Wikis in Plain EnglishWhat is Web 2.0? The latest version of the Web – this 2.0 version is dynamic & interactive – where everyone can publish & in a variety of formats. There are visual search tools. You can collect and publish videos – see www.vodpod.com. You can select your favorite topics and have web information on them delivered to you – use RSS feeds (Really Simple Syndication) also called an ‘aggregator’. “Mash-ups” are made by putting together programs or code that other people have written to make something new. Check out some of the interactive sites below and comment on how they might be used in your class.
Here are some examples of web 2.0 tools. Click “Download” if they don’t start.
Here is a sample Podcast:
Download Princeton Vocab Minute: Quagmire
Here is a movie to explain what a wiki is and how it works!
Download Wikis in Plain English by The Common Craft Show
We, Heritage HS, have wikis on Wikispaces.com, http://wethepeople.wikispaces.com/ , and pbwikis.org, http://wikicanes.pbwiki.com/ . Use the HHS Equipment wiki to sugggest how to get more technology equipment & how to best use what we currently have.
Another excellent video by The Common Craft Show, is Social Bookmarking, which explains services like Stumble and Delicious and the idea of commenting/ reviewing/ & sharing sites of common interest with others:
Download Social Bookmarking in Plain English
A great movie about Web 2.0 fads: Here comes another bubble…
Sites of interest/ possible discussion:
http://digg.com/videos/educational – preview these first!
http://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice
For social bookmarking, check these:
Please comment!!! That is what a blog is all about – your comments!
10 responses so far ↓
Incredible learning tools. It never ends.
Magnet News – Magnet open house was held on Sept. 6 from 5-7pm. Overall turnout was pretty good. Magnet parents had the opportunity to visit the technology classrooms and speak with the technology teachers. I will keep everyone posted with further magnet updates.
I will be visiting the 9th grade magnet classes to discuss the requirements of the magnet program from Sept. 26 – Oct. 2. I am also getting ready to start meeting with magnet seniors. Attention staff -Please see me if you have any business connections that may be interested in creating a partnership with our magnet program. I am looking to expand the internship/job shadowing opportunities for the magnet students.
We currently have several teachers who have set up wikis for their classes. Kudos to Ms. Cate, Ms. Webb, and Ms. Watson!
ECI 530 Final:
Thoughts on Technology:
I am in the field of Speech Pathology. This class has expanded my outlook on technology. I am not afraid of technology, but it has to work well in order for me to plan the therapy time to use it. There are applications for technology in my field, however at the current time, they aren’t so easy for me to use. I am hoping as I gain more comfort using some of the programs, I will be more inclined to use them in my therapy sessions.
It is possible that there are more creative therapists who have figured out how to bring Web 2.0 and PPT into their therapy sessions. I am just not there yet.
Thoughts on technology that have changed:
I really value the readings about internet safety as this is an area that I have been concerned about with my own children. I feel a little more prepared.
Understanding the New Literacy was VERY useful for me as it gave me a focus for the logic behind some of the therapy I do. I may be inclined to do a modified webquest for some of my 4th and 5th graders to help them focus on information and how it is gathered. This higher level thinking works well in a therapy setting.
I hadn’t used Inspiration before and that is one thing that will help me in homework creation. So I feel that I can easily create the documents I need. Most homework I give is very individualized. It is always geared toward the level the child is functioning in, the reading skills they currently possess and the thinking style they tend to be strong with. Inspiration can make the creation of homework easy and appealing. Given that the amount of materials I was given to begin therapy was insanely small, these programs can help me get the customization done relatively easily.
The tools I will be most apt to use are:
Word (readability stats are great for homework creation)
Inspiration can be used for creating homework to focus on weaker language concepts.
Excel for keeping numerical data and producing charts that can be shared with parents.
I am not yet sure about PowerPoint…I can use the Jeopardy game with some of my older students, but I can’t conceive of another use for it at this point.
I am not inherently creative; I am very good at expanding and improving current ideas…so until I see a good therapeutic use for PPT and Web 2.0, I will have difficulty creating the scenario.
All in all the class was very good. The number of projects was very high. I would love to know how many students spent just the 2 hours estimated working on the Final. I am now logging in at 11 hours. I know that familiarity brings speed in these programs, but I am not there yet. ~Amy
ECI 530
This class has really taught me a lot about technology and how I can integrate it into my classroom. Before taking this class, I had a good understanding of the applications that we used, but after taking this class I have learned much more. I have learned how to better help my students and get them involved in using technology. I have really enjoyed learning about Power Point Presentations and how to make them into interactive presentations. My students can use these presentations in whole group or they can review them on the student computers. I have already used spread sheets in my classroom with weather and my 4th grade class really enjoyed that activity. I will use many of these tools in my classroom next year.
I believe that using these tools will help my students become better associated with technology and help them in the future. Students also seemed to be more focused when I taught with technology instead of just using text books in the classroom. Web 2.0 is a great communication tool that can be used to establish technology communication between students and teachers, and students and students. I really feel that this has been a great class filled with information that will benefit my students and I would recommend that all teachers take this class.
I have learned many new technology tools that will benefit my students and I, these will help move us into the 21st Century. The class has improved my technology skills a lot. I was totally depended on the TCIS. For example, I can come up with ideas and implemented them myself. I feel much better about taking on this task and meeting students’ needs. I can creatively use United Streaming in my lessons. I was reluctant about using the videos. Now, I can’t wait. Another example is using the task cards with the students. I can make my own cards to use in the classroom’s centers. It will make rotating so easy. Best of all, I can differentiate with my reading groups. Third, I will use Think.com. I want to use this with homework. The student write a summary and others respond to it. Since I am just starting out, I know Think.com is the safest for students and the closest I will get to using wikkis or blogs for now. These are a few things I have learned about how to use technology in the 21st Century.
I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about this Technology class. It has truly been an eye opener. Integrating technology in the classroom sounded like the hardest job in the world. I heard it as another thing to do. Now I am looking forward to using excel with my students to graph the growth of plants, or to do our M&M graph. Inspiration is also great for social studies and science. I only knew the basic power point and now I can incorporate graphics and links and action screens and lots more. I can have my students create a news letter. My Webquest is another great learning tool.
I can also use the Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my students reading levels. This will further help with my lesson planning and differentiation. I can create another webquest for the students homework, which would include information for the parents. The parents would be able to go to the Webquest a get a quick snapshot of their child’s progress. The parent can, at that point, also work with their child more effectively.
Michele Williams
ECI 530
Self-Analysis
I don’t know about how much my thoughts have changed about using technology. I have always been an advocate of using technology in the classroom. I think the biggest thing for me is being exposed to all the different tools out there that can be used to engage our students.
There was so much information that was given in class that I felt overwhelmed at times and I don’t think I have mastered much of anything. I think I did learn enough to expand on the knowledge on my own and pick and choose what would be most beneficial to me, my classroom, and my students.
The tools I think I will start using are: WebQuests and more interactive PowerPoints. I think these tools are very beneficial because they allow the students to use technology they are used to having access to.
Web 2.0 will definately play a role in my classroom. I think it is very beneficial to the students as far as being exposed to other students in other places and being able to express themselves in a safe environment. I tried using blogs in my classroom this year; however, the blogging site I chose to use was blocked by NNPS. I was referred to another blogging site which I definately plan on using next year.
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