aclJohn's Communication Finds

Skype has released a Beta update for Windows. The second beta of Skype 5.0 brings a number of changes both outside and in – most importantly, users can now make group video calls with up to 10 people.

It also welcomes in a fresh new look, as well as increased stability and better quality when making group video calls.

Note: everyone in a group video call now needs to be running this new version, so if learners, colleagues, friends or family are using other versions, they'll have to up...

At last, thanks to Hilary Thomas, I have some tools for you, SAP Web 2.0 FREE PowerPoint Twitter Tools, that may convince colleagues that Twitter is after all a useful tool!

Sometimes the practitioner/administrator/manager/etc., delivering a presentation, are the only one(s) who don't know what their audience is thinking – because everybody else is viewing a Twitter stream.

These new prototypes fix that problem, allowing users to deliver presentations in web 2.0 style, with the comments...

With Shelf by Issuu users can instantly publish a collection of their magazines, course outlines and other publications directly to their website, VLE, Blog, Wiki etc.

Keeping a Shelf updated is fast and easy. It's perfect for practitioners, managers, administrators, learners, and anyone else who relies on posting timely and accurate information to their website etc.

Any publication found on Issuu can be added to a Shelf; including those on my shelf found at http://www.acljohn.com/e...

The cost of audience response systems, for many learning providers, can be a barrier and for those who have them, many sit in cupboards because 'users' are unsure how they work/they are linked into presentation software/etc.

Let's Vote Now is an online voting tool that lets those engaged in teaching & learning to vote on any topic without any hassle.

Start by...

• entering a topic to voting on (this will appear in the Subject of an email), then
• choose the vote type...
  • a simple "...

Many learners use Facebook and I'm sure as Learning Providers, every effort is made to ensure they know how to keep safe.

Not so long ago Facebook was subjected to a lot of press over privacy issues and many, engaged in education, still harbor "anti-facebook" feelings.  These and many others may find a social site like Buddify worth a closer look, and even try it out.

Buddify is a new social network which places a lot of emphasis on giving users full control over their privacy, to the ...

The Sneffel website will let users create a virtual whiteboard that can be used for the free flow and sharing of ideas with learners and/or colleagues.

The virtual whiteboards go by the names of "SneffelBoards", and they can be created for free.

By default, a board is active for 24 hours and will be able to be presented and/or replayed five times.

If users don't want them to expire they are able to extend its life by buying either credits ("SneffelCredits") or adding replays (which ...

Would you like to collaborate and share Office documents, PowerPoint presentations, and more with your learners and colleagues?

Well I'm using the new Office Web Apps with my Facebook friends via http://Docs.com.

I included the new Office Web Apps on SkyDrive in a recent blog, and was excited over the features it had but wished it could do more. One major problem, with the Office Web Apps is that few learners and/or colleagues use Windows Live SkyDrive on a daily basis. This means that...

AnswerGarden is a minimalistic feedback tool.

Learning Providers can...

• use it for online brainstorming;
  
• embed it in...
  • website or
    
  • blog or
  • VLE or
  • Wiki or
  • Social Network page or
    
  • eXe document etc.
• use it as a...
  • poll or
    
  • guest book or
  • reflective feedback etc.
• post the URL by email to stakeholders.

I'm sure there are many other uses that you will come up with. As your Answer Garden(s) draws attention, more and more will start posting their answers to your question(s) either by... ...

and have it shared with others instantly, and it's FREE!

Documents can be shared in two different ways:...

• publicly: - great for sharing press releases, flyers and promotional materials of every kind; and
  
• privately: - the one that people who have to collaborate on sensitive files will use.
  • the actual privacy of a file is ensured by a refined encryption process that guarantees prying eyes wo...

With VanityVid's Browser plugin, those who use Facebook and or Twitter can make their profile picture come alive.

Provide short video clips/thoughts for the day etc., where visitors will, with the FireFox Browser add-in, also be able to see you move and hear you talking, and get a better feeling of who you are and what you're like.

The add-on is available from https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/162157/ (this will allow you to see those Facebook and Twitter users who use Van...