Tech Tidbits: Vialogues.com

I've come across a really cool site that allows your students to post comments or answer questions on videos that you post. The site, Vialogues, enables the user to upload videos they have created; access videos that are already posted on the site; or link to videos from YouTube or Vimeo.  Vialogues allows viewers (in this case, students) to post comments on the video, or respond to questions at certain points in the video.  These Vialogue posts can then be shared via URL link, Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus, as well as through e-mail.  The posts from Vialogue can also be embedded on a teacher's website.  You can also link to the posting in Canvas by creating an active URL link to the posting.

Vialogues can be used as an assignment tool for students to check comprehension when watching videos.  Students can be required to post comments on videos to gauge their participation in online discussion.  Teachers can also post questions for students to answer with multiple-choice, "all answers that apply", and open answer formats.

NCTIES 2016: The Forge Initiative

During the NCTIES 2016 Instructional Technology Conference, I came across students who represented The Forge Initiative, a nonprofit organization designed to empower students K-12 as well as adults to collaborate and explore, learn, and lead through the use of technology.  In the Forge Initiative, students and adults (including families) learn how to engage in critical thinking in order to solve problems involving technology and engineering.  In this video, these students are demonstrating the use of a robotic kit that uses artificial intelligence to listen to a participant's questions and create a response.  

The Forge Initiative is located in Cary, North Carolina, and frequently holds open events encouraging local residents to participate in their brainstorming activities.