Exploring Digital Resources

 

Digital resources can be anything from an app to a platform used to create a resource or what we use daily. Dukare (2020) defined digital resources as a resource that requires data collection, be it text referring to full-text databases, electronic journals, image collections, or other multimedia and media-based products. In our everyday environment, we interact with digital resources–which can be said the same in the workplace. The workplace is rapidly growing by utilizing a variety of applications. As someone who uses a lot of technology at work, there are some I’m not fully aware of but am rather curious about. The five technology applications that appealed to me the most are: Mentimeter, Asana, Seesaw, Claude AI, and Diffit. 

Mentimeter

• Your hands-on experience using the tool

I first heard about Mentimeter while at my Junior League general meeting. The president of our organization is a teacher as well, which made total sense as to why we used it during the meeting. The side I saw of it was entering three words I think of when I think of the Junior League of Corpus Christi. We all entered our three words, which created a word cloud to brainstorm the topic or question. I thought this was an excellent app, and I can see myself using it in the classroom or future with students. 

• Step-by-step documentation of how you used it

I saw the options presented to me on how I can use Mentimeter. Popular features presented were: Word cloud, Poll, Open-ended, Scales, Ranking, or Pin on Image. I created a quiz on poetry for when I introduce the next concept. in Reading/Language Arts, and I also created an icebreaker question that we can use in a future faculty/staff meeting. I found this particularly appealing for any workspace or organization group.

• Specific advantages and disadvantages for your professional context

One specific advantage is that Mentimeter gives the presenter data for after the presentation with the answers from the audience. The version I used is the free version, which is great and beneficial when you want to vote on a topic very quickly. However, the disadvantage is that if you use the free version of the program and only the free version, you are allowed 50 participants per month. Basic plan pricing goes for $11.99, includes all free features, plus: unlimited participants per month, import slides from other tools, and export results to Excel. Pro plan pricing is $24.99 with all basic features, plus: add your company logo and branding, create your templates, and edit presentations with your colleagues or specific team members. The next plan is the custom plan or the Enterprise plan, which is customized for larger organizations. Features include single sign-on, SCIM, success manager, and shared templates. There are plans for teachers and students that are at 30% of the original pricing, Basic originally at $11.99, runs for $8.99, while the Pro plan goes $14.99 from the $24.99. Another con is the possibility of limitations in the free features. Both teachers and students may want to use a particular polling option or use more than the required amount in the free version, but the problem is they would have to pay to use unlimited polling options. I also imagine teachers and students having a limited understanding of how to create a poll. Thus, creating a poll and not fully understanding or having awareness about polling trends can be a potential con. 

• Practical applications in your work environment

Practical applications in the work environment could be for a quiz or an easy icebreaker for a faculty/staff meeting. Being that I want to either stay in education and be a digital learning coordinator or support specialist for a school district, or be someone who oversees an account to develop e-learning courses for a company, I see Mentimeter being used to take a poll, maybe break the ice for everyone’s favorite Get to know the team, or for an easy quiz for the classroom. Other ideas included exit tickets, quick checks for understanding, warm-up/opening activity or opening activity as students are walking in the classroom. There are so many options available on Mentimeter anyone can go with that will broaden your technology horizon. 

Asana

• Your hands-on experience using the tool

I found Asana very fascinating to use and learn about mostly because of me considering leaving the classroom. If I were to leave the education field but stay within the parameters of a digital learning technology specialist or as the instructional designer for an organization, Asana seems like a tool for communication and collaboration a leader needs. A team needs to have a communication plan or tool to be on the same page. As I was exploring the platform, it took me a while to familiarize myself with the tool, but after exploring the platform, I have a better understanding of how important it is for managers, administrators, or leads to view their team to collaborate and view where their team is in the timeline of assigned given tasks. 

• Step-by-step documentation how you used the tool

What drew me to Asana was that it was a different tool, rather than an educational tool fit for the classroom. Due to me possibly not staying in education, I wanted to broaden my horizons and explore outside of my comfort zone. To begin using Asana, I had to use an email address to log in, so I used my Gmail account. Asana did ask me questions on what I intended to use it for after registering my email address. After checking off what I fully intend to use Asana for, I was led to the home page/launch page. On the home page, I can invite teammates to manage and see where we are on projects/tasks. 

• Specific advantages and disadvantages for your professional context

A specific advantage can be for yourself and your tracking of tasks or projects. It could also be used in your organization to track projects of the team you are in charge of to see if everyone is on the same page. I think a disadvantage in the professional context would be is it feels like a “gotcha” from the person who oversees your team and no one ever wants to feel like they are in a “gotcha”. 

• Practical applications in your work environment

While I thought this tool just pertained to jobs outside of education, I can see it used in education as well, but maybe amongst administrators or those who aren't in the classroom. This type of tool can help those keeping track of goals, deadlines, or project tasks amongst each other on a team. Grade-level teams and PLCs can use Asana as a showing of project task completion. An example is if a grade level team is planning a field trip, certain tasks can be assigned and divided amongst the team to show the completion. In a PLC setting, it would be of great use for grade level content areas when it comes to planning curriculum and the tasks could be divided up as well. In both example, it could show the principal, the curriculum director and the grade level lead and lead content teacher the tasks either being completed, in progress, or haven’t begun at all. Since Asana is used as a communication tool to connect company goals, streamline workflows, and manage resources, it presents the perfect opportunity to utilize in the education system too, not just non-education job. Thus, it eliminates those check-in meetings everyone gets tired of because Asana does the work of real-time reporting and task management. In other words, Asana is used to keep each other in check to make sure everyone is completing their tasks.

Seesaw

• Your hands-on experience using the tool

When I was researching for my innovation in 5305, I came across Seesaw as a tool for e-portfolio utilization. I was very curious as to how Seesaw worked, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to get my hands-on experience for this assignment. As I was experiencing Seesaw, I was confused at first if I had to request a demo account, but I was able to access it for free for thirty days. I found the platform very user-friendly and accessible for any teacher or parent. I thought I would be confused about the platform and overwhelming, but I like the features to share with parents the activities, journal element, and progress viewing.

• Step-by-step documentation of how you used it

Since my innovation plan has a lot to do with the e-portfolio, I wanted to see what Seesaw has to offer since it has a similar feature. Within the classroom created, the teacher has her students in her created classroom. What I did was I clicked on “Sample Student”, and created a folder titled “Writing Portfolio”. The portfolio is to be shared or documented with the parents. Parents can even join the Seesaw class to view the learning the teacher shares. 

• Specific advantages and disadvantages for your professional context

The great advantage of this is the documentation of learning happening in the classroom and the sharing between the teacher and individual parents. I believe this truly embodies what an e-portfolio should mirror. Although Seesaw has been around for the last couple of years, it gained momentum during COVID due to the documentation of learning in the classroom. 

The disadvantage of Seesaw is that it is not free. There are price points and customization that allow a district to choose what exactly their needs are then they go from there. Another disadvantage of this platform is it is mostly designed with the PreK-6th grade student in mind. Therefore, the ability to use this as an e-portfolio seems limited versus the opportunity for unlimited access for years. Deep consideration and thought must go into making such a decision on a wonderful platform but with the limited access described above. 

• Practical applications in your work environment

Seesaw has so many great features for a classroom teacher. I was very thrilled to view how a student's profile can easily become a portfolio by sharing work with the parents. This shows what a great opportunity to have parents involved in the learning of their child and the communication that must happen between parents and teachers. There are plenty of lessons the students can complete and their work will appear in the “Class Journal”. I believe this is an excellent opportunity for parents to view what their child has finished and not completed, as well as for the teacher to view the progress of all their students’ activities. 

Claude AI

• Your hands-on experience using the tool

I honestly had no complaints using this tool or any issues. I found it rather straightforward to use since all I had to do was type in the box what I needed help with. Since I am a major Taylor Swift fan (Swiftie), I was very curious if it would create a poem about being a dedicated Taylor Swift fan, and what do you know, it did. If that isn’t cool, I’m not too sure what is. 

•  Step-by-step documentation of how you used it

I wanted to see how Claude AI worked since I have always been curious about AI websites rather than embedded in a platform. I type in Claude AI’s question box “I need help creating a letter to teachers about the benefits of using AI in the classroom”. AI then composed a letter to convince teachers about the benefits of using AI in the classroom. 

• Specific advantages and disadvantages for your professional context

So many advantages come from using AI as a teacher. From composing parent letters or emails to administrators, it lifts a load off a teacher’s shoulders. Rather than stressing and thinking to oneself “How does this sound? Does it sound rude? Do I sound professional?”. It gives a teacher, or a working professional in a different environment some type of relief when it comes to creating a piece of writing they possibly need completed. Possible disadvantages in using Claude AI for teachers is the lack of knowledge in using AI in general. A lot of teachers might have developed a perceived idea of AI. Therefore, the con lies in teachers lacking in the training and not willing to utilize Claude AI. 

As for the disadvantages, I see students depending too much on AI and not making enough points or effort to develop their writing style. I’ve seen students and their writing poorly underdeveloped flourish into amazing writing just by teaching the basic skills and mechanics necessary. As for the advantages of students, students can use Claude AI to outline their writing and for revising and editing purposes. 

• Practical applications in your work environment

To be honest, I always had mixed views about AI, but after utilizing AI in Canva to create a letter to parents about Parent-Teacher conferences, I am never going back to creating letters like that on my own. I do see students utilizing this as well but with certain parameters per teacher rules and what the district has set in stone for AI use in the classroom. 

Diffit

• Your hands-on experience using the tool

I thought I’d be super confused using Diffit, but it looks pretty straightforward to use and not difficult to comprehend. I found it convenient when a teacher needs a resource created for students within the special populations arena in the classroom. 

• Step-by-step documentation of how you used it

When I first started using Diffit, I was a little confused, but I then understood the home landing page and what I needed to do there. I first tried using the “Text to PDF” option to get a resource made. I selected one of the products I bought from Teachers Pay Teachers, but that did not go very well due to the amount of text in the resource. So, I then thought I will just use the “Literally Anything” tab to have a resource made for poetry and customize the reading level to 2nd grade for my readers who are on that level. I clicked on the green “Generate Resources” button. Lastly, I was able to view the amount of resources available for a student who is on a 2nd-grade reading level in 4th grade. 

• Specific advantages and disadvantages for your professional context

Diffit seems like a great resource for teachers everywhere who need a ready-to-made resource within seconds. With several formats to choose from to create a ready-to-make text, it is no wonder why this resource has great advantages for the educational world. As for the disadvantages in the classroom, I honestly can’t think of any. However, I will say it seems like it can be rather too dependent and the teacher needs to go in and see if the resource makes sense for the type of purpose it will serve in the classroom. 

• Practical applications in your work environment

Diffit can make a huge difference for the classroom as teachers are always searching for resources that are a student’s true reading level. That said, instead of paying for a resource on Teachers Pay Teachers, you can have a ready-to-make resource that is free and easy for your students. 

References

Dukare, D. A. (2020). Concept and types of digital resources, What are the benefits of consortia approach in collection development? IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, 5(1), 46–49. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijlsit.2020.010