The list is long in regards to the number of online programs which support adult students in their quest for learning in adult education. The sheer number of these online software programs continues to grow almost daily. A review of several of these programs has narrowed the list down to a few which are beneficial to adult students, because they ease their work load and collaboration efforts with fellow classmates.
Smartphone: Downloadable Applications
Although many Smartphone applications may have funny sounding names, their functions are indispensible when it comes to using technology to complete school work. The following are free downloadable internet tools adult students should make part of their course tool boxes, because of their practical applications for classroom or online course work.
Flook – is a geo-location Smartphone application which provides the ability to use GPS location and tagging information for identifying specific research sites.
For example a course requiring field research in science, the arts, or math in nature; students share the exact location of research data collection points during class presentations or with group partners.
UStream Mobile – this is another Smartphone mobile application in which adult students can record and stream live video with their phone. This video is then shared with other students during collaborative efforts or during classroom presentations.
Examples include sharing interviews, discussions, debates, research data collection evidence, tours of museums, etc. during presentations or group work.
Thwapr – this mobile video sharing application offers the ability to record videos and share videos with fellow students and use for class presentations. Offers the ability to share mobile-to-mobile or laptop-to-mobile, when using a camera equipped laptop.
Social Bookmarking: Knowledge Sharing Services
The following free bookmarking services offer the capability to store links to online course related materials and share with follow students.
Delicious – this social bookmarking service offers the ability to save online bookmarks to specific resources needed to complete course work, complete a research paper, share with other students, and also see what other students are bookmarking relevant to a course or program. In addition, bookmarked items can be organized with search and tagging tools for an entire bookmark collection. Also offers mobile application capability to access bookmarks from anywhere with a Smartphone.
Diigo – is similar to Delicious except it has a couple of extra features. These features are the ability to add sticky notes and highlight passages on bookmarked items. This is are handy when completing research in preparation for writing papers or sharing information with fellow classmates. Also provides mobile application access to bookmarks.
FriendFeed – is similar to both Delicious and Digg, with a two exceptions. FriendFeed offers the ability to send an e-mail to post a bookmark from any computer or mobile device. Also, provides e-mail updates with others make comments.
Online Programs: Productivity and Organization
The following free Web 2.0 tools ease the process of working on group projects or offer the capability to access documents from anywhere with Internet access. These are ideal when working with other students on group projects and they are scattered around the region, state, country, or world.
CoveritLive – offers the ability for students to create a live transcript of class lecture and is referred to as a live blog. Other features include quick polls, live UStream video, twitter feeds, live edit, instant replay, mobile applications, and media library. This program is designed for recording lecture notes and collaborative efforts with group members on projects.
Skype – offers the ability to hold conference calls with groups members who may be scattered all over the country or even the world, when completing online courses. For this service to be completely free, all group members must have Skype account.
Dimdim – offers the ability to hold group meetings from anywhere with Internet access. The free version accommodates up to 20 participants. Groups can share documents, browse webpages simultaneously, share screens to for collaboration, and save a recording of the meeting.
Google Docs – students can create and collaborate with other students in preparing presentations, spreadsheets, documents, surveys, and drawings. An important feature is the ability to work on any of the documents simultaneously with other students. Google Docs can be accessed from anywhere with Internet access.
These and other free technologies are changing college education for adult students. Although Twitter and FaceBook were not part of the discussions above, they also play an instrumental part in supporting learning in adult education. An advantage all these online programs is offering the opportunity to successfully complete adult education, along with building a lifelong learning network.
David R. Wetzel - Dr. David Wetzel's experience includes more than 25 years in continuing, adult, and teacher education.
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