Leveraging 3rd partY web services
EWU Faculty Success Showcase
May 21, 2014
P. Colin Manikoth
Faculty Lecturer, VCD
Web consultant: design and development
Work on Internet: don't get too attached
Work anywhere
Always have access to files on any device
go ahead, catch on fire
Canvas
Cannot ( should not ) be everything
- Support, Maintenance, & training- Faculty needs & policies change
Canvas is evolving & is an extensible LMS via LTI
APIs (application programming interface) are now common place
Canvas 3rd party web services have limitations
requirements
Don't let technologies get in the way
No coding necessary
Supplement, not replace Canvas
Canvas is central (links out) to web services
Must be available on mobile, tablet, & desktop
caveats
Free comes at a cost
3rd party services are reliable, but do go down
Logins. Logins. Logins.
Login stack
Good stack of widely accepted logins
- Twitter
- Google
- FaceBook
- GitHub
Use a Password Manager
EASY STUFF
TLK.io
Supplement Canvas Conversations. Chat no longer offered by Canvas
Pros:
- Public to everyone
- Can include non-EWU members, e.g. Guest Lecturers
- Easy to use. Non archival.
Cons:
- Public to everyone
- Non archival.
- Moderation
SLID.ES
- create, store, & share slide decks
Pros:
- Compatible on mobile, tablet, & desktop devices
- Slides always available online
Cons:
- Free account, no private presentations
- Free account, only 250 MB of storage
See also SlideShare
Screenr.com
- Screenr.com encodes & delivers video
Cons:
- Free trial, but no free account
- Requires Java
Medium
Why?
why Dropbox?
Take advantage of all DropBox features
Canvas limits file storage to 500MB
Used by many schools - Space Race (now over)
2GB free account with more Free Space
Many apps use DropBox for storage
Canvas LTI: DropBox DBX
DropBox: File Sharing
Add links to Canvas Pages, Modules, Assignments, etc.
Easy file sharing & hosting
Right-click Copy public link
- Posting links to downloadable files on Canvas
- Not-attaching large files to emails
- Sharing photo galleries
- Sharing video
NOt-s0-medium
Canvas Backup & Restore
Restore a Deleted Item
Undelete item, but which version?
Last saved? What about past versions?
Backup vs.
Version contorl
Backup:
* Duplicate file(s).
* Single backup.
* Does not track versions.
Version Control:
* A time machine for files(s).
* Tracks changes.
* Steep learning curve, but worth it.
DropBox: Events
* Pros:
- Simple backup of files
- Simple version control of files by date saved
* Cons:
- Every save is its version. Creates many versions.
- Cannot set own "milestones for saves (commits)". See GitHub up next.
why, again?
For Students:
- No Excuses
For Faculty & Stuff:
- No Excuses
- No more Final_v1, Final_FINAL, etc.
- Collaborative Version Control
Pen flip
Collaborative writing
Version controlled files
Use Markdown syntax
Export to many formats
Growing in popularity
conCLUSION
Add LTI app if it required feature(s)
Be wary of apps in beta
Thank You.
P. Colin Manikoth
PH: ext. 4086
Email: pmanikoth@ewu.edu
Twitter: @poukong
Skype: colin.manikoth
URL: manikoth.com