Communication Tool Evaluation Task: Haiku Learning

Haiku Learning

http://www.haikulearning.com/

Rubric for Assessing Communication Tools

Kristen Cosgrove and Geoff Cyr

#umfedu568

	Does not Meet	Meets	Exceeds
Technology Details
Compatibility		Service or Application is browser/operating system agnostic (e.g., can be used in multiple Internet browsers, and/or on desktop and mobile devices).
Cost		Service is available at little-to-no cost for teachers and schools, AND/OR offers free trials of services to classrooms and schools with available educational discounts for purchase.  Additional features can be purchased outside of in-app purchase system for mobile devices.
Marketing		Service does not contain any advertisements or marketing.
User Safety and Privacy
COPPA Compliance		Service is COPPA-compliant and proof is prominently displayed on the developers’ website AND/OR Developer is a signatory to the Student Privacy Pledge
Controlled Content Sharing		Teacher is able to control level that students’ content is shared at (e.g., classroom-level, other people by invitation, open to public, etc.)
Content Monitoring		Teacher can monitor, filter, and approve student content to platform and comments from others
Appropriate Content		Built-in controls prevent users from stumbling--intentionally or unintentionally--on inappropriate content
User-Friendliness - Students
Use of Multimedia		Students can create, upload, and share content from multiple sources of media (text, images, audio, video, hyperlinks, etc.)
Navigation		Navigation is simple and obvious enough for all users understand
Saving and Revision History		Service saves users’ work automatically, while also maintaining a log or history of changes made by users over time
User-Friendliness - Teachers
Classroom- Level Accounts		Service creates a master account for teachers that connects to and allows teachers to monitor student accounts
Setup		Service can be set up by teachers with minimal assistance needed
Account Creation		Student accounts are created by the teacher or school, or can easily be setup by students using a class code, AND/OR students can create accounts using a common third-party service, like a student Google account
Accessibility
Design and Layout		Service uses large text or multimedia elements that allow for younger students and students who struggle with reading to navigate the page, app, or service
Accessibility Features		Service integrates accessibility features designed to help users with physical or developmental disabilities to use the product.

	Does not Meet	Meets	Exceeds	Comments
Technology Details
Compatibility				It was unclear if it if compatible with other devices besides computers
Cost				Single teachers can use a certain amount of space and features for free.  There is a cost for a whole district to use the service but they can try a free 60 day trial first
Marketing				They do not use adds.
User Safety and Privacy
COPPA Compliance				COPPA Compliant
Controlled Content Sharing				It is unclear if the teacher is able to see posts and comments before others with the discussion function of this tool.
Content Monitoring				Setting where teacher can “view as student”
Appropriate Content				Controlled Tool, there does not seem to be an option for searching.
User-Friendliness – Students
Use of Multimedia				“Using Haiku Learning’s WikiProjects, students can work together as an entire class, in groups, or as individuals to post text, links, photos, videos, and more to project pages within your classroom website. Students have access to nearly all the tools you use to create and post content like Embed the Web™. Watch progress, leave feedback, and grade the project upon completion.”
Navigation				Sample pages seemed clear and easy to navigate
Saving and Revision History				I did not see automatic saving, or revision history features
User-Friendliness - Teachers
Classroom- Level Accounts				Teachers create a specific “classroom” with all of their students
Setup				Though this tool sound like it has a lot of great features once set up, it sound somewhat complicated to set up in the beginning.
Account Creation				Teachers can invite parents and students by sending a specific code through email, or through printing a page out with codes and giving them to students to enter
Accessibility
Design and Layout				I did not find any information on ways to make fonts bigger for younger students.
Accessibility Features				I did not see any setting that could be adjusted to accommodate students with disabilities.

Additional Notes:

Features that it has:

·         Includes a calendar

·         Allows students to create a portfolio

·         Use for discussions or poll students

·         Teacher can integrate tools from the web onto a class web page within Hiku learning account, such as Google Maps and Ted Talks

·         Blog/Discussion board Section

·         Messaging between students and teachers, and between parents and teachers.

·         It has grade book features

·         Can be used for giving assignments and assessments

·         Can be used to take student “polls”

·         Can be used to take attendance

 How it could be used in the classroom:

 If I used Haiku Learning in my classroom, I would use the calendar feature to make sure students and parents were aware of what assignments were due when.  I would also post classroom events on the calendar and mark when permission slips for field trip needed to be returned by.  I would use Haiku Learning’s features to help with creating an easy to navigate interactive class web page for parents to see what we were learning about.