Using Web 2.0 in the Classroom

What is Web 2.0? See for yourself............



Web 2.0 in the Classroom:
Some examples of Web 2.0 tools to use in the classroom....Follow the links to begin your Web 2.0 Classroom. We welcome your suggestions and ideas on how to implement these tools into units that you teach.

Social Networking
As defined by Wikipedia:

A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail andinstant messaging services.

Social networking has revolutionized the way we communicate and share information with one another in today's society. Various social networking websites are being used by millions of people everyday on a regular basis and it now seems that social networking is a part of everyday life. The main types of social networking services are those which contain directories of some categories (such as former classmates), means to connect with friends (usually with self-description pages), and recommender systems linked to trust. Popular methods now combine many of these, with MySpace andFacebook being the most widely used in North America;^[1] Bebo,^[2] MySpace, Skyrock Blog, Facebook and Hi5 in parts of Europe;^[3] Orkut and Hi5 inSouth America and Central America;^[4] and Friendster and Orkut in Asia and the Pacific Islands.



CouchSurfing is a new type of social network called hospitality exchange networks.^[5][6]


To see a brief video explaining Social Networking, see Lefever's demonstration below:






A Social Networking Club such as Ning.com allows teachers to create:

• an online book review club
• a social network of those students participating in an upcoming extended field study (i.e. trip to Paris, camping trip etc.)
  
• new teacher mentoring program
  
• pen pal program
  
• teachers can collaborate with colleagues through other School Library networks i.e.: http://schoollibrarians.ning.com/

Join the BCTLA's Facebook group:



Blogging
Before you get started read "How to start a Blog"
Ready to start your own blog.....



Here is a Tutorial for Wordpress.





Wikis
What's a Wiki?

Ward Cunningham, coauthor of the Addison-Wesley book The Wiki Way: Collaboration and Sharing on the Internet, draws many distinctions between wikis and another popular means of Web communication: blogs, or Weblogs. "Blogs and wikis are polar opposites in many ways, though they're seen as similar" he says. "A blog tends to reflect the biases and opinions of an author, while a wiki is more like an open cocktail party. In a wiki you try to speak without a strong voice, seeking consensus to create something permanent, while on a blog you're developing your own voice and it's very much about your voice."

Examples of Wiki use in schools:

• students can work collaboratively on a project without meeting at each others' homes
  
• teachers can evaluate input ("how much time did "Harry" spend discussing topics?") of each student by managing the wiki pages
  
• literature circles/novel studies where students can actively exchange ideas and learn from each other
  
• facilitate home/school communication regarding activities such as field trips, notices, conferences, calendars, events, etc.
  
• posting student work on wikis may result in "optimal performance" as students are now writing to their peers and perhaps "the world" for further evaluation
  
• wikis provide an open framework where work is continued, resulting in further extensions depending on public feedback and suggestions
  
• students are more likely to experience "connectivisim" by evaluating and drawing from online resources and organizing them on a "need to know" basis
  
• students can collaborate from other schools in different communities

How to start your own wiki, see Wikispaces for free educator space.

Google Docs allows users to create documents and invite collaborators to view and edit the same document. Students can work collaboratively on their writing and safely store and organize their folders through Google. It allows users to access and edit their documents from any computer, a great time saver for students who won't be needing to bring their flash drives along. Unlike Wikis, group members can edit simultaneously as their entries are posted immediately. (In Wikis, users can only post one after the other, not simultaneously.) In order for Google Docs to work, users must create a Gmail account and have access to the Internet.

Podcasts

Record your own Podcast for free with Audacity

To post your Podcast to your blog, see Google's How To Make a Podcast from Blogger

For other Sample Podcasts/Webcasts, enrich your lessons with Horn Book's Podcast which features conversations with writers, illustrators and editors and chats about current trends and insider takes on reviewing and publishing.

Get some tips from Teachers Teaching Teachers by viewing their webcasts.
Photosharing
Get people talking. Start a discussion on any topic and watch your members respond with posts, photos and attachments.











Interactive Brainstorming

BUBBLE.US

What is it?

Bubbl.us is a simple and free web application that lets you brainstorm online.
Why use bubbl.us?
Because you can:

* Create colorful mind maps online
* Share and work with friends
* Embed your mind map in your blog or website
* Email and print your mind map
* Save your mind map as an image

And it's FREE!

Free Communciation Around the World


Skype allows teachers to set up class accounts in order to communicate with schools and other students from around the world through "computer calls" or instant messaging. Free and easy to use.


ePals is the Internet's largest global community of connected classrooms!


Safely connect, collaborate and learn using our leading protected email and blog solutions for schools and districts.

More ideas on how to use Web 2.0 in the Classroom

Webtools4U2Use (a compilation of web 2.0 tools for use in classrooms and libraries)

The Web 2.0 Projects book (contains nearly 60 projects using Web 2.0 tools, organized in age groups.

Web 2.0 for the Classroom (a list of websites for using Web 2.0 in the classroom)

Blogs/Teaching Ideas about Web 2.0 in Education

School Library Journal

(News, Features and best practices in technology for the k-12 classroom and media center from wikis and podcasts to the latest gadgets from School Library Journal)

What Lies Ahead? (remember the game show, The Family Feud?-"Survey says?")
Interactive Education for a New Generation
Is this the future for classrooms? Click on link to view video presentation.