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These slides accompanied a presentation on "Free Applications to Enhance Professional Development, Technical Assistance, and Dissemination" by Larry Edeline at DEC-2010: The 26th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and their Families on October 16, 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Free Applications to Enhance ProfessionalDevelopment, Technical Assistance,and Dissemination (and a few others that are just plain fun)
Presented by Larry Edelman, University of Colorado [email protected]
Goals of the Session
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At times we need to use robust (and expensive) applications to support professional development activities, but sometimes free applications are all we need. This session will illustrate free apps that help us create content share knowledge; build and maintain relationships; and facilitate engagement, participation, and collaboration.
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Why use technology fortechnical assistance,
professional development,and dissemination?
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Shareknowledg
e
Build and support
relationships
Createcontent
Faster
Moreeffectively
Moreeconomically
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Focus first on function.Then on the technology.
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What do you want to with technology?
Conduct needs assessment/front end analysis
Present professional development events
Provide TA, consultation, coaching, mentoring
Disseminate news, updates, documents
Host/facilitate meetings, conferences
Facilitate collaborative processes
Build and strengthen relationships
Evaluate activities and programs
Facilitate social learning
Exchange information with others
Enhance service delivery
Conduct research
Manage projects
Manage data (including collection, analysis, reporting)
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Why use free applications?
Why pay more? Sometimes, free apps are all we
need.
Deliver more information, more effectively, more quickly, to more
people, than conventional
methods.
Model and encourage
technologies that are accessible to
providers and programs.
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Why might some companies and individuals offer free applications?
■ To encourage use so they can identify and fix bugs. ■ To offer a limited-function “lite” version to induce users to
migrate to an enhanced pay-for version. ■ To offer a trial version.■ To generate revenue through ads or plug-ins.■ To gain market share before switching to fee-based terms.■ To generate interest in other products.■ To offer a “loss-leader.”■ To change the world.
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Rules of thumb for using free apps
■ You need to try them out and judge what is good enough for your purposes. You might need to purchase something more robust.
■ Not all programs work on all platforms.
■ Applications are continually updated and published all the time.
■ Downloading programs carries the risk of an unwanted cookie, malware, or virus; use virus and spyware protection and update them frequently.
■ Your IT department and help desk specialists are essential resources for you. Treat them nice. Buy them gifts.
■ If you are denied access to an app, write up a sound business plan. If you are still denied, find someone else to appeal to.
■ Many apps do more than one thing.
■ Free apps come and go.
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Examples of…One-Way
Asynchronous Communication
Two-WaySynchronous
Communication
AsynchronousSynergistic
CommunicationText document Text-based chat Online survey
Podcast Telephone conferencing Content management system
Webcast Video conferencing Community of practice
Video, vidcast Webinar, web conference Virtual learning environment
Media sharing sites Online meetings spaces Bulletin board, news groupMobile-phone Mobile-phone Mobile-phoneArchived class, lecture Chats, threads, list servesRapid e-learning modules Blog, micro-blog, vlog Just-in-time EPSS Wiki
Resource repositories Social bookmarking
Knowledge bases Social networkShared applications
User’s groups/forums
Then focus on technology
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Shifts in my thinkingSupporting Performance
providing PD and TA supporting performance
knowledge based (what was) problem-based (what is)
preparation just-in-time
expert-facilitated learner (performer)-directed
instruction navigation
comprehensive curriculum pliable learning objectsProducts
proprietary open contentunique modular
Strategiessummative evaluation frequent data collection
long-term development rapid productionuse what I know learn new skills
“best” strategy integrating applications
IT as limiting IT as enabling
ideas execution
You might need some hardware (not free)
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Sanyo xacti CG10 Flip Video Zoom Q3
Zoom H2 Logitech QuickCam ProLexar 16GB
Secure II Plus JumpDrive
Video
Audio and Mic Webcam Storage
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What free apps might we explore?
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Ways to approach learning about new media
Examine and ADJUST your job description – frequently
Recognize yourself as a lifelong learner and COMMIT to learning about technology intentionally, not just serendipitously
DEDICATE enough time to learning about new technology – it’s not a distraction, it’s an essential part of our jobs; It’s unlikely you’ll find more time – reallocate how you spend it
Stay focused on UTILITY and INTEREST – you don’t have to learn about everything
Just DO something: be constructivist, take risks, apply it to your personal life, try to create something before you really know how, have funThink BUSINESS model: create a mock-up, develop a proof of concept, pilot, get feedback, collect data, measure the impact
Become an INTENTIONAL learner
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To download a copy of the 23-page “Free Applications” resource visit ExploringTech:
http://exploringtech.wordpress.com/