TechTeamEdublog

a) What Widgets and Plugins did you choose?

Custom CSS, Embed Any Document, Supreme Google Web-fonts

b) What are their strengths?

CSS lets students who want to become more comfortable with coding and web design do so on an easy-to-use website already created for them.

Embed Any Document does wonders in posting assignments and maintaining the blog’s aesthetic. It also helps assure that documents you post can actually be seen by visitors to your blog (a common issue when you simply try to add it with the Media tool).

Google Web-fonts has Times New Roman, a font that I am impartial to because I love it.

c) What are their weaknesses?

The CSS does not include a preview option, so unless the user has an in-depth knowledge of coding, then it is difficult to use. Also, as far as I can tell, there is no way to specify exactly where you want to change or add code.

Embed Any Document does occasionally experience glitches where it only shows the embed code. However, it is still infinitely better than the basic WordPress Media tool.

Web-fonts has Comic Sans. ☹

d) Can these programs be used in a classroom setting to enhance student learning? Would you use it and/or recommend it?

CSS would be excellent for the programming/ICT classes for a website design unit. If I were a teacher, I would definitely try to format a lesson around it. However, I cannot see it being used in any other context.,

Embed Any Document should be used by every student who ever needs to add a document to their Edublog. Definitely should be activated on every blog.

Web-fonts is helpful for those of us who are picky about their fonts or like to change it up a bit, but not really that vital to educational success.

TechTeamEdublog

  1. What Widgets and Plugins did you choose?
    1. Calendar+
    2. Footnotes
    3. Image Widget
  2. What are their strengths?
    1. Online platform to keep track of school events, tests, homework assignments, etc.
    2. Great for students to keep track of their sources and where information in their work is taken from, or for those like me who tend to put little comments in their work and don’t like using brackets.
    3. Offers opportunity for additional customization to blog (which I needed more of). Very user friendly and can add multiple additional images
  3. What are their weaknesses?
    1. No way to sync it with normal Calendar widget to make upcoming school events, tests, etc. public to those who view the blog. Widget is mostly for personal use.
    2. In the published version of a post with footnotes, there’s a less-than-aesthetically-pleasing blue symbol at the end of each footnote.
    3. No opportunity to preview how image looks on site, or add additional content without the presence of an image.
  4. Can these programs be used in a classroom setting to enhance student learning? Would you use it and/or recommend it?
    1. It’s good for students who would like an easy-to-use online platform to keep track of all their upcoming events and due dates. I wouldn’t personally use it because I use my phone calendar to keep track of these things, but to each their own.
    2. It’s an excellent tool for sourcing work (helps students keep track of what they used their sources for, etc.). Would definitely recommend.
    3. I would recommend it to students who want to add a bit more flair to their blog, especially those interested in photography/art and would like to show their work on their homepage.