OLTD Learning Outcomes:

• Become familiar with common terms, definitions and elements related to online environments
• Critically assess and evaluate resources for best practice in online learning
• Create assessment and evaluation methods/tools most suitable to the strengths and challenges of online environments

Evidence to Support Outcome:

• Survey of Cloud Tools and Presentation (Blog Post)

Reflection to Support Evidence:

This piece of evidence was created in Fall 2014 during OTLD 507. The linked blog post features a tool I developed to assess cloud-based tools for certain features such as their support of UDL principles, the ease of use, and the privacy considerations. The blog post also features my review of a selection of 7 cloud tools, shared out with a Creative Commons licence.

The creation of this evidence piece allowed me to explore many of the different cloud tools and their potential use in online and blended programs. The development of this tool allowed me to identify many of the qualities web tools should have in order to be used in high quality courses. The creation and sharing of this tool also exposed me to the aspects of quality that are most important to other members of my cohort, which helped me to identify aspects of quality cloud tools I would not have otherwise identified. The best practices captured in my assessment tool helped me to identify which aspects were most important to me in an online learning context.

Educators teaching in an online and blended environment must be able to critically assess and evaluate resources and tools to make the most out of those environments. Due to the rapidly changing landscape of cloud tools, educators need to be able to assess the utility of tools as they become available, and be able to find tools to replace those that may be out of date. It is equally important for educators to assess how tools reach principles related to UDL, accessibility, privacy and utility. Especially in an online environment, the tools used will affect the learning experience of students and can help or hinder learning with their use.