Q: I need to make my presentation for an online class to look more exciting but I don't have much time. Is it any new tool out there? Please help.

A: For making your presentations, check out and take advantage of Adobe Spark app while it is free - https://spark.adobe.com/

This tool provides an easy way to communicate your stories visually, adding audio and even animation. It is very user-friendly for Mac and PC users.

Q: The mobile learning seems to be attractive to students in my class. It is easier for them to stay connected while working on a group assignment online. What mobile app would you recommend which is safe to use in a classroom environment?

A: I would recommend ooVoo app - it is free and user-friendly video chat. It can handle up to 12 people at a time. The alternatives are listed here.

Q: My class is heavy on a video content. Is it any platform available to perform an inside-video search?

A: Panopto is a helpful video platform. You can use it to do recording, broadcasting and inside-video search. The alternatives are listed here

Q: The best format for students outcomes in my online class would be a portfolio. What technology would you suggest?

A: Try Digication software - it opens the lines of communication by combining elements of e-Portfolios and learning networks

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Q: I want to make a group activity in my online course more effective. Is it any tool available that supports peer to peer evaluation?

A: CritViz is a custom online tool for supporting real-time critique, conversation, and peer to peer evaluation of student work in large classrooms. More

CritViz software

Q: Can I use twitter to interact with students during the lecture?

A: There is a real need to make sure that students remain engaged. Twitter could get students interested.
Guide to Using Twitter in Your Teaching Practice
http://blogs.kqed.org/education/how-to-use-twitter-in-your-teaching-practice/

"Twitter could be used as another method to reach students, to share content and provide information. The social nature of Twitter means you can ask questions, have conversations, and join discussions or debates.
Questioning and debating teaches us to think critically – a key skill no matter what you're studying – and online debate is a way to develop these skills. Hashtags create online communities where you can discuss a topic with your peers."
Source:  
Universities should use Twitter to engage with students

Q: I am looking for more interactive ways of teaching a big size class. It is challenging to engage students with clickers because they are limited to multiple choice. Could you recommend more modern engaging platform to use?

A: Use Top Hat's response system to engage students via their cell phones. No Clickers Required.

Top Hat: Student Response and Engagement System

https://tophat.com/features

• Students can text their answers if they don't have smart phones.
• professor and 30 students are free.

Please read more here

Q: Do you know a technology to make a process of watching video materials for students active?

A: The researchers from Leeds University, Vania Dimitrova and Lydia Lau, designed a system I-CAW that gives you semantic linked data at the end. Meanwhile you can use this tool to have your students posting comments while watching the video on Youtube.  Students are labeling their comments with a corresponding aspect. You as a teacher design the aspects to emphasize the outcomes. This tool transforms students experience from passive to active. Read more

Q: What technology is available to improve students' writing strategies?

A: There is an option, as I discovered, to contact local researchers at the university who are developing educational technology tools. At Arizona State university we are fortunate to have a Learning Science Institute. Recently I started implementing W-Pal, a writing tutor, in collaboration with Danielle McNamara group at LSI ASU, in the student success class for freshmen. This intelligent tutoring system helps students to make their written communication more effective. http://www.soletlab.com/ I encourage you to expand your network in the direction of artificial intelligence in educational technology - the resources are there.

Q: In my class about student's success I'd like to use My Map tool in Google Maps. How do I create personalized, annotated, customized map?

A: Follow this tutorial : How to create a "My Map" in Google Maps   

Q: Where I can find good quality classroom ideas?

A: The Interesting Ways series continues to be a great example of crowdsourcing good quality classroom ideas

Q: How to stay tuned with all changes in social media?

A: Conversation Prism will help you: https://conversationprism.com/whats-new-with-version-4-0/

Q: What Social Web applications for creating and sharing mind maps are available? I want students to use mind mapping for group projects to generate, visualize, and organize ideas, and develop stronger problem solving, and decision making skills.

A:  Try bubbl.us https://bubbl.us/ and Mindomo http://www.mindomo.com/

Q: I want to find an alternative to clickers. What tool I can use in class to show the bell curve in real time?

A: You can use technology that students already own (laptops, cell phones). See the list of compatible tools below:

AdobeConnect: http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-adobe-connect/creating-a-poll/
Poll­Daddy: http://polldaddy.com Socra­tive: http://www.socrative.com/ Piazza: https://piazza.com/ ​ https://piazza.com/features#​
Lec­ture­Tools: http://www.lecturetools.com/ Ques­tion­Press: http://www.questionpress.com/ Learn­ing Cat­alyt­ics: https://learningcatalytics.com/ pollev­ery­where: http://www.polleverywhere.com/highered-student-response-system men­time­ter: http://mentimeter.com/ Celly: http://cel.ly/ eClick­ers: http://www.eclicker.com/ Turn­ingTech­nolo­gies Respon­se­Ware: http://www.turningtechnologies.com/studentresponsesystems/mobiledistancelearning/higheredresponseware/ Socra­tive: http://socrative.com/# Google Forms: docs.google.comhttps://sites.google.com/a/pjrprojects.co.uk/sitesguide/google-sites/how-tos/create-a-poll-using-google-formshttp://www.demogeek.com/2009/04/01/polls-made-easier-with-google-docs-spreadsheet/Top Hat Mon­o­cle: http://www.tophatmonocle.com/ GoSoap­Box: http://gosoapbox.com/tour iClicker Web Clicker:  http://www.iclicker.com/products/webclicker/ Click­er­School Vir­tual Clicker by Eduware: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clickerschool-virtual-clicker/id444020820?mt=8 Soda­Head Polls-WP plug-in:  http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/sodahead-polls/ Pin­nion: http://www.pinnion.com/References:
http://blogs.princeton.edu/etc/2012/04/10/alternatives-to-physical-clickers-in-the-classroom/http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/10/three-alternatives-to-clicker-response.html#.UXm7AcolHuQ​

Q: developing online course is a project. Do you know any free project management tools available online?

A: this article gives you a list to choose from: http://www.smashingapps.com/2010/02/15/10-free-tools-for-effective-project-management.html
The additional links are in the comments below:
http://www.oneplacehome.com/
https://launch.unifiedinbox.com/
http://openatrium.com/
http://www.gtdagenda.com/
http://www.teamworkpm.net/

etc.

Q: How learning occurs?

 A: Read more about connected learning here:
A New Culture of Learning by Doug Thomas & John Seely Brown

Q: I am looking for more effective video conferencing technology. What would you recommend?

A: Vidyo - Desktop Conferencing is the answer. vidyo platform is demonstrating never-before-seen video communications. http://www.vidyo.com/about/
For ASU:

ASU has licensed VidyoConferencing as an Enterprise service for use by ASU Faculty, Staff, and guests involved in teaching, learning, administrative functions and research.  ASU’s Vidyo license does not currently include the student body.

http://help.asu.edu/sims/selfhelp/SelfhelpKbView.seam?parature_id=8373-8193-4613&source=Selfhelp&cid=147832

Q: Where I can find free high-quality resources for my courses?

A: The answer is MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching): http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm
It is free and open online teaching community.

Q: Do you have any examples on how to do storyboard for educational video?

A: See techniques recommended for story-boarding below.

Storyboard the Simpsons way: http://www.animationmeat.com/pdf/televisionanimation/strybrd_the_simpsonsway.pdf

Example of the school district template: http://schools.shorelineschools.org/home_education/Forms/Video%20Storyboard.pdf

Example of Educational Video Storyboard: https://sites.google.com/site/heidiedtec541/educational-video-storyboard

Examples of a movies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FOKJk-7K9gY

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos?landing_page=General+Teacher+Videos+Landing+Page&gclid=COa005Pw07ICFQWCQgod4lUAtQ

Power Point for story-boarding: http://www.joedeegan.com/educational-video-storyboard-ed-tech-561/

Storyboard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWPjjoOFIu8

Free storyboard software: http://www.atomiclearning.com/storyboardpro

Q: What is polling?

A: Polling is a wonderful online tool. You can download it from http://www.polleverywhere.com it helps to engage student into a discussion. You can get their answers in private in text. You can do vote on answers. You can demonstrate a common misconception. It could be used for a great starting discussion about students' expectations in your class. See more tips from social media expert, John Orlando: http://www.magnapubs.com/bio/193/