Visual Learning

There are several technology tools in this module that are beneficial to technology users. I want to talk about three tools that I found were very useful. Those tools are, Flickr, Wordle, and Pinterest. As someone who does not use a lot of technology, I can tell you that these tools were easy to use and were a great source for portraying information. 

Flickr is an image and video hosting service. Photos and videos can be accessed without the need to register for an account, but an account must be made to upload content to the site. One way that this could be implemented into the lesson in a classroom would be teachers giving this as an option for use when students are assigned to create a presentation that involves photos or videos. On problem that may occur would be technology not working properly. 

Wordle is a visual depiction of the words contained in a piece of text. It is created by manipulating the words of an input text and arranging them into a kind of graphic. I could implement this into the classroom by having students create a wordle for a text as an assignment. A problem that could take place using this tool would be students using inappropriate words. 

Pinterest is an online service that allows you to share images through social networking. Students could create a Pinterest account and post pictures of the things we have learned about or created in the classroom. One problem that may occur would be students looking at things on Pinterest that they should not be looking at. 

Virtual Learning

Three technology tools that I learned about it this module that will help me in the future are: Skype, BigBlueButton, and Weebly. These technology tools are great for virtual learning and they can send a message to students by exercising their technology skills. As an educator, I could also use these sources in the classroom to help get information across to the students.
Skype allows users to have a spoken conversation with someone over the Internet using software application. In addition to standard telephone calling, Skype offers file transfers, texting, video chat, and videoconferencing. One way that I could implement Skype into the the classroom would be letting students make conference calls between each other as an assignment for a specific content area. One challenge that may arise with Skype would be students playing and talking about things other than what is required for the assignment.
BigBlueButton is an open source web conferencing system. In addition to various web conferencing services, it has integrations for many of the major learning and content management systems. I could implement BigBlueButton into the classroom by having the students do research on BigBlueButton and all of the ways it could be used. A challenge that may be faced would be the research getting out of hand or technology not working correctly.
Weebly is an American web-hosting service that features a "drag-and-drop" website builder. I could create an assignment based around a business that uses weebly for students to complete. They would have to create their business and use weebly as a source to help them out. On problem that could come about would be that the students do not know how to use this technology tool correctly.