ED 603: Technological
Capabilities
The University of Michigan / School of Education
Internet Tool Summary
This Web Page serves as a "springboard" for users to investigate further any of the Internet Tools for Communication purposes. What follows below are various annotated links to each of the tools, and they may be explored in any order you choose. We have reserved the more sophisticated technologies for the bottom of the list.
- Evaluation
of E-Mail Programs -- Does the word "Eudora" mean anything to
you ? If not, you might want to follow this link which discusses
in length the "pros" and "cons" of electronic mail (e-mail)
software packages. You will be introduced to another e-mail
package called Pine, and the similarities and differences between
the two will be discussed.
- Evaluation
of Web Editors -- Creating documents for the World Wide Web is
becoming increasingly easier to do. Many web editors utilize the
same same functions that one would find on your favorite word
processing program. A high degree of professional look and feel
for Web documents can be obtained with some dedicated
practice.
- Evaluation of
Web Browsers -- The way one "views" the World Wide Web is
through the use of web browsers. These programs facilitate the
presentation of web pages which can include the use of images,
video, audio, text, and forms features. Some Web browsers feature
the latest in Internet Technology such as Shockwave and Java which
we will not introduce. The trend for web browsers is to be able to
provide editing capabilities as a part of the browsing
features.
- Evaluation of
File Transfer Programs -- Computer documents often are
transmitted down "the information superhighway". One reason for
transferring information such as documents and images, for
example, is to store them in a secure file system environment for
easy access by many. Then, an individual's personal and/or
professional web pages could be viewed by colleagues within a
school district or across the world.
- Evaluation of
News Groups -- Getting two or more people to meet for a
discussion of a topics is sometimes not feasible and in some
instances not desirable. News groups provide a way in which
numerous individuals can "thread" a conversation together over
time on a particular topic(s) of interest. The "conversation" is
asynchronous in nature, but provides many benefits in terms of a
vehicle for communication.
- Evaluation of
Video (CU See Me) -- This technology originated out of Cornell
University (hence, the CU). By means of this software, live video
and audio may be streamed into a computer work station(s) to
provide a teleconferencing atmosphere wherein the presenter may be
half way around the globe but the conferees may assemble
individually or in groups near computers.
- Evaluation of Chat Rooms -- Whereas News Groups provide "asynchronous" communication, Chat Rooms offers a chance for individuals to converse in a "synchronous" fashion via the Internet. Imagine 6 teachers from six different school districts "chatting" about "organizing instruction around the concept of multiple intelligences"! There are advantages and disadvantages to this technology for communication purposes.
Follow these links to navigate to any of the pages within the Technological Capabilities Web Site or click here to return to the Home Page:
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