Using Web 2.0 Tools in the Classroom As educators, the use of Web 2.0 tools is transforming our work, and more specifically the way we support students in the classroom. As schools bring more technology into their classrooms, teachers will in turn strive to put more technology in their students’ hands. That is, if they are prepared to do so. Web 2.0 Tools are online software programs that allow users to do a number of different things. They can be used to teach curriculum content, store data, create/edit video, edit photos, collaborate and so much more. These programs are often free and are used by teachers, students, and sometimes parents, both in and out of the classroom, on a pretty regular basis. The question then becomes, are educators prepared to use these tools? These are important questions that we need to be able to answer for our own work, but more importantly so that we can continuously strive to be a 21st century educator for our very important clients: our students. Glogster Kidblog Linoit LiveBinders Skype Wordle
Web 2.0 in Elementary Web 2.0 Tools for Elementary and Middle School Classes Clif Mims More than 2,000 teachers were recently surveyed about the Web 2.0 tools that they and their students most commonly used. Insert Slides Here Introduction to Web 2.0 Recommendations from Teachers Before We Begin It's not about the technology. Get Connected/Professional Network Teleconferencing Related Resources ISTE's NETS for Teachers and NETS for Students ICOT ClifMims.com Wading through Web 2.0
Creating a WebQuest | It's Easier Than You Think Always wanted to make a WebQuest but not sure where to start? Education World has all the answers and can make the process easy for you. WebQuests are probably the most talked-about and widely used Web-based activities in today's classrooms. What are WebQuests? What accounts for their popularity? And how can you use—and create—WebQuests in your own classroom? "I hear and I forget. "A WebQuest," according to Bernie Dodge, the originator of the WebQuest concept, "is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. Education World asked two educators who have created their own WebQuests to share with us the benefits they bring to their classroom. WebQuests, which use the constructivist approach to learning, are a super learning tool, said Kenton Letkeman, creator of a number of excellent WebQuests. "WebQuests allow students to explore issues and find their own answers," he added. Looking for WebQuests to check out? The Topic.
Impact of Technology in Elementary Classrooms About ETR Community EdTechReview (ETR) is a community of and for everyone involved in education technology to connect and collaborate both online and offline to discover, learn, utilize and share about the best ways technology can improve learning, teaching, and leading in the 21st century. EdTechReview spreads awareness on education technology and its role in 21st century education through best research and practices of using technology in education, and by facilitating events, training, professional development, and consultation in its adoption and implementation.
The 100 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You The Wordle of this list! (Click image to enlarge) One of the most popular posts on Edudemic in 2010 was The 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You and I felt it might be time for an update to that list for 2011. In order to put together a list of the best Web 2.0 classroom tools, I polled my Twitter followers, Facebook fans (are they still called fans? Likes?) There were more than 900 submissions but many were duplicates. 25 Fun Ways to use QR Codes for Teaching and Learning I’ve culled a bunch of ideas from different teachers who have shared their approaches to using this simple but powerful construct in the classroom. Once your students are equipped with a device that can read QR codes and they know how to scan them, you’re ready to use ideas like these in your classroom! If you’re not already familiar with it, scroll down to the bottom of the article to learn how to easily create QR codes, and find QR Code readers. Ideas, Ideas, and More Ideas! The article, Ways to use QR Codes in the Elementary Classroom and Using Google Docs to Create Them, by Jill Thompson, offers these uses: Library Book Add-On: Put QR codes on classroom library books, linking out to information about the author and or book. These ideas come from the web page QR Codes – What are they and how can I use them in my classroom? Assistive Technology: “Provide an alternative access format for students who need additional support in reading and writing.” Creating and Reading QR Codes
The Best K-12 Education Technology Blogs If it takes a village to raise a child, how many people does it take to train an educator? It’s hard to say, but 50 helping hands seems like a good place to start. In the spirit of community, collaboration and information sharing, EdTech: Focus on K–12 has rounded up 50 ed-tech blogs that we deem must-reads for the K–12 community. We launched our first Must-Read IT list last year to great response so we hope that you all enjoy this year's batch of blogs as well. These blogs are a mix of voices and include blogs authored by teachers, administrators and technology vendors. This list was built in part by you, our readers. Without further ado, here is the 2013 Honor Roll: Purely Paperless We are living in a world that is becoming increasingly digital, and Montana elementary school teacher Kate Peila is a paperless girl. Read the blog: purelypaperless.blogspot.com The Daring Librarian Who says librarians can’t have fun? Read the blog: thedaringlibrarian.com EdReach Read the blog: edreach.us Edudemic
Building Schoolwide Literacy With Free Web 2.0 Tools TeachersFirst offers this model for elementary (or middle) schools to build skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening systematically in a schoolwide model including students, teachers, and parents. The free web 2.0 tools suggested here are by no means the only tools that might work. These exemplary tools were chosen by the TeachersFirst Editors for ease of use and versatility in classroom and home use, and could easily be implemented at grade levels other than those suggested here. As students and teachers master a new tool at each grade level, they develop rich literacy skills and vital technology skills, all in the context of reading, writing, speaking and listening across the curriculum. Right-click here and SAVE AS to download a customizable student/parent permission form (Word doc) for use of these web 2.0 tools in elementary. How/Why it works: The school is a community of learners, both children and adults, including parents.
12 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom, Even for Technophobic Teachers Everyone wants teachers to use technology in the classroom. But you're busy -- meeting standards, prepping students for tests -- and maybe you’re not too fond of computers, anyway. Never fear – there are easy ways to bring your classroom up-to-date, technologically. Do you have a iPad in your classroom for your use? How about iPads for students to use? Could you get a classroom iPad? What kind of Internet access is available at your school? What do you have to do to get Ipads for your students? Also try to find a technology “mentor” on campus – the computer teacher or just another teacher who uses technology more than you do. Perfect Ed Tech Activities for Beginners Do a PowerPoint “Game Show Review” Many tech-savvy teachers have used Microsoft PowerPoint to create review games based on famous game shows, including “Jeopardy! Have students complete a written classroom activity as if it was online. Ever have your students write a diary from the perspective of a character or famous person?
Best Websites for Teaching & Learning 2015 The 2015 Best Websites for Teaching & Learning foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover. Gone but Not Forgotten The following sites have closed, reorganized, or become pay-based since being recognized as an AASL Best Website: Answerables (Social Networking) Tackk (Media Sharing) BeenPod (Social Networking) Knowmia (Curriculum Collaboration
7 Ways for Teachers to use Prezi in the Classroom — Prezi EDU Blog Teachers have an opportunity to do this every day in their class: take something ordinary and make it extraordinary. With Prezi, a boring project overview is an exciting ride through topics, requirements and ideas. Here are seven ways to add excitement to every classroom presentation with Prezi: Bring a Lesson to Life Any lesson is made more fun when it’s in the format of a Prezi presentation. Present a Timeline Timelines could use a facelift, especially when you’re using them to explain the dates of historic events that aren’t all that fascinating when plopped on a straight line. Display Student Data Many tools now provide teachers with a variety of data points, on both a class and student level, that can be fun to share with students. Introduce Yourself at Open House Night Open house: you dread it and parents dread it. Explore the Features of a New Classroom Tool Classrooms everywhere are gaining access to new tools and software, like Chromebooks or iPads. Share the Rubric for a Project