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: 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: How can I improve my online course?

A: the Quality Matters workshops are now available online! Join the session to improve the quality of your online materials: http://www.qmprogram.org/professional-development-web-conferencing-workshops-available-now

Q: Where I can find a template? I am designing for and teaching online for the first time.

A: Ocean Online College is a great resource.

http://www.itcnetwork.org/resources/itc-newsletter/645-master-course-development-at-ocean-online-college.html

You can start with a Master Course Author Kit

Q: How to organize my references online?

A: here is the link to Connotea:

http://www.connotea.org/

Free online reference management for all researchers, clinicians and scientists