BL1411: Review of Doodle

1. State the technology and provide a link to a website or article that discusses the technology and its educational applications.
Doodle (www.doodle.com) is an online scheduling site that can help multiple people to coordinate meeting times as well as basic polling.
This article outlines some of the different ways that Doodle could be used both in education and in other arenas: http://elearnmag.acm.org/archive.cfm?aid=2003350

2. Concisely affirm or challenge the category of technology you found it in below.
Doodle is categorized in the “Cloud Collaboration and Interaction "space"” category which seems appropriate, as this is a way for students and instructors to interact with one another for the purpose of polling or scheduling.

3. Describe the primary purposes or functions of the technology and how it is used.
Doodle can be used for polling for the purposes of scheduling (“schedule an event”) or to answer a question (“make a choice”).  Here is a sample of each type of poll that I created:
http://doodle.com/44qbntcwz9fnqgy7 (sample poll for students to vote on dates/times)
http://doodle.com/8gwt6r2egiim7xe9 (sample poll for students to vote on a preferred choice)

4. Identify strengths and/or benefits of using this technology in a blended course.
One of the strengths of this site is that students can vote in the poll without having to go through any type of registration process, so it is quick and easy.  Users can also connect to Doodle to their calendar to make scheduling even easier.  For blended courses, using a Doodle poll could make it easier to schedule online or on campus meeting times, set-up group project meetings, or schedule office hours.

5. Identify weaknesses and/or liabilities of using this technology in a blended course.
One weakness of Doodle is the limitations on the types of polling that can be done.  For example, in the “make a choice” poll, you can only have students answer one question.  And like many of the online survey tools, it is a voluntary response system so you are dependent on students clicking on the link and giving feedback.  Though having students give their name gives some accountability. 

6. Is it no cost, commercial, subscription, shareware, or something else? Is it open source or proprietary?
The basic functions of Doodle are free for the creator and the users.  There is a premium service available to eliminate ads and add features starting at $39 per year.

7. Why is this technology significant?
This technology is significant in that it can streamline the scheduling process for any type of collaboration or meeting.  If you have ever sent out an email asking people to let you know when they are free, you know the headache that can be created as you get a list of times to try and coordinate.  This technology helps people to select from a predetermined list of times, see which times work for the most people, and also lets users see when others are available.

8. What are people saying about it?
The overall reviews of Doodle seem to be positive since the site is so quick and easy to use, but also commenting that the site is not unique.  Other sites such as Jiffle (https://www.jifflenow.com/) offer similar free services.  It has, however, outlasted some of its competitors with similar services such as Tungle.
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2011/06/doodle-easy-group-scheduling-tool.html
http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/scheduling-101-using-doodle-for-student-appointments/22783
http://blogs.cofc.edu/tlt/2011/12/15/using-doodles-calendar-connection-to-solve-your-student-scheduling-problems/
http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/08/doodle-a-quick-easy-and-free-resource-for-creating-polls/