Web+2.0

ON WEB 2.0

The world of Web 2.0 tools is truly amazing and something that to this point I had only heard of but not explored. I was taken aback by the variety and ease of so many rational and educational possibilities with some of these tools. Then some such as SecondLife really had me thinking if they were a benefit or a detriment. Granted any of them it depends on how they are used, so here are my five picks and now I will incorporate them into the classroom. My current job as well as my education has me utilizing power point presentations on a regular basis. Having browsed though the program Prezi I am excited to use it at the next possible opportunity. The depth and flow to the transition is truly attention getting and can be utilized to great benefits. Just the intro where the picture zooms in to the penguin on the horizon then zooms back out makes me think of depth a text. The application can be used to paint a picture or provide broad topic information on a novel for example, then give a clear reference to the depth that is in the narration by using Prezi and its near 3d animation style. The web blogger is something that I have been aware of for some time and know many people that blog on a regular basis, but I have never explored it or thought of its practical uses. It is an interesting concept to just put ones thoughts out there for anyone to check out. I am a little weary of this knowing that I have a tendency to rant on a specific viewpoint before I have fully come to understand said view. However, I can see this as a useful tool for the classroom. Similar to Google Docs, a blog can be used to continuously update and inform students as well as parents in a format that they can access any time and can even look back historically to make sure they are on track. It can also be used to direct students to interesting information that may be fun and compliment the classroom curriculum but is not worthy of actual class time. Students could use blogs as a form of an online journal. After every reading assignment instead of writing a reflection about the reading they could use a blog to reflect. This would then be viewable by the teacher to make sure the student is on task, as well as available for the student to reference back upon before any form of testing or large work to make it easier for them to recall their thoughts and areas of interest regarding the text. I have had the privilege of working with eighth graders on Photo Story. It was the first time I was able to experience and the results were amazing. By doing a private oral reading and putting it to photos all synching together on a chosen topic, the students were able to tap into many creative depths that they otherwise wouldn’t have. For instance, our eighth graders were to write a paper on the civil war. Instead of working on specific grammar within their papers, they had to put their papers to audio for the Photo Story. By speaking their written words they become aware of several grammatical errors that they may have otherwise overlooked. As well, since they had to record the audio, those students that are intimidated by public speaking were found to put forth great oral work without the embarrassment. Next the students had to study the music of their chosen time period and include it in the background of their oral reading. Similarly they had to research images from the time period and organize them in a manner relating to the speech that they had prepared and were recording. The end result was a very structured, understandable, and well thought out presentation piece from nearly all students, including and especially those that one would not assume could put on a good public speaking performance. I am also interested in the Mix Book that was found under the cool tools for school. Having students create written work can be a real struggle, especially when a student does not like to read either. Having their creative writing ideas incorporated into an online interactive book with images and moving pages can help bring students work deeper meaning and self respect. If they can develop an appreciation for their written work it may also lead to an appreciation for sharing their work and reading others work. This may in turn lead to increased reading overall. The last web 2.0 program that intrigued me as an English teacher was the Pixton picture book maker. One of the most popular youth reading genres currently is the graphic novel. Giving those students that are not artistically capable to deeply explore this genre, as a part of their expressive nature, a medium to easily create a simple graphic or illustrated text can lead to a deeper appreciation of their work on many levels. It provides the teacher a way for creative students to express themselves as well as a way for inattentive students to become kinesthetically involved with writing and reading.