Annotation Tool And Digital Gateway
Tech ID: 30351 / UC Case 2019-050-0
SUMMARY
Researchers led by Matthew Fisher have developed an online tool that allows instructors to upload documents and students to easily annotate this text and engage in threaded discussion.
BACKGROUND
The internet has been a transformative technology for many different industries and has tremendous potential in the field of education. Different websites and platforms allow teachers to upload syllabi, assignments, lectures, and reading material for students to see and download. However, these platforms lack a medium in which students can collaborate, discuss, and annotate reading materials and assignments. Development of these types of tools can foster discussion and group effort that may be harder to do in a live classroom setting where anxiety or shyness may be an issue.
INNOVATION
Researchers led by Matthew Fisher from the English Department at UCLA have developed an online tool that allows instructors to upload documents and for students to easily annotate this text and engage in threaded discussion. This innovation comprises of two technologies: a digital gateway for instructors to upload class documents and an annotation gateway for students to make notes and comments. The annotation gateway allows students to highlight text and create notes or questions that other students can see. Furthermore, these annotations are threaded so that students can reply to particular annotations and facilitate collaboration and discussion. The primary text appears in the left pane while annotations and discussion appears on the right pane, an example of this can be seen in the figure provided.
OTHER INFORMATION
APPLICATIONS
Uploading documents
Annotating documents
Facilitate discussion and collaboration
Group reading and collaboration online
ADVANTAGES
Easy to use
Online platform
Flexible file types of documents