I have to say that I’m generally not impressed with the Google For Educators Discussion Group. Of course, I haven’t participated in it much, either.
However, now and then I’ll learn something worthwhile. Today I found a gem.
It’s a new amazing web application with a terrible name — Daft Doggy.
This application allows you, or your students (including Beginning English Language Learners and above) to easily create a tour of websites. On this tour you can also leave notes that appear on the screen with instructions or comments. Each trail then has its own url. The message in the discussion group explains it better and has a link to an example.
My students could also easily use it to create a tour of their favorite links on my website.
I know that there have recently been similar web applications unveiled, and they look flashier. However, for ease of use and accessibility to English Language Learners (and other students, not to mention teachers), Daft Doggy is far above the rest.
It’ll definitely make my Top Ten List for this month.
I’ve placed the link on my Examples of Student page under Student Webquests.
I let the creator of the site know I was going to post about it, and here’s his response:
But what will make it *really* useful is after you’ve initially recorded a session. The, go back and edit it. When you put something in the description, on playback this will appear as a lightblue box at the bottom of the page. If you have filled in the comments section then, when somebody puts the mouse over the blue box, then the comments will appear as a translucent screen over the page you’re showing. So you can tell people why you want them to see this page. Agree or disgree with what it’s showing etc. This week I’ll be putting up an FAQ for the site, plus forums.
Any suggestments and comments are really appreciated. I want this site to be a useful resource for teachers and students.
Joe Thompson
Larry,
Why is this site blocked at my school for “Sex”? I’ll try to check it out from home, but right now I can’t view it. It sounded like a good option for me to use at school, too. Crap!
It looks like a nice tool that could be used as part of a WebQuest, but where on earth did you get the idea that putting together a tour of sites and annotating them is a WebQuest? Where’s the higher order thinking?
Bernie,
Excellent point. I mispoke. I should have referred to it as a online “Scavenger Hunt,” which, if you look at past posts where I’ve talked about sites like this, is how I’ve usually framed using these types of sites. I’ll chalk it up to a “brain freeze” after a long day.
Larry
For Rivers2000.
I’m concerned that Daftdoggy is being blocked – especially for sex. We take great care to ensure that none of our links contain pornography.
I’ve just searched the backend database and removed two links that *might* have triggered your blocking software (both were sites about breast cancer). Could you try again please and contact me if it’s still being blocked? I’ll take it up with your software provider. I can be reached at croft_house@hotmail.com
And Larry? Apologies for using your blog for this message – I couldn’t find an e-mail link for Rivers2000.
Regards
Joe