2.2 Communicating, creating, collaborating, managing
Some examples of common apps that fit under the four functional categories you thought about in Activity 4 are explained below. We have provided downloadable sheets explaining what they do and how they can help you. Click on the document names within the text below to see the lists.
Read one or two of the descriptions under each of the headings within these tables and think about some of their possible uses. You might want to download and store these documents somewhere for future reference. The sheets also have some empty spaces at the bottom where you can add any other useful apps that you discover.
You might be able to see a different use for these apps. Depending on the area you work in, you might have a use for Facebook in your job, or you might run a Facebook page to advertise your company or want to set up a closed group for colleagues.
Tools for communicating
The tools on the Tools for communicating [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] sheet provide different ways of communicating with others online.
Tools for creating
Creation tools help you create, edit and share different types of content. The different applications described on the Tools for creating sheet help you create presentations, visualise mathematical data, video, screencasts, record and share audio, and curate images.
Be aware that all sites with video capabilities might contain some pornographic material. If you wish to avoid that content, you can set limits on your searches or choose not to use a particular service. Different services provide different ways of limiting searches.
Tools for collaborating
All the social media tools already listed on the 'Tools for communicating' sheet also enable collaboration. Many of the tools and apps listed here on the Tools for collaborating sheet rely on cloud storage to enable collaboration. You will need to carefully consider whether cloud storage is suitably secure for the type of material you are sharing. Do your documents contain personal data or contain commercially sensitive information? In these cases you might need to use other storage options.
Tools for managing information
The tools within the Tools for managing information sheet are most likely to be used by those pursuing study; some, like Twitter and Reddit, are also used for more social purposes.
You might be able to see a different use for the apps in the documents above. Depending on the area you work in, you might have a use for Facebook in your job, for instance, to run a Facebook page to advertise your company or to set up a closed group for colleagues.