More conversation about Cacoo

1. Name of the Tool
Cacoo.

2. URL of the Tool
http://cacoo.com

3. Please select the one, primary category for this tool: Communication Tool, Collaboration Tool, Productivity Tool, Creativity Tool, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Tool, Reflection Tool, Feedback Tool, Networking/Social Tool, Presentation Tool
This is primarily a tool for productivity, although it can be used for other ends, due to a collaboration module - you can work together and chat with someone else - and some possibilities for communication and creativity.


4. Please describe this tool in your own words in about 250 words.

Cacoo is built for the easy creation of collaborative diagrams, using a bunch of fairly intuitive tools.
I assume that there is a lot more to the details of many of the particular icons they've included (though you can scan in your own images) because most of them seem to be related to creating organizational flowcharts or network maps.
The primary interface is selecting images from a wide bar of premade options, which include rough shapes, explicitly "flowcharty" tags, outlines for placing office equipment and other architectural details - such as length or width lines. All of the premade images have anchor points on them, and the software includes tools to automatically draw lines for you, curving or bending them as you might like, and providing spaces for adding text.
There are a few traits which make Cacoo different from more conventional paint programs. For one thing, there is no "paintbrush." While you can fill a
space or otherwise color it, or add a drop shadow, you cannot simply free-hand draw something, at least within Cacoo itself.
On the added side, however, it is possible to invite others to work on the diagram with you directly; there's even a chat box to allow you both to communicate more directly than, say, by drawing notes in the corner.

5. What do you need to know before using this tool? (What skills do you need to have?)

There is not a great deal which you "need" to know. However, unless you are designing a flowchart, concept map, network map, or something architectural in design, you may have some difficulty in making a lot of specific use of Cacoo's features.


6. What do you need to have before using this tool? (Resources)

Other than an internet connection, very little. If you are using it for new designs or wish to include specific things that are not in the image library, you will need images to upload.

9. Please describe a scenario of how you might use this tool in a teaching environment (about 500 words).

The "go to" utility for this program outside of the customized applications that it seems to be made for, like network mapping, would be in the creation of concept maps.
And there are many ways you could do this. One possibility would be the creation of concept maps for distribution to students, much as in the research which I cited in my discussion board post regarding "scaffolded" concept maps, as well as in the creation of erroneous concept maps - which is probably less easy than it sounds. Either way, making excellent looking concept maps is pretty simple and straightforward, and will only get easier with practice.
Another idea would be to make use of a computer lab or similar facilities to get the students to create their own concept maps and then "invite" your account to look and comment on them, so it would be possible to work with them directly. This might be especially good for distance education purposes, although in that case scheduling may pose some potential problems.

10. What are the advantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?

It would be quite easy to use this to produce high quality diagrams, flowcharts, and the like in a manner that would not require special and expensive graphics tools. If you happen to work in an architectural or network-mapping related field, it would be even better, having clearly been designed with those needs in mind.
It also allows for relatively easy self creation and production of concept maps, which could be easily farmed out to children who have computer access. The collaborative aspect would also make "turning it in" easy, as well as correcting it - perhaps using a distinctive color, such as red, to make such indications. It wouldn't be impossible to do wholly automatic grading.


11. What are the disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?

The tool may not last terribly long, as any web 2.0 program might not, and it is also clearly specialized for an audience which is not the standard sort of educator. It is also possible that putting students' work somewhere where they might have it available to public view could be a problem; also, Cacoo appears to be based originally in Japan, which could cause connection issues.
For a higher level class, however, such as high school or even college freshmen, I can see few genuine downsides to this program. It is however a niche program; you would need to plan its use somewhat carefully, to avoid having the use of the program expand to be a primary part OF the course.