Bubble.us

Bubble.us scored an 18/24 with our assessment rubric.  It is a simple and user-friendly app. where users create collaborative mind maps.

The downsides from our rubric was limitations to email support for free version and lack of functionality within learning management systems, although it would be easy enough to post a link to the website in any LMS.  Unfortunately, the free version also limits the user to only text maps withought the ability to edit collaboratively.  The primary advantages are that it has very easy functionality once signed up with easy collaboration between any other users.  Image and other file sharing is only available for premium versions.  Bubble.us would be a nice tool for a collaborative PBE learning activity focused on collaborative brainstorming but the best aspects of this app are accessed with paid subscription.

	Bubble.us	Dropbox	Google Drive	Padlet
Purpose and ease of use	Creates mind maps that are collaborative on their website 4	Download app Can be editing docs within 15 minutes 3	Some tutoring and practice needed for file sharing and collaboration 2	virtual wall to share information and media 4
Accessibility	3 mind maps free any device 4	others must have app 3	Need free google account 4	need to sign up with email- free 4
Support	email support for free subscription 2	chat, email, phone with paid subscription.  Email only for trial verison 2	2	4
Audience	global possible 4	must have app 3	4	3
Media Formats	4	4	4	4
Compatibility with Learning/Course Management Systems	can be posted or linked but collaborative function is only on website 2	does not sinc to LMSs but files can be shared 2	compatible with a few including Google Classroom, Schoology, and others 3	can be posted or linked but collaborative function is only on Padlet website 2
TOTAL COMMUNICATION TOOL SCORE	Bubble.us 18	Dropbox 19	Google Drive 19	Padlet 21

Dropbox

Dropbox.com scored only 15/24 on our rubric of communication tools for PBE education primarily due to the lack of accessibility without a paid subscription.  The paid version however is compatible with all Microsoft products and offers a way for users to collaborate and edit documents.  Users need to download a link to the web-based platform which is accessed from the desktop.  Dropbox has a business and personal use versions and does sinc to Google and Microsoft products but does not seem to have a version dedicated to education or particular learning management systems.  The paid version offers good tech support.  

	Bubble.us	Dropbox	Google Drive	Padlet
Purpose and ease of use	Creates mind maps that are collaborative on their website 4	Download app Can be editing docs within 15 minutes 3	Some tutoring and practice needed for file sharing and collaboration 2	virtual wall to share information and media 4
Accessibility	3 mind maps free any device 4	others must have app 3	Need free google account 4	need to sign up with email- free 4
Support	email support for free subscription 2	chat, email, phone with paid subscription.  Email only for trial verison 2	2	4
Audience	global possible 4	must have app 3	4	3
Media Formats	4	4	4	4
Compatibility with Learning/Course Management Systems	can be posted or linked but collaborative function is only on website 2	does not sinc to LMSs but files can be shared 2	compatible with a few including Google Classroom, Schoology, and others 3	can be posted or linked but collaborative function is only on Padlet website 2
TOTAL COMMUNICATION TOOL SCORE	Bubble.us 18	Dropbox 19	Google Drive 19	Padlet 21

Google Drive

Google Drive scored a 19 out of 24 on our communication tool assessment rubric.  It offers a free and comprehensive platform that links to many other online media applications.  It is accessible with a free Google account and is compatible with any media including documents, images, and video.  It also offers Google Hangouts which is video conferencing with multiple users simultaneously.  Users can edit cloud-based documents collaboratively although the sharing and retrieving functions can be confusing. It is compatible with some learning management systems including Google Classroom, Schoology, and others.  Posting documents or linking to other media on the Drive otherwise needs to be downloaded to the hard drive first before uploading to the LMS for student access.  

	Bubble.us	Dropbox	Google Drive	Padlet
Purpose and ease of use	Creates mind maps that are collaborative on their website 4	Download app Can be editing docs within 15 minutes 3	Some tutoring and practice needed for file sharing and collaboration 2	virtual wall to share information and media 4
Accessibility	3 mind maps free any device 4	others must have app 3	Need free google account 4	need to sign up with email- free 4
Support	email support for free subscription 2	chat, email, phone with paid subscription.  Email only for trial verison 2	2	4
Audience	global possible 4	must have app 3	4	3
Media Formats	4	4	4	4
Compatibility with Learning/Course Management Systems	can be posted or linked but collaborative function is only on website 2	does not sinc to LMSs but files can be shared 2	compatible with a few including Google Classroom, Schoology, and others 3	can be posted or linked but collaborative function is only on Padlet website 2
TOTAL COMMUNICATION TOOL SCORE	Bubble.us 18	Dropbox 19	Google Drive 19	Padlet 21

Padlet

Moodle

Moodle	Edmodo	ScreenChomp	Wikispaces.com
Purpose and ease of use	A free LMS Many functions take time to learn but basic uses are easy 3	Free comprehensive communication tool. 2	ipad compatible app to record presentations. 4	Free for educators.  Multifunctional wiki. Takes time to learn functions Purpose=4 Ease of use=2
Accessibility	accessed from any device.  need free subscription 4	4	Ipad app- accessible for presenter.  Students can access once presentation is shared to Twitter, blogs etc. 4	Free to access with link 4
Support	email support 2	2	2	email and online tutorials 2
Audience	global possible 4	large network of users 4	audience may be global if shared to social media. Does not allow for 2 -way communication 3	Anyone with link. 3
Media Formats	4	4	4	4
Compatibility with Learning/Course Management Systems	This is a LMS that is compatible and directly linked with many external communication platforms such as blogs 4	Compatible with Google and Microsoft 3	Links to presentation can be posted on any LMS 3	Link to content can be posted to any LMS.   3
TOTAL COMMUNICATION TOOL SCORE	Moodle 21	Edmodo 19	ScreenChomp 20	Wikispaces.com 19

Moodle scored a 21/24 with our assessment rubric.  This is the only communication tool I assessed that is a learning management system.  It is a free open source LMS with many applications that do take time to learn but is free and accessible from any electronic device.   Instructors can set up and evaluate learning competencies, provide learning resources in all media formats, and choose from many different communication options including discussion forums, blogs, private messaging etc.  It can also be directly linked to external communication tools such as blogs.  

Edmodo

Moodle	Edmodo	ScreenChomp	Wikispaces.com
Purpose and ease of use	A free LMS Many functions take time to learn but basic uses are easy 3	Free comprehensive communication tool. 2	ipad compatible app to record presentations. 4	Free for educators.  Multifunctional wiki. Takes time to learn functions Purpose=4 Ease of use=2
Accessibility	accessed from any device.  need free subscription 4	4	Ipad app- accessible for presenter.  Students can access once presentation is shared to Twitter, blogs etc. 4	Free to access with link 4
Support	email support 2	2	2	email and online tutorials 2
Audience	global possible 4	large network of users 4	audience may be global if shared to social media. Does not allow for 2 -way communication 3	Anyone with link. 3
Media Formats	4	4	4	4
Compatibility with Learning/Course Management Systems	This is a LMS that is compatible and directly linked with many external communication platforms such as blogs 4	Compatible with Google and Microsoft 3	Links to presentation can be posted on any LMS 3	Link to content can be posted to any LMS.   3
TOTAL COMMUNICATION TOOL SCORE	Moodle 21	Edmodo 19	ScreenChomp 20	Wikispaces.com 19

Edmodo scored a 19/24 with our assessment rubric.  It is a comprehensive communication tool used by educators.  It is compatible with some learning management systems including Google and Microsoft products and is compatible with most media apps.  Instructors can communicate with students groups through Google Drive, calendars, and other links.  Assignments and quizzes can be posted as well either teacher-generated or through “Snapshot” which is a database of existing quizzes based on common core standards.  It has a large network of professional users to collaborate with but minimal technical support available.