Web 2.0 Tools

Megan Afeld

EDU 2043: Educational Technology

April 1, 2014

Web 2.0

What is Web 2.0? Web 2.0 is a "dynamic web-based service." According to Mrs. Benton's PowerPoint, they allow "writing, communication, sharing, communities, networking, blogs, wikis, and podcasting." Majority of people, whether they realize it or not, use these sites on a day to day basis.  Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and even this blog are all examples of Web 2.0 sites. In this post, I'm investigating different Web 2.0 tools that would be a benefit to use in my future classroom.

Web Poster Wizard

Web Poster Wizard would be a great resource for any teacher. This tool allows educators to create a lesson, a worksheet, or class page and then immediately post it online. The teacher would also be able to set up classes and assign students different projects. The students would then complete their assignments with online reports or projects. In the grades I'm hoping to teach, worksheets are a great tool to be used as a helpful way to guide the students in their learning. They will also be needing to work on fine motor skills via cutting and gluing so this would be a nice way to make a lesson, worksheet, or whatnot for the students to utilize.

Kidblog

Kidblog is a great tool that gives students in Kindergarten through seniors in high school the ability to create a secure blog. It gives students a chance to create their own individual blog. Some uses of Kidblog would be: "create classroom discussions, learn digital citizenship, practice writing skills, create an e-portfolio, reflect on learning, and formatively assess their writing." Teachers are able to maintain complete control over their students blogs and user accounts. This tool would be useful for the younger children in giving them a chance to share their world, their new experiences and so-forth. I would use it as a journaling type thing. If anything new happened in their lives, blog about it or use it as a type of daily opener. For example, the students could have a prompt such as, "If I could be anything in the world, I would be a..." 

 Kizoa

Kizoa is a site where someone can create slideshows, videos, collages, and they are able to edit their photos. The site has templates available for the use of individuals and they have many effects and transitions to make them more interesting to the students. The person creating the video or collage or what not is able to share through the site or they are able to save it on the site. I could use this free tool as a way to make collages for the year or for a students' on their birthdays, to make videos to gather more of an interest for the topic and where they wouldn't have to listen to me all the time. It would give my students a greater variety and would cater to students with the different learning styles.

PageFlip-Flap

PageFlip-Flap gives teachers a chance to turn a boring PDF into a flip book. Students are able to flip the pages and learn about the material in a fun way versus the boring, plain PDF. This is a great tool to be used. The student would be able to zoom, search, browse, and print the information. This would provide students with more fun as they learn the information rather than them looking at a boring, blank PDF page with nothing but pictures. I will use this in my class when I'm wanting them to read something quietly, or review important topics.

Jeopardy Labs

Jeopardy Labs gives a Jeopardy template for different subjects. Students are able to see if they know the various information in a fun way. It's viewed more as a game so the students will be more excited and inclined to participate. I would use this tool with mathematics, spelling, and also grammar. I could give students a chance to be "caboose" or "leader" or some such coveted position when children are still in the early years of school.

Kubbu

Kubbu is a tool that allows teachers to create games, quizzes, or crossword puzzles. The results are automatically calculated and stored and can be compared and sorted. You are then able to export the results and use them in any way. I would use this to create games and crossword puzzles for my class. I would make them using their spelling words and sight words.

Quiz Revolution

Quiz Revolution has different templates in which teachers can use to create quizzes for their students. It lets you add images, videos, custom responses, timed questions, custom endings, and more. You get to start with simply picking a style: classic, advanced, or the challenger which is easiest to hardest, respectively. I would use this when creating different tests or quizzes for my classroom. 

School Tube

School Tube is videos created by students and teachers from all over. It provides different videos that can help students see things in a different way than what their teacher taught. It supplies videos on a variety of subjects such as "How to Use a Comma" and more. I would use this tool as a way to introduce the topic. I would also use this tool to give my students another way of looking at the material we will be working on learning.

Teacher Tube

Teacher Tube gives different videos intended for educational use. They provide academic videos and there are also some on difficult topics like dealing with racism in the classroom and so forth. This is a great tool to use in the classroom. If a student does not understand something, this would be a great way to show it in another way. It would also serve as a great introductory or refresher for the student.

Children's YouTube

Children's YouTube provides different YouTube videos that are enjoyable for children ages two to ten. They have been viewed by parents and teachers to provide a safe environment for the children.  I would use this for my students by letting them use the provided videos as a tool to read along with. i would also use this when they are learning their alphabet or beginning to count.

There are so many free Web 2.0 tools available. Once I become a teacher, I plan on using all of the ones that will benefit my students academically and to give them a chance to learn in a fun way.