught at. Okemos High School was already on Wikipedia so I added a link to the high school robotics team. I have included a image of my addition.

Integrating Computer-Based Instructional Objects

• What additional considerations have to be made when creating computer-based instructional objects (e.g., StAIR projects, WebQuests) for students to use independently?

I see similarities to what we learned about website design. Is it relevant? Does it have a purpose? Is it clear?  Is it interesting?   When you use computer-based instructional objects in your classes students will notice right away  if it is relevant.  Students also can tell if it has a purpose.  Students can see busy work of half hearted assignments right away.  They loose interest and what you have wanted to accomplish goes right out the window.  If the objects are not clear students will struggle and lose interest.  Students live in a digital socity. Like we learned from one of our readings they are digital natives.  A lot of their social life involves a computer and technology.  If students have a question it can be Googled.  Students have cell phones with games, internet, texting and graphics.  Xbox 360s, PS3s and Wiis students are immersed in technology everyday.  We have to design our objects to meet these digital natives.

• Search for some exemplary WebQuests related to your content area and post the link to your blog

Teaching Technology Education I have a wide varsity of subjects I can teach.  I looked up the subjects I currently teach. Engineering, Computer Apps, Engineering Design Graphics, Robotics and CAD.   I did not have any luck. I did however find some supplemental materials through my textbook company.  I still am looking for some good WebQuests.  It is harder then it sounds for my subject.

http://www.glencoe.com/sites/michigan/teacher/technology/assets/webquest.html

• Explain why you selected those examples (You may want to address issues of design or their use of specific instructional strategies.)

Glencoe is a text book company and the layout of the design is fairly straight forward and simple.  The site is a little bland and could use some images.  The questions are well thought out and require higher level thinking. Overall it is a great start.