Least Tern > Resources for Teachers and Schools

A Pool of Tools

Information Delivery and Management
Digital Solutions for Schools

Read: The Snorkle - weblog & forum for Technology Leaders focused upon current tools & info

Although we do not like to recommend commercial products, we do so on this page. These products have been recommended repeatedly by experienced educators.

Course Delivery Systems| Online Presentation & Meeting Tools | Assessment Options
Internet Filters and Controls | Facilities Management/Calendaring
 Student Information System Management
Content Management Systems (for school-wide web page development and collaboration)
Integrated Learning Systems
Library Automation | Computer Lab Management

Some terms: locate other definitions in one of our Technology Terms listings

  • Asynchronous Learning - any-where, any-time learning through the use of networked technology - as opposed to Synchronous Learning experiences, which occur in real-time (such as chat, IM, videoconferencing)
  • CAI - Computer Aided Instruction or Computer Assisted Instruction - ranging from a k-5 "reading development" or math package to individual applications that support specific learning objectives or a specific age/grade level
  • CAT (computer adaptive testing) - learn more about this trend and try it out in this article by Lawrence M. Rudner - find some tools in our Assessment Options section
  • CIPA - Children's Internet Protection Act - like the NCLB, mobilizing schools to install filtering software (if they use Title I funding)
  • CMC - the Computer Managed Classroom - considers computer uses for tasks administrative, such as communication and data, and involving instructional organization and preparation - this is term we like, but it will not catch on due to the next item
  • CMC - Computer-Managed Communication  - first e-mail and bulletin boards, then IM, chat, synchronous learning, and now blogs - important term!
  • CBL - Computer Based Learning - this term is used infrequently now, due to the ubiquitous nature of computers in schools
  • CMI - Computer Managed Instruction - may or may not include networked software and online testing
  • CMS- Course Management Systems - also called LMS (Learning Management Systems) - today this generally means online or distance learning, containing both synchronous (real-time collaboration or discussion) and asynchronous (posted collaboration, document sharing) elements
  • CMS - Content Management Systems - applies more specifically to server-based content distribution, most often through the web or an Intranet - can apply to content as basic as assignments or a complete as an online text with testing - serving images and audio with annotation - some IT staff use this term for Filtering software or other means of controlling what students can access on the school network
  • COPPA - Children's Online Privacy Protection Act - protects the collection of personal information (without parental consent) from children under the age of 13 - this act, also referred to as COPA, can not (by Supreme Court decision) be used to limit the use of the Internet for display of pornography
  • data driven decision making (DDDM or D3M) - refers to the use of objectively, digitally collected data to drive school-related decision making - highlighted by NCLB
  • data driven websites - refer to "fill in the blank" website and web page creation, always web-based, often rich in features needed by schools - CMS sites are examples
  • eLearning - learning that takes place over the Internet, or via a network, often with a controlled curriculum or controlled resources and assessment modules - E-Learning Vocabulary can be found here
  • ELR - Electronic Learning Resources - NCLB mandates that all resources purchased with state or federal funds are designed with a scientific research basis (hence, producers and web designers will be making research claims and paying for studies)
  • ILS - Integrated Learning Systems - combine hardware and software (often now a web server and client software) to deliver individualized and standards based instruction in core learning areas (mathematics, reading, language arts, science) - being replaced by e-Learning solutions and LCMS
  • LMS - Learning Management Systems - the same as CMS and VLE
  • KM - Knowledge Management - digital archiving and "streaming" of knowledge assets (media, text, quizzes, tests, documents) on a need-to-use basis - integrates with a LCMS
  • LCMS - Learning Content Management Systems - more than tracking student progress, integrates (generally) online learning experiences and all related informational and content needs
  • NCLB - No Child Left Behind - federal act signed in Jan, 2002 by President Bush
  • PS - Performance Standards - includes what is sometimes also called Formative Assessment (planning future learning paths and needs based upon performance)
  • SAM - Standards-based Adaptive Measurement - assessment tool, often web-based, to track individual student progress in relation to standards
  • SIS - Student Information Systems - originally databases or files dedicated to tracking students for 12 years, these have advanced to centralize all information and provide it to all stakeholders, including teachers, administration, students, parents, alums, applicants
  • VLE - Virtual Learning Environments - see CMS

 

Features to look for: These tools share a general set of features. A good tool has all or most of the following:

  • Calendaring
  • Group mailing lists, email (collaboration tools)
  • Web integration, document uploading and linking
  • Searching, including cross-referencing and advanced tools
  • Centralized management - underlying database of shared information resources (teacher, administration, parent, student stakeholders)
  • IM server - look for video conferencing support as well as links to
  • Discussion forums
  • Document sharing, web page collaboration
  • Possible assessment templates - increasingly, this is an online component, but may be a printed template that can be completed digitally for centralized distribution
  • Blogs - a new component, the key component of some local systems
  • Form-mail component/templates
  • Alignment to state or national standards
  • Individualization of forms and content
  • Logging / archiving
  • Multimedia components / viewing, synchronizing

 

 

Course Delivery Systems - Course Management Systems - Learning Management Systems - see also CMS below (Content Management Systems) for tools with a narrower range - all tools require a robust network OR high bandwidth net access with robust server support - the focus of the listing below is tools to post course materials on a server that is accessible to all students individually and in collaborative groups - Integrated Learning Systems provide asessment, data and scalability as well as content

Pedagogy

Products - commercial and free

Online/Network Presentation and Meeting Tools

Unlike the above, these are for the sharing, or delivery, of a specific content set, such as a lecture, training session, or webcast. For tools specific to videoconferencing, follow our links at Videoconferencing.  Read about Enterprise solutions in Technology & Learning.

Assessment Options

CRESST (National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing) - regularly issues significant research reports and "policy briefs" - the Parents Page link provides many good articles for parents about testing and the role they can play in assessment. Many Student Information Systems also integrate grade books.

Read about it: A Look at Web-Based Assessment

see also the Assessment options available for the Palm platform.

Grade Reports, Grading - see also the FileMaker Pro solutions below

Learning Styles Assessment

Internet Filters & Controls - please note that many, if not all, of the Content Management Systems now provide some version of Internet filtering or control

Controlled Searching - these packages are one way to go. Another way is to purchase one of the Student Information or Content Management Systems that achieves the same goals - focused searching that is teacher-guided and safe

Workstation Management - see also Monitor Monitoring

Facilities & hardware management / Calendaring

Student Information Systems - Also called Student Record Management Systems

The best of these systems include community collaboration, overlapping with the web-based Content Management Systems listed below and the Course Delivery Systems listed above - systems generally include modules for: reporting, scheduling, admissions, academic and behavioral data, testing, attendance, health, athletics - an off-line or web-based feature is desirable, as is cross-platform client use - must be scalable

Read: Privacy Matters, a handbook from Palo Alto Unified School District (click the link on this page to download a .pdf file)

Content Management Systems : k-12 School Sites - see also CDS above for broader-based solutions - this section details template-based and server hosted systems to allow teachers to post web-based materials without knowledge (generally) of HTML - most systems include more than just assignment and topic-based page postings

What is a CMS? Read about it at:
SearchWebServices.com
Read our comparison and review of CMS:
But not Least...e-Paper or e-Plastic?

ILS - Integrated Learning Systems - the passage of NCLB has created a desire for standards-driven education, including technology integration - these tools provide individually paced instruction and some degree (varies) of standards correlation - all provide testing and learning activities, some provide lesson plans - once in-house, these are now generally web-based or housed on a local web server - also sometimes (confusedly) called Content Delivery Systems or distance-learning

Library automation - All of these are commercial sources, so we offer only a listing. We suggest that you query a list (see listservs) for recommendations from a school similar to your own

IASL - International Association of School Librarianship - Online Guide to online providers

Read - Library Automation: A Buying Guide (Technology & Learning, Feb 2004, by Kathy Schrock)

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E. Sky-McIlvain 8/11/04