WebQuest

Although I was not familiar to the WebQuest application prior to creating one, WebQuests can be another tool in an educator's tool belt to utilize technology in the classroom.  An interesting thing about WebQuests is that they're instructor created and they can literally cover any subject a teacher would like to cover.  For example, in the WebQuest I created, I compared the Roman Republic to the United States federal government.  With a number of different links throughout the internet for students to explore the information themselves, WebQuests are a great tool for educators to incorporate the internet in to students educational experience.

Podcasting

An interesting new approach to the use of podcasts in the classroom is breaking down a number of barriers between the access of information available to students today.  In a number of colleges across the United States, professors have began to upload their lectures onto itunes through the use of podcasts technologies.  Being familiar with this technology, as I am, is an interesting twist on how students can still access the information presented in class, even if their are absent that particular day.  In addition, if students would like a 'review' before tests on a specific subject covered in class the would be able to hear the lecture and freshen up on the content.  This would be extremely beneficial to auditory learners as well as students who are absent often (activities, sickness, family vacations, etc.).

Google Docs-Picasa, iGoogle, Knol, and Calender

Google is not far from taking over the world. With an endless amount of things you can do on their streamlined homepage (which is incredibly deceiving-with all the extras they offer), iGoogle, Picasa, Knol, and Calender are more examples of why Google has become such a successful search engine and business. Each of these programs offer interesting perspectives on pretty simple ideas. The application that I would use most is probably iGoogle. The ability to bring all the information you would be looking for anyway on the internet right to your homepage is quite useful and similar to an RSS feed. Two applications that I know I wouldn't use are both Picasa (being that I never take pictures) and the Calender (my appointment list in in my noggin'). Finally, Knol is a somewhat interesting take on a pseudo-encyclopedia. I think that Knol could be an interesting application used in the classroom for students to work on their writing skills, become familiar with technology, and express their knowledge in a topic their passionate or interested in.
Jon

Wikis

The concept of wikis are incredible. The ability to constantly update, edit, and add information on literally any topic is awesome and which is more often than not quite accurate. I find the whole process of wikis pretty interesting. Although many who contribute aren't "experts," the users usually have a good idea of what they're talking about. This is the beauty of the application, people from all types of backgrounds are usually pretty knowledgeable in some area. Whether that be molecular biology or a certain baseball team, there is a wealth of knowledge right at your fingertips.
This steps right into my next argument. Although the quality of information cannot be guaranteed on a wiki, with the policing of others who use the site, the information is usually reliable. At the same time, while teachers or instructors argue about the lack of quality of information, a number of textbooks used in the classroom have errors in them as well. Now although I am not arguing for all term papers to have Wikipedia as their main source, site similar to Wikipedia serve a great function in that they offer a plethora of knowledge that is quite easy to obtain.

Desire 2 Learn

When looking for an appropriate web-based learning platform, there are a number of roads that may be traveled. From a mainstream perspective, there are three platforms to use: Moodle, Desire2Learn, and Blackboard. Of these three I am most familiar with Desire2Learn. Being that Desire2Learn is used at Saint Cloud State University, where I attend college, I use Desire2Learn daily and may have a slight bias towards the product. Desire2Learn has created a system, used over the internet, with information such as: grade reports, important documents, syllabi, and any other information provided by the instuctor can be easily and efficiently accessed. Of course there are drawbacks to the program. First and foremost, Desire2Learn is expensive and can be a burden on small school districts or systems with a limited budget. In addition, live interaction between students and/or instructors can be limited to e-mail or posted statements. Nonetheless, Desire2Learn is a helpful communicator of information for students and instructors alike.
Jon

Google Docs and Zoho Writer

Both Google Docs and Zoho Writer are free alternatives to other document production programs such as Microsoft Office or Clarisworks. Although there are not as many excessive features in the free alternatives, all the essentials are there to produce clean and professional looking documents. I did feel more comfortable using Google Docs because it was more simplified and easier to pick out the familiar buttons and menu bars. That is not to take away from Zoho Writer, which might actually have more features to take advantage of (although you may not use them all). Nonetheless, I still think I would choose Google Docs over Zoho Writer, even with a more limited menu bar, because of its simplified approach to document production.  Both of these products would be extremely attractive alternatives to the costly word processing software being used in today's schools.  

RSS Feed

The RSS application is incredibly time saving and convenient.  The purpose of the application is to organize information so that rather than you searching for information, the information is delivered to you.  Whether the information is for updating you on current events, sending you the latest sports scores, or passing along your friends latest blog post, RSS saves time and keeps you up-to-date.  In the classroom this can save time on both ends of the spectrum.  If you are an instructor, information can be easily accessed and organized in one place, rather than jumping from page to page.  On the other hand, if you are a student, important information (grades, assignments, etc.) can be easily and efficiently accessed.  All in all, the RSS application is another example of how when technology is harnessed, individuals and groups alike can become much more efficient.  

Jon