By Laura Turner
There are many new ‘tools’ or websites that can be used with great success in the classroom. Web 2.0 refers to a supposed second generation of Internet-based services. These usually include tools that let people collaborate and share information online, such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools, and folksonomies. There are hundreds of Web2.0 sites – here are 10 that can be used easily in the classroom.
1.
Wordle
www.
http://www.wordle.com This site allows you to create your own
website, animations, Word puzzles, and Word Art. The
following article from Tech & Learning gives a number of examples of you
to use Wordle well in the classroom.
http://www.techlearning.com/blogs/20322 - 5
Reasons to Use Wordle in the Classroom
http://www.slideshare.net/digitalmaverick/how-to-use-wordle-presentation How to Use Wordle
http://www.slideshare.net/JenniferW/wordle-ideas Wordle Ideas
2. Kerpoof http://www.kerpoof.com KerPoof is a free online multimedia software that allows children to explore their creativity by drawing, making animated movies, writing and illustrating stories, producing pictures and cards and more. The software is intuitive and easy to use, giving children - even those who aren’t proficient in art - an opportunity to produce and share successful artwork quickly and without frustration.
http://www.kerpoof.com/how_to_play How to Use Kerpoof
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2687769/Introduction-to-the-Kerpoof-Art-Studio
Introduction to the Kerpoof Art Studio
http://www.slideshare.net/digitalmaverick/how-to-make-a-picture-in-kerpoof-presentation How to Make a Picture in Kerpoof Presentation
3.
www.yackpack.com YackPack YackPack messaging is done at your
convenience. You log in when you want, you listen, and you yack. All the
messages are stored for future reference. Most important, YackPack
captures and conveys the expressiveness of voice putting emotion into
virtual learning environments and enhancing traditional classroom
interactions outside of class time.
http://www.yackpack.com/education.html How Can I Use
YackPack in the Classroom
http://web2learning.learnhub.com/lesson/1523-social-media-yackpack
What is YackPack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWfIA7TxjHA YouTube Video on
YackPack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axa4-ye55_I&feature=related
YouTub Video on the Use of Wikis and Yackpack
4. Google Earth and related overlay sites http://earth.google.com This site has a 3D mapping program from Google that covers the entire globe from satellite images. Requiring a download for Windows, Mac and Linux desktops, a street address can be searched, and the views can be zoomed down to the individual building all the way up to a satellite's view of the globe. Google Earth can be used to view points of interest as well as obtain driving directions between two locations. The night sky and Mars can also be viewed.
http://www.techlearning.com/article/23432 Explore with Google Earth
http://www.google.com/educators/p_earth.html Google Earth for Educators
http://gelessons.com/lessons Google Earth Lessons
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/teaching_methods/google_earth/how.html
How to Teach with Google Earth
You can also use 3-D overlay sites that allow you to download overlay files that ‘lay on top of ‘ Google Earth and work interactively. For example – you can download a 3-D overlay file of Paris, France and you and your student can visit Paris in 3-D. You can actually move through the streets of Paris and see buildings on either side of you. The best site that I have found is http://www.gearthhacks.com Click on Files link on the right hand site – scroll down and you will see a number of categories that can be clicked on to view the files that are available for download.
5. Quizlet http://quizlet.com This site allows you to create your own digital flashcards. Once you have made a "set" of flashcards, Quizlet gives you three ways to learn your terms. First, you familiarize yourself with the terms by simply looking through them, term, definition and all. Then Quizlet goes through your set, flashing cards and prompting you to type in the correct term. Quizlet also gives you the ability to create groups. This means that you can share your sets with everyone else in the class (and they can share theirs with you). This could be put to great use by, say, having everyone in the class each put in the vocabulary for one chapter. Then, with a minimal amount of effort, everyone could study.
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http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Set-in-Quizlet How to Create a Set in Quizlet
http://www.techlearning.com/article/17038
Quizlet – An Online Study Aid
http://www.schooltube.com/video/36457/How-to-use-Quizlet How to Use
Quizlet
6.
ReadtheWords
www.readthewords.com This site features text to speech with a
variety of voices. This site allows a teacher to download papers and
exams into Read the Words. This site can also read many documents such
as websites, publisher, and word. Students can use this website to have
any text read to them and it is very easy to learn to use.
The website does an excellent job at describing the function of
the tutorial as well as audible pronunciation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BezIRHR2PwM How to Use
ReadtheWords YouTube video
7. wePapers http://www.wepapers.com .wePapers is an academic social site, where you can share and read academic documents, presentations and lecture notes. wePapers is where you find the kind of quality information you wouldn't find anywhere else on the web, the kind of papers you'd have to dig for in dusty library basements and still not find what you're looking for. WePapersWAS created to help people learn from one another. wePapers is also where you share what you've learned, with people who are learning the same thing. You can discuss your work with them and get useful feedback.
http://techhotspot.com/2009/01/28/wepapers wePaper info from TechHotSpot
8.
Zefty
http://zefty.com This site teaches students about responsible
spending and saving is difficult. The great thing about Zefty is,
although it functions like a bank account, there's no real money
involved. Parents or teachers can set up and account
for each student and specify how much allowance they get and how often.
http://startupmeme.com/want-to-teach-kids-how-to-spend-money-zefty-is-here
How use Zefty
http://shareit.yhgfl.net/kirklees/holmfirthhighschool/?p=381
Zefty Info
9. Braingle http://www.braingle.com This site has over 20,000 brain teasers, riddles, logic problems, quizzes and mind puzzles submitted and ranked by users like you, Braingle has the largest collection anywhere on the internet. Our large array of unique online multiplayer games will keep you entertained for hours, and if you want to improve your brain, check out the Mentalrobics section. A useful teaching tool for all educators.
10. Web2.0 Tools Projects booklet. http://www.terry-freedman.org.uk/free_web2/Web_2.0_Projects.pdf This is a booklet that can be downloaded for free and contains a number of school based web 2.0 projects that students and teachers can use in the classroom.
http://delicious.com/drdpf A list of popular web 2.0 tools for educators
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com Web2.0 Cool Tools for
Schools. This is a portal type site that has a large number of web
2.0 tools for education.
http://teachweb2.wikispaces.com Teach Web2. This site was
created is maintained by a group of curious teachers who explore and
brainstorm ways to integrate Web 2.0 technologies into our teaching.
Some of these teachers meet face-to-face at an independent school in St.
Petersburg, Florida. The rest are from all over the world.
There are many new tools or web sites to use with great success in the classroom. Last month, Laura provided her ten favorites; here are 10 more to use easily in the classroom.
Floor Planner. (6-12)
This site allows the user to create
2-D or 3-D models of a variety of floor plans.
This site is easy to learn and can be used in the
classroom as a teaching tool or as a planning tool. Your
floor plans can be shared interactively.
Using point-and-click, drag-and-drop tools, you can make a
floor plan in minutes, and rearrange it as often as you
want. Then you can save, send, and print your designs to
share them or place them on your own website.
FreezeRay (6-12)
http://freezeray.com/index.html
This site offers a
growing bank of imaginative, highly visual teaching-aids
developed for use with interactive whiteboards in Schools.
The resources are designed to be used as rich sources of
visually stimulating material, making use of both animations
and drag and drop interactivity. Categories include Physics,
Chemistry, Biology, Scientific Literacy, Technology VnR
modeling as well as a Teacher Guide category.
BigUniverse (K-8)
This site has curriculum and tools for learning, assessment, reading and writing development, using a vast library of online books. The site has a three-pronged approach: reading, creating and sharing online children's books.
Another Early Reader Treasure
Trove
http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=1308
Estimate (K-12)
http://oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/Estimate/estimate.html
This site from the Oswego School
District in NY state allows for estimation of numbers and
fractions on a number with 7 different levels of difficulty.
This site can be used with a Smart Board.
TypeDrawing (K-12)
http://storyabout.net/typedrawing/typedrawing.php?requestedID=%20image
This drawing site allows students to draw pictures with words. The faster you draw the larger the letters are. Once finished you can watch a screenplay of your drawing, or email it to a friend. This unique drawing tool allows student to combine favorite words with drawings. This site can be used with a SmartBoard and/or a Tablet.
TypeDrawing at Writer Response Theory
http://writerresponsetheory.org/wordpress/2005/04/30/typedrawing
KineticCity (3-8)
This site has a great collection of science experiments, games, science based activities and challenges. This is very engaging and educational site. It is interactive in nature and has a space themed animated look and feel.
Consumer Guide to
AfterSchool Science Resources
http://www.sedl.org/cgi-bin/mysql/afterschool/science.cgi?resource=11
Design Your Coat of Arms. (3-12)
http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/british_galleries/designa/coat_of_arms/coat_of_arms.swf
This site allows students to design
their own coat of arms. This would be a
great website to use with Social Studies or Language
classes. The completed coat of arms can
be printed out or e-mailed.
PBSKids SmartBoard Games (K-6)
This site has a collection of
educational interactive games for educators. Students will
enjoy participating in these collaborative and engaging
experiences, while exploring curriculum from trusted
programs such as Curious George, Super Why and Arthur.
These educational games can be used with a
SmartBoard.Subject areas include Arts, Language Arts, Math
and Social Studies.
SecretBuilders (K-9)
SecretBuilders is a virtual world for children 5 to 14 years. Students will explore virtual lands, undertake quests, play games, maintain a home, nurture a pet, and interact with their friends. Three features which form the backdrop for SecretBuilders distinguish it from other online worlds: Children learn through immersing themselves in the stories, themes, and concepts from the best in literature, arts and humanities. Children can publish their works – writings, art, videos – making SecretBuilders their own personal store of creativity.
Secret Builders Information from iLearn Technology
http://ilearntechnology.com/?p=683
GapMinder (6-12)
This very unique site allows viewers to see statistical data at a country wide level. See countries change in ways that challenge old myths The Trendalyzer software is used to view the beauty of statistical time series by converting boring numbers into enjoyable, animated and interactive graphics.. Country-wide data can be viewed via an interactive time line that can be stopped and started. Data can also be uploaded and created using a Google Gadget called Motion Chart. It allows anyone to create a Gapminder-like bubble graph that can be published on a web-page or blog. This is a great teaching tool to allow students to experience statistics in a new and engaging manner.
How to Use GapMinder as a Teaching Tool
http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~cook/movabletype/archives/2006/07/gapminder_how_t.html
Some Teaching Ideas from
Digital Geography
http://www.digitalgeography.co.uk/archives/2007/01/gapminder-some-teaching-ideas
How to Videos on GapMinder
http://video.google.com/videosearch?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS267US268&q=GapMinders+how+to+use&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=3H70SsC6FpXWNf2R_OgF&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=10&ved=0CCMQqwQwCQ
Laura Turner is a Computer Technology Instructor at the College of Education at Black Hills State University.