Q: I just learned about this very cool animation tool, QuartzCode, that can make your online content more engaging...but it is MAC only and I am a PC user. Is it something similar to Quartz Composer in Windows?

A: QuartzCode is awesome! vvvv is the closest to it on the PC. There are many other animation/visualization/simulation/Web Rapid Prototyping tools that you can borrow from the music and advertisement industries such as Magic, Spout, resolume,  etc. The Udemy course is available to teach you how to create mobile and web interactive prototypes and designs with interaction and animation with Quartz Composer. Sounds like a good investment and fun. Check this forum for more.

Q: I am looking for software to add simulations to my online course. The course has been developed as an outcome of the grant proposal and there is some funding left. Is it something on a market with reasonable budget?

A: I want to share what I learned at the ICELW conference about simulations. There is a SkillSims tool: http://www.etu.ie/

It takes ETU 6 days to create a complex branching simulation with images and audio (10 min. simulation) vs 45 days (Chapman Alliance). It is cloud-based service.

Here is a brief description of ETU's process:

So how our process works just to give you an idea is we do the following

1. Initial Web Conference Call (1hr) - (Attendees: Key Decision Makers)

If you would like to proceed, we can pick an initial project to focus on at this point

2. Deep Dive (1:30hrs - 2hrs) - Key Project Stake Holder, SME's or Instructional Designers 

Alternatively, we could pick a project at this point.

Where we have found more successful collaboration is if we pick an project after the initial 1hr web conference call.

Q: I want to make my online course materials more engaging. Is it something relatively easy to use for a busy instructor?

A: Try Zaption to create a learning tour for your course. You can add existing videos from Youtube and Vimeo, trim your video to show the segments you want, add interactive elements such as quiz questions. There is a basic account for free to start.

Q: What technology is available to make writing activity more fun for my online students?

A: NewsMaker: "really is an extremely user-friendly program that students will enjoy. Now teachers finally have a tool driven by content not the technology". Here is an overview. Newsmaker improves writing, presenting and collaborating skills when students are emotionally involved in fun news production process; there is an opportunity to interact with a global community similar to publishing a blog. It will boost creativity in your classroom, especially online. Newsmaker provides the students another way of thinking about organizing their information creatively and using their sense of humor. Newsmaker tool  limits the amount of time students spent on editing and production. Students can focus on content and learning rather than production values.

Q: I enjoy interacting with students in f2f classroom by using clickers for example. How can I recreate this experience online?

A: It is challenging because the most powerful component of polling practice is a real-time feedback. In online classroom the polling still could be used to elicit information from students asynchronously to capture an overall mood of your virtual classroom. Look at some  tools that are available for free: 
TodaysMeet
Padlet
Poll Everywere
Polldaddy
Check the additional resources here.

Q: I have videos in my course for students to watch in preparation to the next class. I have to summarize the video's content in class because I am not sure that students were watching the videos. Is a "flipped classroom" approach effective?

A: A new study from the Stanford Graduate School of Education flips upside down the notion that students learn best by first independently reading texts or watching online videos before coming to class to engage in hands-on projects. Studying a particular lesson, the Stanford researchers showed that when the order was reversed, students' performances improved substantially. More

Q: Do you know any effective student response systems for cell phones?

A: With learning/catalytics students use any modern web-enabled device they already have — laptop, smartphone, or tablet to participate in a group activity or test, allowing a teacher to diagnose difficulties when working with students individually. 

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: Please refer me to the examples of teaching approaches which are based on game design principles?

A: The scavenger game http://www.scvngr.com/ developed by Seth Priebatsh aims to envision education as a game ecosystem. 
The Center for Game and Impact at Arizona State University  http://gamesandimpact.org/ has exact same goal.
If you are interested in embodied games visit SMALLab Learning http://www.smallablearning.com/

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: I need to create a meaningful interactive data visualization for the class project. How to choose the right tool? What technology is used to create interactive and dynamic data visualizations?

A: Look at the list offered by http://selection.datavisualization.ch/
Retrieved from Liz Dorland's scoop: A Carefully Selected List of Recommended Tools on Datavisualization.ch

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: I'd like to follow the discussion about today's emerging technologies. Where I can find the most recent information?

A: EDUCASE is the best conference to learn first hand about innovations in higher education. 2013 Horizon Report has some answers to your questions.
2013 Horizon Report | EDUCAUSE.edu
http://www.educause.edu/

Q: I'd like to use some tools to engage students in analysis of data. What is out there?

A: Lucky you! - Hans Rosling helps to see a joy of statistics (literally) with Gapminder software. It is available for download for free: http://www.gapminder.org/world-offline/
Enjoy!

Q: I heard a new term "gamification". What does it mean?

A: It is new way of incorporating games in your teaching style and mostly applicable for online learning environment. judge for yourself - this article is presenting all arguments for defining "gamification" as the use of game design elements in non-game contexts: bit.ly/o6aX1U

From Game Design Elements to Gamefulness: Defining “Gamification”

Q: I want to put something on the internet, but how do I do that.

A: I want to introduce you to the digital representation of a sticky wall - a drag-and-drop interface - Padlet: http://padlet.com/ (in case you didn't know about it).

It is available in Chrome browser. If you consider using more interactive tools with your students online it is a good addition to a blog. It gives your students more control on building a group website.

Resources:
http://techcrunch.com/2013/02/21/yc-backed-padlet-brings-drag-and-drop-to-collaborative-web-site-creation/
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/02/wallwisher-is-now-padlet.html#.USucjWej-MQ

Check more creative tools at Chrome:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/app/89-creative-tools?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

such as
Balsamiq Mockups (wireframing tool - not free)
bomomo - drawing tool (free)
mind map - mapping tool
Autodesk 123D Catch - turn your photo into 3D model
etc.

Q: How learning occurs?

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

Q: What is Playful Learning?

A: Follow the Learning Games Network. Alex Chisholm, Executive Director of Learning Games Network, said: “We established Learning Games Network to fill the gap between research and practice and are excited to be playing a role in helping to expand the marketplace, as well as the quality of games and resources available to educators and students.“ http://www.learninggamesnetwork.org/newschools-venture-learning-games-network/

Q: I am looking for a way to use a branching scenario in my video to make it interactive. Is it possible to do for a person withough special video editing skills?

A: Yes, you can do it with YouTube! The key word is to add annotation to your video. This article will help:  
 http://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=92710

http://www.movements.org/how-to/entry/how-to-make-your-youtube-videos-more-interactive-by-adding-annotations/

Notes

• Annotations appear on standard YouTube players and embedded players.
• Annotations do not appear on custom YouTube chromeless players.
• Annotations do not appear in video playbacks taking place on mobile, tablet and TV devices.