Assign-a-day

1.   Name of the Tool

                             

2.   URL of the Tool

http://assignaday.4teachers.org

3.   Primary category for this tool:

Productivity Tool

4.   Please describe this tool.

Assign a day is a task and project calendar created for teachers.  It is an easy to use website to create a monthly calendar that shows the daily projects and assignments that are due.  There is a way to enter an assignment due date as well as description of the assignment.  The calendar can be shared with other teachers or students.  This replaces the typical written assignment journal.  Students can access the assignment calendar from the school or home and the student’s parents can also have access to the schedule. 

5.   What do you need to know before using this tool?

The user needs only how to navigate the internet to this site.  The directions are self evident.

6.   What do you need to have before using this tool?

The user only needs a computer and internet connection.

7.   How do you use this tool?

1.   Register on website

2.   Title your first calendar

3.   To add an task, watch my screencast for directions

8.   Locate or create your own example of an educational resource created with this tool and discuss what you found or created.

Each month the critical care fellows email back and forth to schedule the lecturers for the PICU resident lecture schedule.  If the calendar was available online, people could go to the website and just sign up instead of emailing back and forth which does not allow other lecturers to know what lectures have been accounted for.

9.   Please indicate the webtools you used for this task.

Screenshot-jing

Screencast-screenr

10.        Please describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment.

    In an earlier research proposal, I had suggested an online assignment calendar as an approach to increase assignment completion.  The initial assignment completion rate could be compared to the post online calendar implemenation.  I think this tool could be used in this research idea.  It can be accessed by the student or parent as the instructor can share the calendar with any email that is provided.  Therefore, both the parent and student can have free access to the calendar.  Perhaps this could then tie into calendar reminders for big projects.

11.        What are the advantages and disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?

    The advantages to this calendar are that it is free and easy to share. It is easy to use and enter tasks as well. 
   
    The disadvantages are that it requires you to be a teacher to use the site.  This limits the use to only teachers associated with an institution or school and the format and ease of use could be applied to a broader range of uses.

12.        Would you recommend this Web 2.0 tool to others, or suggest that they explore a different tool?

    I would recommend this tool to other instructors associated with an institution to make online calendars for tasks, assignments or even lectures.