Web+2.0+Group+2

Group Two: Courtney Luckadoo and Ashley Mintz

Directions: In your group, find 10 Web 2.0 tools that are relevant for today's teachers. Create a product using each of the tools, embed your sample, then write a 500 word review of the tool including overall impression, ease of use, relevant application, grade level recommendation, and any tips or pointers.

=media type="custom" key="13803936"= =1. PREZI= Prezi Prezi was a tool that I explored during this class. The Prezi would be a tool that I would use in upper grades after the students are comfortable making other presentations. In the classroom I would first become comfortable using the Prezi before introducing my students to this tool. The Prezi has the little zebra tool that I became frustrated with because I am not a technological person. I would provide time to let the students explore this tool without a deadline. I would just let the student manipulate the each tool in the Prezi to become comfortable with using this web 2.0 tool. I believe after practice this tool would become easier for students to use in the classroom. Also as a teacher I would have a place where students are able to go back and view tutorials to refresh their skills. I would use this tool for presentations in the classroom. I would use the Prezi to inform students about the week in my classroom instead of writing this information day by day on a white board. Why Prezi and not a simple power point? The Prezi is viewed on one canvas and zooms in and out as directed.

media type="custom" key="12736878" =2.ANIMOTO= Wow, I really liked animoto after being introduced to the tool in this class. I have incorporated this tool already in some of my other lesson plans. I really like this tool after I figured out how to use other tools on my computer that I really did not know how to do. It has been a challenge because I really did not use or know about many of the web tools before coming to this class. I just recently learned to upload photos to make these presentations. The animoto breaks the procedure down by steps which I think makes the easy to use this tool. The user knows which step is next and can plan ahead for each step. I would start using this tool with second maybe third graders who have been introduced to technology and are comfortable with technology. Students would also use this tool to present some type of information. One way that I would like to use this tool is as an icebreaker at the first of the year. I would do this with students around third through fifth grade. I would show the students my animoto that represents me the first day of class. Then I would have a lesson planned after to walk students through each step on how to use the tool. Next I would give the students about 20 minutes to plan what they want to include. Then have them gather the pictures from home and put on a flash drive. The next day they would make their animoto to present to the class. The only drawback is that the free version is only 30 seconds but there are promo codes.



=3.FACEBOOK= Mrs. Roseman's Fourth Grade Facebook Page Facebook is a great took to use in education. It is not only the most popular social networking program on the internet, but it is easy to use, and has great privacy/security system. Facebook allows you to block your entire webpage from being seen by anybody except people you choose. You can even block yourself, or group, from being searched. With this great privacy system, it would be easy to create a classroom website. On this classroom website, you could upload photos of the students doing activities in the classrooms, or pictures of them on fieldtrips. Parents can easily access the photos and see their children in action. Parents can also chat with one another on the Facebook wall. They can discuss with one another about birthday parties, and upcoming school activities. They can even leave their ideas about what they want to see their child doing. I would keep this very open to the parents only. For the children, I would create a separate Facebook page for them, or Wiki. As the teacher, as I said earlier, I would upload pictures of the students, but I would also keep status updates about upcoming activities, homework, upcoming projects, overall school information, and other information I think the parents should know. I would check this regularly and answer any questions my parents had. I would keep this updated daily so my parents can check on the website to see their child’s homework and help them stay ahead or on task. The only disadvantage I see with using Facebook is if a parent is infected with a virus it can leave an inappropriate comment or video on the school page. It can easily be deleted, but it can be there for 8 hours or so before I see it and delete it. Another disadvantage would be if two parents were to get in a disagreement over the Facebook wall. It sounds childish, but happens at every age. Overall, I find Facebook a great teaching tool and communication skill between the teacher and parents.

media type="custom" key="12737192"

=4. PODOMATIC= Here is the link to the podcast off of podomatic []

Podcast was another tool that I was introduced to in the class. I knew that podcast exist because I have listed to teacher made podcast. I had never until this class made one. This tool was very easy to use thanks in part to my partner for the project. The website was easy to navigate and there are many tutorials on how to use podomatic. It was free to use the tool which is always a plus. I would start using this tool as early as kindergarten. I would set up a station/center where the students could read a book out loud and record their reading. Then I can listen to each child read and I can use the class time more wisely. For student who cannot read, I would read a book over podcast for them to listen and follow. If there is an ELL student in the classroom I could find a podcast of the book in their language. That is also another plus to this tool; a teacher can use this as resource. I would also record announcement like my partner and I did for the project. This way I am not repeating myself about the events for that week. I would make this information available to parents so that they know what is going on in the classroom. I liked podomatic and the ways to use this tool are endless.

media type="custom" key="12737382" =5 AND 6. IPAD AND YOUTUBE= Kids using Ipads! Also Teachers can use YouTube in the classroom for a teaching tool.

iPads are becoming one of the most popular items to be sold in the world. iPads have changed the world and the way students learn. In the future, I see iPads replacing textbooks and school computer labs. In newly built schools, they are reducing the number of computer labs being built, and are not investing as much into desktop computers. Every student from Kindergarten up, are now given iPads at the beginning of the year and are assigned to one until they are no longer a student at that specific school. Some schools allow the students to take them home, but most school requires the students to leave them at school. Eventually they will be given to the students to keep. The students mostly use the iPads to play educational app’s that the teacher or school has downloaded. The apps include multiplication tables, vocabulary words, phonics, and many other purposeful apps that enhance learning. I once observed a classroom where a teacher knew her students well enough that after they finished their assignments, she told each student individually which app to work on. She knew in her head what each child needed the most help and practice with. Studies have shown how the iPad app has improved the skills the student studies with. Not only are there educational apps, but there are apps that are not intended for education, that can incorporated in. For example, iMovie is a great app to use in second grade. In second grade in the Common Core Language Arts Standard, students are required to record themselves reciting a story or poem. This is a great way to incorporate technology into the curriculum and state standards. iPads are not best in any specific grade, and can be used in any subject. I see a few disadvantages with iPads and one is a personal disadvantage. I personally feel that children will lose the value of books. Books are special to many people and last forever if taken proper care of. If students are given iPads as a textbook, and are not allowed to take them home, how are they going to be able to study the text at home? How are they going to be able to use the text to help them with their homework? A lot of textbooks are turned in at the end of the year and reused yearly in elementary school; however, when you get to High education classes, they have to be bought. There are many texts I wish I could use for a course then turn back in, and that option is out there (called rent), but you still have to pay for it. With the iPad you can download the text and always have it. Downloading the text to your iPad is a great idea, except if you were to lose it, break it, or have it stolen; you would have to repurchase it, but the same goes with a book text. Anything can happen so you have to be careful and really take care of you iPad. Overall iPads are wonderful tools being used in and out of the classrooms. iPads will continue to grow in the coming years and as a future teacher, I am thrilled to see what is next.

Youtube is a great web tool to use in a classroom. Youtube is a website that was created for people to upload videos. People use this website mostly for personal video blogging, expressing their opinions of celebrities, a certain topic or situation going on in the country, uploading their talents including, vocal, instrumental, dance, athletic abilities and countless other things. People are not only uploading media and the latest celebrity gossip, but also educational and informative videos. Over most recent years, Youtube has been growing fast in the education system. There are over a million Youtube videos and thousands are educational. It is being used in classrooms all over the world and students are using it now in presenting presentations and creating portfolios for school work. Since I have been at Lees McRae College, all my teachers have used Youtube at least once this semester. Everyday thousands of videos are uploaded and stored into the huge database. Since Youtube has become increasingly popular in classrooms, Youtube has actually created a website for teachers called TeacherTube. It is filed with nothing but educated related videos and the search possibilities are endless. You can search for almost any topic or subject and be provided with a reliable video to refer to. I see this website being a great tool to teach a class with. A teacher can search for a video about a certain topic/subject and show her class which will help assess her visual and auditory learners. The best thing is, the students are able to go home, and search the video themselves and re-watch the video for extra review. I find this website to be age appropriate for all age groups (K-12). Students are given iPads in Kindergarten and are a part of the digital learner’s nation. Technology is not new to them. Older students, such as middle school, high school, and college students will benefit from this site the most. They know how to properly navigate this site to their benefit. Youtube does have disadvantages like other websites. Youtube is fairly good about keeping clean and fair content on their website, but sometimes, they do have inappropriate videos uploaded. As a teacher, I would recommend watching the videos before showing them to the class. For parents, it is best to monitor your child on this website. It can be a great website, but it can also lead to some harmful or inappropriate information. Overall, if used correctly and planned effectively by the teacher, Youtube is a fantastic teaching tool for students.

[] =7. BLOGMEISTER=

This is an example of a classroom blog in action.
====Why is this blog site different than others, it is for the classroom. Blogmeister has place on the site where you can search for different blogs in classrooms. You can look all over the U.S.A and other countries. I really did like how the teacher was using the blog that I found on the website. The teacher posted the assignment that was due and the students replied to the post. This was also a place for the teacher and students to communicate about homework, classwork, or any other problems in the classroom that need to be address. The site is free to use just like wordpress but it is just for classroom use not grade specific. I like that it has the easy search engine so that parents can access the classroom blog. Another way I would use this blog is to communicate with parents. I would not use the same blog as the students. The parents and I would have our own so that we can discuss any needs in the classroom. When meeting my parents I would explain this is not a place to argue with other parents or talk about the students. The blog would be a place to make announcements about events in and outside of the classroom. Also the blog would be used as a sign up sheet for conference times, helpers and any other classroom sign up list. I would use this tool to help with management in the classroom. I believe that blogs are a great way to communicate so any blog site that you are comfortable using would serve the same purpose. I would use this tool with kindergarten and up. Another way I would have students to use the blog is to create group blogs as we did in this class. I would start this about second grade.====

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media type="custom" key="14093420" =8. DABBLEBOARD= [] This is an online whiteboard. I found this web 2.0 tool when I was researching on the internet. When I first opened the website there was two buttons one to take a tour and the other was to get started. This tool has a free version available for everyone. This is important because this makes the tool more accessible to use in the classroom. It could get expensive to pay for memberships to use a web tool in the classroom. This tool is basically a whiteboard on the internet. I would use the tool for notes. I would have notes made up for each subject covered and homework assignments will be posted. I believe this would be a great use for this tool. For example one of the students is out sick. The parent or student can easily hop on the internet and look at the notes for the day. This would help the child to not fall behind in class and also for the parent to know if there is anything due for next day. It is still the teacher’s responsibility to ensure the student is up to date and also give the student time to make up missed work. Not all students will have access to the computer so it is still important offer some extra time and help. I really did like this tool. It took me about 30 minutes to make a homework helper. The only downfall is that there is limited amount of space and you cannot create another slide. = = =media type="youtube" key="Vs0P14s5QeE" height="315" width="560"= =9. BIGMARKER= Big Marker is a recent discovery for me. I found this website by mistake and I am very glad I came across it! It is a great tool to use in education and also great to use in the business world. Big Marker is an online meeting spot. People log in on Big Marker, create a conference, people are invited in the meeting and then they can have a video conference in the comfort of their own home, office, or where ever they may be. Everybody in the conference can see each other and can communicate with everybody participating in the conference. Webcam does not have to be used if not wanted; you can communicate just by voice if you like, so video is an option. There is a bulletin board that the instructor can draw on, type on, or show a PowerPoint, Slide rocket, or other type of presentation. Big Blue Button is very similar to Big Marker. There is not much difference in the two. All the students enrolled in EDU381 this semester have used the Big Blue Button on the Saki website, so I am sure many of them could use this website with no problem. I see this being used mostly in the higher education system. I would love to see elementary, middle and high schools to one day become hybrid and this program be used. I believe if students were given a few days of online homework, or online classes, it would help reduce the hate many students have of school, and might motivate them to rethink school. I find college an experience I value way more than I did in high school. I personally believe going to school consistently in one place from 8am-2:30/3pm is too long for students to be questioned, challenged, drilled, and tested. After school, they are then at home for another hour or so working on homework. Giving them a day online with Big Marker can help them get caught up on their school work or reading. I believe this will be effective and I am eager to see how the school system will change in the upcoming future. A disadvantage I see with using Big Marker would be if students were not equipped with microphones, headsets, or webcams. If students did not have these items, they would have to buy them. They are not too expensive, but some parents still find it a bother. Overall I find Big Marker a great tool to use in the classroom and could be an effective tool in delivering a class meeting or conference.

media type="youtube" key="eg04Luyn3fE" height="315" width="420" =10 XTIMELINE= Xtimeline is a website and educational tool that I find incredible! Xtimeline is a website that lets student create their own timeline. It is free, interactive, and simple to use. Students are allowed to upload their own pictures, or use pictures off the internet. However, students do not have to use this site just for creating a timeline; this website already has thousands of timelines uploaded by thousands of users. It ranges from the history of technology to the life of Virginia Wolf. I believe this website is pretty explanatory when it comes to explaining why it is a valuable tool in teaching. As I was searching this website for timelines, I saw where there were timelines uploaded and created for Art classes for another college. I see myself using this website to teach History. If I was teaching my class about the 50 states, I would let them choose a state, then have them create a history timeline on their chosen state; you can also do this with the history of the lives of our presidents. This type of tool is probably used mostly in upper elementary (3-6) through secondary and higher education. A disadvantage I see about using this website is you could find false information. People could have created timelines that provide false material or information, and could cause you to fail your assessment. You have to filter your research and use reliable sources. Overall, I find Xtimeline extremely useful in the classrooms and purposeful in learning.