Wednesday, November 18, 2009

What if schools could...

I thought this was interesting and worth reposting. What if schools really had access to innovative tools that students and teachers are using outside the school day and not just on their laptops...?

Tools - Banned and Mobile


Thanks to Jane Hart coming up with a list of tools. There is a lot to like in the list but I can't help but ask, "How many of these tools are banned in public schools?" For example, here's the list of top 50 that includes tools that are banned in Texas school districts I'm familiar with...of course, not ALL school districts ban all products at the same time, although some districts sure try to! (smile)

Aside from how many of the tools are banned, what does the selection of these by voters mean? If many of these tools are banned, how many are accessible by mobile phone? How many are used after-hours?

Ah well, just playing with the list. What other questions would you ask?



Current ranking in 2009
2008
2007
TOOL
#
Votes

Name
Platform
Cost
1
11
43=
Twitter
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE
Microblogging tool

O
F
159
2
1
2
Delicious
MOBILE PHONE

Social bookmarking tool
O
F
95.5
3
18
22=
YouTube
BANNED in K-12

Video sharing site
O
F
79.5
4
3
7=
Google Reader
MOBILE PHONE

RSS / Feed reader
O
F
79
5
7
14
Google Docs
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE

Office suite
O
F
78.5
6
5
6
Wordpress
Blogging tool
O
F
69
7
20
31=
Slideshare
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE

Hosting presentations
O
F
64

8

6
3=
Google Search
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE

Web search tool
O
F
56

9=

12
11
Audacity
Sound editor and recorder
W M
F
54

2
1
Firefox
Web browser and extensions
W M
F
54
11=
16
31=
Ning
BANNED in K-12

Social networking platforms
O
F/C
49

4
3=
Skype
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE

Instant messaging/VoIP
W M
F/C
49
13
8
5
PowerPoint
Presentation software
W M
C
47

14=

10
9
Blogger
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE

Blogging tool
O
F
45




9
12=
Moodle
Course mgt system
S
F
45
16
17
17=
iGoogle
Personalised start page
O
F
37.5
17
13
26=
Wikipedia
Collaborative encyclopedia
O
F
36
18
15
16
flickr
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE

Photo storage/sharing site
O
F
35
19
23
101=
VoiceThread
Collaborative slideshows
O
F
33
20
26=
-
Jing
Screen captures/ casting tool
W M
F/C
30.5

21

14
7=
Gmail
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE

Web-based email
O
F
30
22=
27
17=
Adobe Captivate
Demo and scenario tool
W
C
29

35=
72=
diigo
Social annotation site
O
F/C
29

24

25
22=
Articulate
Presenter/Engage/ Quizmaker
W
C
27
25
21
26=
SnagIt
Screen capture tool
W
C
26.5
26
26=
50=
Camtasia Studio
Screencasting tool

W
C
25.5
27
-
-
Evernote
Note taking tool
O
F
25
28
-
-
Prezi
Presentation software

O
F
24
29
19
15
Wikispaces
Wiki tool
O
F/C
23
30
-
-
Wordle
Word cloud generator

O
F
22
31=
-
-
animoto
Create videos from your images

O
F
21




24
17=
Facebook
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE

Social networking site
O
F
21

50=
43=
iPhone/iPod/ Touch and apps
-
-
21
34
35=
43=
PBworks (prev PBwiki)
Wiki tool
O
F/C
19
35
59=
50=
Adobe Photoshop
Photo/Image editing tools
W
C
17
36=


Blogs
-
-
16

22
10
Word
Word processing software
W M
C
16
38=
38=
43=
Flash
Animation authoring tool
W M
C
15

66=
101=
Google Apps
BANNED in K-12

Google application suite

O
F/C
15

30=
31=
LinkedIn
Professional social network

O
F
15

41=

66=
72=
Adobe Connect
Web meeting/ conferencing
O
C
14.5




28
26=
iTunes/iTunes U
Music/podcast player and site
W M
F
14.5

43=

-
-
Dimdim
Web conferencing
O
F/C
14

50=
50=
Elluminate
Web conferencing

O
F/C
14

40=
40=
Google Earth
Satellite and aerial imagery
W M
F
14

-
-
Tweetdeck
BANNED in K-12

MOBILE PHONE

Desktop social software client
W M
F
14



Wikis and wiki tools
-
-
14
48
65=
72=
Keynote
Presentation software

M
C
12

49

59=
72=
Edublogs
Educational blogging tool

O
F
11.5

50=

29
36=
Google Calendar
Web-based calendar
O
F
10