Recently I was approached by an aspiring teacher. She wanted to know which five Web2 tools I use the most, or see as the most valuable…well, the problem was obvious: How do you choose only five?!
My response follows (referring to interesting links similar to delicious style). Please leave comments about your favourite Web2 tools:
1. I think Wikis are wonderful. As a starting point, here are some links
- Lots of classroom ideas and examples of Wikis http://acadiatechinfo.pbworks.com/Using-Wikis-in-the-Classroom
- A link to 50 ways you can use Wikis in the classroom: http://www.smartteaching.org/blog/2008/08/50-ways-to-use-wikis-for-a-more-collaborative-and-interactive-classroom/
- Wikis in Plain English (Video from YouTube)
- Wiki for disabled web users to find tools to assist them: http://abilitynet.wetpaint.com/
- You will have to mention Wikipedia.
2. Blogs, of course! Some links:
- Blogs in Plain English (Video from YouTube)
- I posted more ideas and examples on http://marynabadenhorst.global2.vic.edu.au/blogging-what-how/
- Hundred inspiring blogs for educators: http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2009/100-incredibly-inspiring-blog-posts-for-educators/
- How to and why blogs? A blog post giving more info: http://blogsforlearning.msu.edu/
- Mini Blogging: Twitter, also helpful in classrooms for quick spread of information and further links. Some examples: http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2009/twitteredu-100-excellent-educational-twitter-feeds/ (You could choose Twitter as a tool to discuss all on its own.)
3. Voicethread
- http://www.edutopia.org/voicethread-interactive-multimedia-albums
- Some teacher created Voicethreads: http://ed.voicethread.com/#q
- Wiki on Using Voicethread for digital conversations: http://digitallyspeaking.pbworks.com/Voicethread
- Teachers using Voicethread: http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2007/11/using-voicethre.html
- http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/
4. Podcasting (Only one form of digital storytelling…)
- My journey: http://marynabadenhorst.global2.vic.edu.au/podcasting-my-journey/
- http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/sites/sites074.shtml
- Fab PowerPoint on Slideshare, really informative re the value of podcasts: http://www.slideshare.net/shjduarte/esl-classroom-podcasting
- http://ipodclassroom.wikispaces.com/
- http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/07/16/digital-storytelling-ideas-from-david-and-dean/
5. I believe Skype (or any similar application) is also a tool often overlooked. Many students have communicated with kids from around the globe, using this free application. The visual interaction makes it even more user-friendly. Here is a link to 50 ways to use Skype in the classroom: http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/
- Other Web2 toolsSlideshare, online surveys, online mindmapping, online communities like in Facebook or MySpace, online virtual worlds like SecondLife (see this link for Second Life worlds created by teachers: http://vworld.fas.org/wiki/Teacher), social networks (http://socialnetworksined.wikispaces.com/), etc. For more Web2 tool examples see these links:
- http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/04/10-internet-technologies-that-educators-should-be-informed-about/
- http://marynabadenhorst.global2.vic.edu.au/2009/07/15/distributed-teams/
- http://marynabadenhorst.global2.vic.edu.au/web-20-tools-for-the-classroom/
Important info:
When discussing Web2 in schools, you will probably have to use catch phrases like Digital Native (Born after 1980), Digital Immigrant (Born before 1980) and Digital Settler (Born before 1980 but using technology in a very sophisticated way). My favourite short screencast about the learning styles of these groups can be found at http://www.kirstenwinkler.com/the-learning-approach-of-digital-natives-and-digital-immigrants/
Evaluating Tech use in classrooms…be aware:
- Just using computers and technology do not necessarily mean that it supports effective or deep learning: http://www.thethinkingstick.com/evaluating-technology-use-in-the-classroom,
- Technology is not for everyone…some teachers may even be ‘allergic’ to using it! Interesting blog post: How sharing Technology Professional Development is similar to sharing a Chocolate Cake http://bit.ly/yzFyJ
- Internet safety…a can of worms. Get started with info here http://www.wiredsafety.org/
Starting on a Web2 journey in the classroom may look overwhelming, but choose the applications that you think will really support your teaching style and the learning of most of your students. The beauty of Web2 is of course, the interactive and hands-on type collaboration that can take place in a virtual world, enabling anywhere, anytime learning. (www-whenever, whoever, wherever). And on to Web3: http://www.labnol.org/internet/web-3-concepts-explained/8908/