Q: How to improve usability for my online course?

A: First - inquire information from your department regarding a usability study.There are usability testing strategies that can help you to identify changes necessary to improve your students' interaction with course materials. Numerous tools are available to address the needs: Mailchimp, IntuitionHQ, and User Testing. You can conduct a brief study to identify strengths and weaknesses of a design. You will learn if students can complete specified tasks and identify how long it takes them to do so etc.

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 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: 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: 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 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.