What are instructional technologies?  Simply, technology that we use to improve teaching and learning.

Read about specific instructional technologies below, or download this chart to find it all in one spot: Instructional Technology.pdf

Blogs:

What is it: An online journal that allows date stamped individual multimedia posts of text, images and other digital files.

Why use it: Publish writing and images for discussion, typically in a chronological order

Popular services: Wordpress, Blogger, Typepad

Cost: Free

Examples:

• Ann Arbor District Library Services Blog  - http://www.aadl.org/services/blog
• Cloquet Public Library  - http://cloquetlibrary.blogspot.com/

Wikis:

What is it: Web pages that can be easily edited through a web based interface.

Why use it: Collaboratively publish and edit with groups of people.

Popular services: PbWorks, MediaWiki

Cost: Free or low cost, may require server space

Examples:

• Ohio University Biz Wiki - http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/index.php/Main_Page
• St. Joseph County Public Library - http://www.libraryforlife.org/subjectguides/index.php/Main_Page
• Decatur High School (GA) Library - http://dhs.wikispaces.com/

Photo and Video Sharing:

What is it: Websites that provide server space and an interface to upload files to a server.   These files become accessible on the World Wide Web.

Why use it: Produce and publish original content. Store and exchange content with others.

Popular services: Flickr,Kodak Gallery, Slideshare, YouTube

Cost: Free or low cost

Examples:

• Denver Public Library - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AppCIzJD84
• Emerson College Library - http://www.flickr.com/photos/emersonreference/sets/
• University of Michigan - http://www.flickr.com/photos/hatchergraduatelibrary/sets/72157602113979751/
• University of Michigan ideas - http://mblog.lib.umich.edu/lib20projects/archives/2007/08/31_flavors_-_th.html

Screencasts:

What is it: Video recordings of action on a computer screen.

Why use it: Demonstrate a web function that others can access anytime and follow along at their own pace.

Popular services: Jing, Captivate, Camtasia

Cost: Free for Jing, Captivate and Camptasia are moderate cost

Examples:

• Simmons College Library - http://my.simmons.edu/library/screencasting.shtml
• Lansing Public Library - http://www.lansing.lib.il.us/tutorials/items_due/items_due.html
• Fitchburg State College  - http://www.youtube.com/fsclibrary

Surveys:

What is it: Just like its paper counterpart, it is information gathered from a group through a series of questions.

Why use it: Easier to tabulate results online and see correlations.

Popular services: Survey Monkey, Zoomerang

Cost: Free for Survey Monkey, Moderate cost for Zoomerang

Examples:

• Simmons College Library - http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey.zgi?p=WEB228PY9MCX4H
• Borough of Manhattan Community College Library  - http://lib1.bmcc.cuny.edu/survey/index.jsp

Personal Response Systems:

What is it: Remote devices that allow polling.

Why use it: Instantaneous feedback on what learners are, or aren't, understanding.

Popular services: Turning Point, iResponse

Cost: Moderate cost

Examples:

• Article about PRS - http://www.techlearning.com/article/13952

Learn more about Instructional Technologies:

• http://depts.washington.edu/cidrweb/Bulletin/TechnologyChart.pdf
• http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/04/10-internet-technologies-that-educators-should-be-informed-about/
• http://www.lib.umich.edu/lib20/resources.html
• http://tlc.unlv.edu/tech/socialmedia.htm