Introduction
Nowadays, digital tools have been part of our lives in which it can make our task easier to complete. It has advantages for making sure that it was consistent, secure, efficient, and effective. The most important advantage of the digital tools is the ability to help each student learn at their own speed and on their own course. Educators also can exchange knowledge with other educators in real-time using digital tools.
What are Digital Tools?
Digital tools are Programs, blogs, and online services that make tasks easier to complete Many of these can be accessed in web browsers without having to download something, and you can do so at home or at work. Software, programs, applications, platforms, and (online or offline) resources that can be used with computers, mobile devices, or other digital devices, and incorporate text, audio, and visual stimuli.
Task
By the end of this module you should be able to understand:
- Recognized what is a digital tool its function and its features.
- Able to create outputs using a different digital tool.
- Can demonstrate how to use different technological tools in different fields like education and learning.
Process
The 8 Categories of Digital Tools, its Function and its Features
There are eight categories of Digital tools, those are:
Online Bibliography and Citation, Photo and Image Editing Tools, Survey, Polls and Quizzes Tools, Web Conferencing Tools, Stock Photos Sites, Video Tools, Testing and Quizzing Tools, and PDF Tools.
1. Online Bibliography and Citation Tools
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Citation Machine
https://www.citationmachine.net/
This is definitely one of the most easy to use free online bibliography and citation tools.
Vast Citation Style Variety: Citation Machine can help eLearning content developers reference in all 4 major styles, namely APA, MLA, Chicago and Turabian. However, it provides an immense library of 7.000 additional citation styles for many different fields.
Resources And Guides: The platform offers a guide on how to properly cite in APA, MLA, and Chicago.
Plagiarism Checker: Much like BibMe, this platform also offers this feature that only comes if you subscribe though.
Numerous Sources: Citation Machine allows you to cite content from books, magazines, newspapers, journals, films and many other sources.
Features And Plans
- Free Version Available
Citation Machine offers many of its great features for free.
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Citavi
Citavi is multi-purpose free online bibliography and citation tool eLearning content developers can use for their knowledge organization needs. It is also a reference manager and a task management platform.
- Research Process Management
From importing sources, referencing them properly and then exporting them, to managing content and allocating tasks in a team, this free online bibliography and citation tool does much more than help you create a works-cited page. - Many Options To Add References
Citavi gives you the chance to choose the way you want to add references. It features 35 options to include automatical or manual referencing as well as using a bar code scanner or PDF referencing. - Knowledge Organizer
Two groundbreaking options that are Citavi exclusives enable you to organize knowledge in an efficient way. Keywording and a hierarchical category system will aid you in adding your own thoughts to the platform.
Features And Plans
- Free Version Available And Various Premium Options
Citavi will not charge you anything for up to 100 references. Then, you have various premium membership options for commercial use, education as well as student and personal use.
2. Photo and Image Editing Tools
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Adobe Photoshop Express
For the longest time, people tried to find a free version of Photoshop, preferably online. Until one day, Adobe finally heard their prayers and launched Adobe Photoshop Express, a trimmed-down online and mobile version of the industry’s leading software. Unlike its paid counterpart
Adobe Photoshop Express is not aimed at professional photographers and media creators, but to beginners or those looking for high-quality software for quick edits. This can be easily noted on the features offered and their accessibility. With Adobe Photoshop Express you’ll be able to access basic image editing actions, such as contrast, perspective, saturation, exposure, and spot removal, as well as selecting preset dynamic effects. While there are not nearly as many tools as in the professional version, they are polished to perfection and offer a great user experience. The Express version of Adobe’s photo editing software also includes a “decorate” category, which allows users to add text and easily create fully customizable collages.
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Photoscape X
PhotoScape X’s list of tools seems to be nearly infinite. The software, which is described as an “all-in-one photo editing software” is heavily focused on one-click enhancement features that allow beginners to easily bring their ideas to life. The program includes thousands of filters, frames, brushes, shape crops, smart cut out tools, a color picker, and clone stamps. Photographers will be able to take full advantage of the RAW conversion feature, while those with a large collection of images to process will be happy to hear about the several batch editing tools the software includes, such as format change, resize, and rename.
PhotoScape X’s capabilities also include much more creative options, such as collage, merging, stickers, effects, text, and brushes. These tools are especially catered to users who want to create original content for their social media profiles or email marketing campaigns. In order to make sure users make the most of the tens of thousands of creative options in PhotoScape X, the photo editor’s website includes a long list of video tutorials that show how to use each tool to achieve the desired effect. If you are interested in more advanced tools, check out the software’s paid version, which includes a wide selection of manual editing tools.
3. Survey, Polls, and Quizzes Tools
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Google Forms
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/
Google Forms is a free online tool that helps you to develop surveys, quizzes, and other interactive forms. It is part of Google's web-based applications suite, which also includes Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and other tools.
Manage event registrations, conduct a quick poll, and many more. You may use Google Forms to generate and review surveys directly in your Smartphone or web browser—no special software is needed. As soon as the reports are in, you will see them. Charts and diagrams can also be used to quickly analyze sample data.
Google forms are widely used to create surveys easily and quickly since they allow you to plan events, ask questions to your employees or clients and collect diverse type of information in a simple and efficient way.
Google forms allow us to include different types of questions such as short answers, paragraphs, multiple selection, verification boxes, pull-down, linear scale, grid of several options, among others.
Features of Google Forms
- Surveys
- Questionnaires
- Custom forms
- Drag-and-drop
- Customize values
- Reorder questions
- Add images, videos, and custom logic
- Real-time response information
- Automatic summaries
- Access control
- Data validation rules
- Collect & organize information
- Create polls & pop quizzes
- Customizable branding
- Curated themes
- Multiple choice
- Dropdowns
- Page branching
- Question skip logic
- Responsive forms
- Real-time response charts
- Export to Google Sheets
- Multi-user collaboration
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Plickers
https://www.plickers.com/login
Plickers is a rapid-response classroom polling tool that allows teachers to search paper cards for student answers using a single mobile device. There are applications for iOS and Android, as well as a web interface. Plickers is an assessment tool created by an instructor who needed a short and easy way to verify student comprehension. Plickers can turn assessments or check-ins into opportunities for play, engaging students by empowering them to share what they know. As a teacher, you can use student results to address misconceptions, tailor instruction, and inform long-term planning.
4. Web Conferencing Tools
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Zoom
Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service you can use to virtually meet with others - either by video or audio-only or both, all while conducting live chats - and it lets you record those sessions to view later. It offers free and paid options as well as paid plans for companies of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. It scales well and is highly user-friendly, a quality that accounts for its widespread popularity. Zoom works on any device, from your work computer to your personal smartphone. The quality of audio and video is reliably high. There are plenty of user-friendly features, including a chat window, reaction emoticons and optional meeting recording.
Zoom's main features
- One-on-one meetings: Host unlimited one-on-one meetings even with the free plan.
- Group video conferences: Host up to 500 participants (if you purchase the "large meeting" add-on). The free plan, however, allows you to host video conferences of up to 40 minutes and up to 100 participants.
- Screen sharing: Meet one-on-one or with large groups and share your screen with them so they can see what you see.
- Recording: You can record your meetings or events too.
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Google Meet
Google Meet (formerly known as Hangouts Meet) is a video-communication service developed by Google. It is one of two apps that constitute the replacement for Google Hangouts, the other being Google Chat.
Google is making enterprise-grade video conferencing available to everyone. Now, anyone with a Google Account can create an online meeting with up to 100 participants and meet for up to 60 minutes per meeting.
To host on Meet, you need a G Suite account, but participants don’t need one. You don’t need any plugins or software either because everything happens through your browser.
Joining a Google Meet meeting is easy, particularly if you use Gmail and/or Google Calendar. All event details are included as part of the invite. And if you’re using the Enterprise edition of G Suite, your attendees even get dial-in phone numbers so they can join without using data or having to find WiFi.
Features of Google Meet
- Two-way and multi-way audio and video calls with a resolution up to 720p
- An accompanying chat
- Call encryption between all users
- Noise cancelling audio filter
- Low-light mode for video
- Ability to join meetings through a web browser or through Android or iOS apps
- Integration with Google Calendar and Google Contacts for one-click meeting calls
- Screen-sharing to present documents, spreadsheets, presentations, or (if using a browser) other browser tabs
- Ability to call into meetings using a dial-in number in the US
- Hosts being able to deny entry and remove users during a call.
5. Stock Photos Sites
- Shutterstock
https://www.shutterstock.com/login.mhtml
Shutterstock is a popular global provider of royalty-free stock images. This covers high-quality licensed vectors, illustrations, photographs, audios and videos. It offers more than 315 million images and each day, over 181,000 new ones are added. This is thanks to its community of 650,000 contributors.
With this platform, you’re not just limited to all kinds of media. You can also use the mobile application to download images directly from the app. This works for both Android and iOS.
You can also edit images with the Shutterstock Editor. Lastly, you can add more functionality to this software solution by installing plug-ins. The most popular plug-ins include Adobe Creative Cloud, Final Cut Pro, Google Slides, Sketch and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Enterprise solutions are also catered by Shutterstock. You can make use of Shutterstock Premier, Shutterstock Custom or additional API integrations such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Apple.
Features of Shutterstock
- Full access to design templates
- Powerful editing features
- Advanced icons
- Text templates
- Unlimited custom sizes
- Unlimited sharing and downloads
- Flickr
Flickr is a photo-sharing platform and social network where users upload photos for others to see. Users create a free account and upload their own photos (and videos) to share with friends and followers online. Here's how it works.
Flickr is a platform for conveniently sharing photos and videos. It’s used by many photography professionals to send images to clients, as well as anyone with photo-sharing needs. It’s free to make an account on the platform, which encourages even the most casual users to sign up. There is, however, a Pro feature available for purchase for those using it more seriously. In addition to uploading photos, users can peruse the platform to check out other people’s work, and can “like” or comment on anything that piques their interest. Let’s learn more about some Flickr features.
Features of Flickr
- Profile
- Galleries
- Photostream
- Albums
- Faves
- People
- Stats
- Organize
6. Video Tools
- Animaker
Animaker is an online tool for animation that offers plans for all kinds of users – from beginners to enterprises. Each version comes loaded with features and assets to help users create amazing animated videos in a diversity of styles. With Animaker, you can create 2D and 2.5D videos, animated infographic videos, handcraft videos, whiteboard videos, typography animations, and more.
FEATURES:
- Character Builder
- Extensive Facial Expressions
- Auto Lip-Sync
- Smart Move
- Change actions & expressions with just a click.
- Customize Everything
- Animation Studio at your fingertips
- Hippo Video
Hippo Video is an all-in-one online video tool for education. It takes care of the entire life cycle of video, from creating, editing, hosting, sharing to tracking. It is the one stop shop software for online virtual classroom. It contextually integrates with Google Classroom, Google Slides, Google Docs, Gmail, and Desire2Learn LMS. You don’t have to upgrade to get these integrations. When you sign up for Hippo Video, all the integrations come along with it.
Features of Hippo Video
- Record a video lesson
- Simple Edit
- Pro Edit
- Annotate While Recording
Other Useful Features
- Supports Chromebook
- Password Protection
- Guest Recording
- Real-time analytics
- Handle User Permissions
- Add Comments & Reactions
- Create GIFs
7. Testing and Quizzing Tools/ Assessment Tools
- Google Classroom
Google Classroom is a free web-based platform that integrates your G Suite for Education account with all your G Suite services, including Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Calendar. Classroom saves time and paper, and makes it easy to create classes, distribute assignments, communicate, and stay organized. Teacher allow students to submit their work with Classroom, it can also easily track of my sections, view grades, and mark assignments during any free time they have without carrying stacks of paper around. Classroom has made the process so easy and convenient.
- iClicker
iClicker is a hardware-based classroom response system developed by the Macmillan company, which allows a presenter and audience to engage in a question & answer session, and to view and show responses in real time. It is also a response system that allows faculty to run live polls in their face-to-face and broadcast courses. Students can participate in iClicker polling sessions with their mobile devices, laptops, or an iClicker remote.
8. PDF Tools
- Adobe Reader XI
Adobe Reader is a trusted high-quality tool that allows you to view and print your PDF files. It also lets you interact with PDF content, including multimedia. Other features covered are adding and verifying digital signature, annotating on PDF pages, creating and filling out PDF forms, and printing out these documents
Adobe Reader XI provides full commenting capabilities, including text, stamps, file attachments and audio recordings, as well as drawing markups, like lines, arrows, shapes, and free-form annotations. Do you have a PDF form that needs attention? Well, Reader is now able to fill, sign, save and send your forms without requiring printing and mailing. And, of course, you can do this on the most recent and popular operating systems, OS X Mountain Lion and Windows 8, which includes our new “touch-mode” for an optimal tablet experience.
Mobile and the Cloud
Wherever you are, save your PDFs to Acrobat.com for access from anywhere, including your mobile devices via Adobe Reader for Android and iOS. Also, leverage Adobe Reader XI’s integration with our cloud services, including creating PDF, exporting PDF files to Word and Excel, or sending your documents for signatures and full tracking via Adobe EchoSign.
Adobe Reader XI, our most powerful Reader yet, includes many new and enhanced capabilities:
Productivity
- Full commenting features, including text, stamps, file attachments and audio recordings, as well as drawing markups, like lines, arrows, shapes and free-form annotations
- Fill, sign, save and send your forms – and save the planet while you’re at it!
- Store files on Acrobat.com for access from multiple devices
- Support for OS X Mountain Lion and Windows 8 with new “touch-mode” for optimal tablet interaction
- Create PDF or Export PDF files to Word and Excel online
- Lumin PDF
this web-run application stands out among other pdf editors by combining the best practices of cloud-based collective document editing (think Google Drive) with the functionality of pdf editors. Simply, teachers and students can work together on shared files instead of sending them back and forth all the time. When it comes to reviewing multiple assignments, this automation can save you lots of time. As an extra bonus feature of this pdf tool, there are multiple standard templates and forms for different occasions, e.g. a scholarship award letter or an invitation to a graduation party.
Feature of Lumin PDF
- Highlight and underline text
- Erase blocks of text
- Rotate and remove individual pages
- Draw lines and shapes
- Add digital signatures*
- Add comments*
- Much more
Most features are free. A Lumin Premium subscription is required for the features indicated with (*).
Credits
This WebQuest was created by Crismajoy Czarina D. Ileto from BSED2 Filipino Major with the help of her groupmates:
Briton, Princess Joy
Contreras, Rashiela
Dela Puerta, Shenalyn
Osena, Lizette Ann
Rebamba, Madelyn
Remojo, Mary Grace
Trinidad, Carla