This assignment was just an amazing trip through the web 2.0 applications. I could have spent days and days playing with all the things available to use. With so many varied web 2.0 applications there seems to be something for everyone. As I perused the many sites the following were the ones I would likely use and hope to incorporate them in my classes.
Communication Tool-
Edmodo was indeed my favorite. I found it easy to navigate and understand. But my main reason for preferring this site was that students do not need an email address to acess the site. My page can be private and all my students need it a code to get in. I like this since there are a few students who do not have a computer at home and only use school computers. My school does not offer student email addresses and I would rather not use their parent's email addresses. As far as a communication tool, we would be able to extend the learning in the classroom and into their homes. An outside discussion forum might give those students who are timid in class an opportunity to share their ideas without the fear of comments from others in school. Because of my limited class time with my students, some of our discussions are cut short. This would help us continue the discussion further and thus extend our learning time together.
Collaborative Tool-
Looking at the many types of web 2.0, my first preference for a site is that it has the ability to be private. The second would be that students do not need an email address to access the site. I really liked GoogleDocs although there were some issues in working with the Powerpoint project. It limits your options in editing a bit. Wikispaces is nice also though a bit slow in the discussion forum end. My choice here to try would be Ning. This has an appearance like a myspace page that students are familiar with. It just looks fun. I also like that the page can be ad free. One of the difficulties with these sites though is that they are blocked at my school. It is not an easy task having that undone. These sites would enable students to work on projects together but without the hassle of working side by side. The ability to edit and share work should make the job easier. This alone should be enough to convince any administration the value of a collaborative web 2.0 application.
Publishing-
Technology gives students such wonderful opportunities to create as they never have before. Once they have unleashed their creativity to have the chance to publish and share with the world their work does more for a child's self esteem than any "A" they could receive. I hope to use Gcast in my classes. I am very interested in pod-casting and would like to implement this. I believe that when students see or hear their work where others do also, they begin to take more pride in what they do. They begin to raise their own level of expectations. I also enjoyed Glogster. Another site I think is just plain fun but offers great privacy and students do not need emails to join. Teachers provide names and passwords. This site offers great control and a nice place to show off what you can do.
Depending on the type of students, class and school system you work in will determine which of the many web 2.0 sites are right for you. Getting around and sampling what you can do is easy. Once you open the door to one of these sites your students will help the class turn it into a great place to work and share ideas.
No comments:
Post a Comment