What excellent WEb 2.0 presentations this morning. Joanne and I really picked up some new things during them. Share something you are really interested in pursuing around Web 2.0 tools. Remember to start small and build on it. Great discussions about the many issues around the use of these tools and examples today. Please share any other questions you may have or comments about class today.
Happy Birthday, Janet!
Lisa
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ReplyDeleteNancy, Margaret and Michelle : GLOGSTER EDU
ReplyDeleteGlogsterEDU allows students to create an interactive poster to present information in an engaging way. Students control background, text, graphics, and sound and/or video. Products can be posted electronically or printed out--though sound and video is lost when printing. Cost is free for basic packages. The premium package has more options including a drawing feature and more tools for classroom management. The cost for this is $12.00 a month or a year's subscription for $60.00. There are also options for district or school subscriptions. Below is a link to the glogsteredu site and also one to a video about how to use Glogsteredu in the classroom. Both will show you student samples and you can try it out yourself in the trial area.
http://edu.glogster.com/
www.schooltube.com/user/glogster
I was amazed at how quickly people were able to use these tools that they had never seen before. We already have samples of "bookshelves", blabbers, and Smileboxes! I thought Glogster was pretty easy, but not compared to these others--I would have needed more time to sort through all the different commands to learn how to create the image I wanted.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference two years can make. I have had many experiences with blogs and wikis, but accessibility and reliability have always been very difficult hurdles. Now with reliable internet, now with greater access (and for me to understand how to structure access), these ideas are very practical to implement.
ReplyDeleteIn order of importance to me, here are the tools I am going to implement fully, try with students, explore further on my own with select students:
Implement Fully
- Moodle Wikis, Forums
- Animoto, Voicethread, Skype
- Shelfari for the reading program
Try with students
- Edmodo
Explore Further
- Moodle Chat, linking Moodle to social networking sites
- Grogster (worried about access)
- Blabberize
I will not be trying all these features all the time, but the creativeness of the process is exciting me. I want to learn more about how to integrate these things into my life, so a nature extension would be to learn from my students.
With only minimal exposure to these new tools, I find myself coming up with numerous ways to integrate them into current curriculum. I was also impressed by how quickly we teach ourselves to use these tools. They tap into our creativity. The trick will be to start slowly and keep projects manageable.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed everyone's presentations on the tools. It was great to see the possiblities and also discuss the concerns. As Michelle mentioned it doesn't take long to get a sense of how to use the tools and the applications in the classrooms.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Michelle! We are truly a bunch of naturals - immigrants or not. I appreciate the time we're taking to share this stuff and talk about the apps. I'm going home to make a smilebox in order to introduce myself to the kids this year. - and with any luck, maybe get comfortable enough for kids to be able to make their own for sharing. - perhaps for open house??
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was so helpful to actually see these tools used AND to have the discussion related to usefulness in the classroom, including possible implications.
I have to admit, that with Blabber, I wasn't so impressed initially, but after the conversation we had as a class, I see many uses for using it. My biggest "aha" with either Blabber or Xtranormal (though we didn't really get to see it) and using them to highlight social scenarios that have popped up in the classroom and using them to discuss in a non-confrontational way another, more appropriate, response to the situation.
Just a thought...
Tonya :)
I want to explore how a web page or moodle can organize my learning environment.
ReplyDeleteI also think that technology may be motivating to students, perhaps can equalize accessibility to resources.
I am trying to think of some way to use Blabberize, even though it is essentially useless, it looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteI am going to investigate xtranormal and blabberize. I am wondering if I can teach students the characteristics of social interactions by creating visual "blabberized" examples. Once they learn the characteristics the students could fill in the text that could be used to help create "smooth" social interactions. Just getting going! Could be amazing if I pull it off.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, if I had not been exposed to all of this mornings info I would have never thought of pairing this technology with JES's social skills curriculum.
I am going to explore Shelfari further, maybe I will be able to add it to my library web page and post new books, or books that need some exposure. I won't have time to work with most of these applications with students, but there are some things that I will play around with and see if I can incorporate somehow. Skype with an author with would amazing... how I could get the students in at the same time as the author, I don't know! Maybe I don't do it with all students, just a few... And, I'm sure that there is someway I can sneak Blabberize into something :)
ReplyDeleteSHELFARI
ReplyDeleteLove it as a social connection with readers. I, too, will place it on our library web page to post new books. What a great tool! So excited about the possibilities.
I thought the presentations were really helpful. I, too, was amazed by how easy it was to make a product in most of the sites. I just wish we'd divided and conquered so we could all be exposed to a few more of these sites.
ReplyDeleteI am such a digital immigrant!!! I was totally fascinated by all of the demonstrations this morning and was amazed at how quickly each of the groups figured out some pretty complex tools. They really are pretty kid-friendly. I can't wait to get my new computer at home and high-speed access to play around more with several of these. I know I'll be trying out Smilebox and Skype. Great day today - thanks. I also liked having time to do my own thing this afternoon. I feel like I'm headed in the direction I wanted to go!
ReplyDeleteGood day. At first blush, many of the Web 2.0 tools seem basic, goofy or impractical. I find myself excited about the built in differentiation that allowing students to choose a platform to meet their ends will allow. Most of these were so user friendly that with a basic intro, we could turn kids onto these sites and let them run with it. This afternoon ended up being much more productive than I was anticipating as well. Lisa and Joanne have been great with offering advice and helping solve problems. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm realizing that when we are given appropriate time to explore technology, we are capable of absorbing and learning more than we expect. This week is a gift-to prepare ourselves for the changes we want to make in order to move more closely into the 21 C with regards to being tech. savy.
ReplyDeleteDuring the school year there isn't time to explore and reflect on what my needs are. I can tend to be more reactive than proactive. So... having said that, this time allows me to get my head on straight for the coming year and to plan how I will use technology.
The flip camera was really fun...another new toy which I didn't know existed. The challenge will be in finding ways to use it for students and to think of it at appropriate times.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to know what our library has available for students and teachers. I suspect math teachers use the library less so are not always thinking of the many resources which may be borrowed in addition to books and DVD's.