The future of Web 2.0 in society and in education is already here. I agree with Ivo Jansch in his post about Web 2.0, that this "Web 2.0 thing" is about more than terminology and semantics -- the Web 2.0 is about the collaborative, creative uses of technologies that already exist. People argue that Web 2.o is an inaccurate name, but does that really matter? I think what matters is that people find the best ways to use this technology, especially in education.
Web 2.o technology in schools has both more obstacles and more benefits than in general society. Educators must be aware of the increased safety issues that are brought up with this more collaborative, exposed nature of Web 2.0 so that students can be taught to be appropriate, responsible, and productive Web 2.o users. Educators also must educate parents and other community stakeholders (and perhaps, themselves!) on Web 2.0 technologies and internet safety, so that they can understand why using these technologies is so important for students. Even though there are these obstacles, using Web 2.0 technologies in schools should not and must not be avoided in schools. This collaboration is a vital 21st century skill, and if students are taught to be effective collaborators in the school setting, they will be that much more prepared for what lies ahead for them in the future.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Threshold Magazine Summer 2007 Issue
The table of contents for the Summer 2007 issue of Threshold Magazine reads like the syllabus for Digital Media. Articles include some about WEB 2.0, rules and responsibilities of Web 2.0 users, digital ethics, and using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. For people interested in Digital Media and Web 2.0, there is a lot of good info to be found. In my short browsing through some of the articles, I found a dictionary of Web 2.0 terms, a listing of the top Web 2.0 sites, and ideas for teaching with Flickr and del.icio.us. So, as I say at the end of my school blog posts....
Happy Readings!
Happy Readings!
GCast --Podcasting Made Simple & Convenient
GCast
I think GCast is a very teacher-friendly podcast tool, because you can make podcasts simply by talking on the phone -- making this new technology much less scary for teachers who might be a little fearful of Web 2.0. That is probably the best feature, at least to me -- the ability to make a podcast without even touching the computer. It makes it easy for everyone involved. Some other great features are that you can embed your podcast right in your website, and you can be alerted by email whenever a new podcast by your favorite podcaster is created/published. This could be a convenient feature in the educational setting; for instance, teachers could be alerted whenever the library media specialist posted a new book review podcast, or a teacher could be alerted whenever their students completed their assigned podcast.
I have already talked to some colleagues about Gcast, and they were excited about how easy Gcast makes podcasting. They had ideas like podcasting directions to longterm assignments or to ongoing assignments, so that parents could here them as well. As I work on my new library website, I already have a space for a book review podcast ready and waiting!
I think GCast is a very teacher-friendly podcast tool, because you can make podcasts simply by talking on the phone -- making this new technology much less scary for teachers who might be a little fearful of Web 2.0. That is probably the best feature, at least to me -- the ability to make a podcast without even touching the computer. It makes it easy for everyone involved. Some other great features are that you can embed your podcast right in your website, and you can be alerted by email whenever a new podcast by your favorite podcaster is created/published. This could be a convenient feature in the educational setting; for instance, teachers could be alerted whenever the library media specialist posted a new book review podcast, or a teacher could be alerted whenever their students completed their assigned podcast.
I have already talked to some colleagues about Gcast, and they were excited about how easy Gcast makes podcasting. They had ideas like podcasting directions to longterm assignments or to ongoing assignments, so that parents could here them as well. As I work on my new library website, I already have a space for a book review podcast ready and waiting!
Podcast Potentials Follow-Up!
As I continued searching for school library specific podcasts, here are some resources I found that I know I will find very useful:
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6302221.html (This article at form School Library Journal lists blogs with good book reviews for school library media speciailists.)
http://www.justonemorebook.com/ (This is both a podcast and a website that has tons of reviews of children's books.)
http://childrensbookradio.com/ (This is a podcast about children's books and authors -- a wider age range than the previous listing).
http://www.fayette.k12.in.us/cmslmc/ (A great middle school library website...tons of info about tons of stuff!)
http://www.hopkintonschools.org/hhs/library/podcast.html#anchor823756 (A school librarian who is actively using Web 2.0 technologies like podcasts and blogs!)
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6302221.html (This article at form School Library Journal lists blogs with good book reviews for school library media speciailists.)
http://www.justonemorebook.com/ (This is both a podcast and a website that has tons of reviews of children's books.)
http://childrensbookradio.com/ (This is a podcast about children's books and authors -- a wider age range than the previous listing).
http://www.fayette.k12.in.us/cmslmc/ (A great middle school library website...tons of info about tons of stuff!)
http://www.hopkintonschools.org/hhs/library/podcast.html#anchor823756 (A school librarian who is actively using Web 2.0 technologies like podcasts and blogs!)
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Podcast Potentials!
Searching for podcasts was interesting; it definitely shows you how much information is out there -- information OVERLOAD! I found a lot for technology, but not as many as I would have liked that are school library/ middle school library specific. I am sure, with a little more searching, I will be able to find something that is exactly what I am looking for!
Here are some interesting podcasts I found:
Coming of Age Podcast
http://comingofage.podomatic.com/rss2.xml
This is the podcast version of what we read, discussed, and blogged at the beginning of the year. This might be a great tool for us to share with our colleagues to help them understand Web 2.0 and 21st century skills.
The Tech Teachers Podcast
http://feeds.feedburner.com/thetechteachers
This podcast is done by two educators to talk about new "tech" things, with more of an emphasis on technology resources other in which educators might be interested. This particular podcast focused on the iPhone, Aperture, Picasa, and new features of Google Maps. Unlike the other podcasts I listened to, this one was not something that had already been written; this podcast was two people discussing their thoughts and opinions. It was very easy to listen to.
School Library Journal Podcast
http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheSljPodcast
I listened to one of their "Site of the Month" podcasts, this time about Photojojo. This is a site where you can subscribe to a twice-weekly email about new and interesting things to do with your digital features. You can also access archives of previous emails. Two interesting sites I found in the archives were Flickrvision (a combination of Google Earth and Flickr) and Blabberize (a site where you can make a digital photo talk!).
Here are some interesting podcasts I found:
Coming of Age Podcast
http://comingofage.podomatic.com/rss2.xml
This is the podcast version of what we read, discussed, and blogged at the beginning of the year. This might be a great tool for us to share with our colleagues to help them understand Web 2.0 and 21st century skills.
The Tech Teachers Podcast
http://feeds.feedburner.com/thetechteachers
This podcast is done by two educators to talk about new "tech" things, with more of an emphasis on technology resources other in which educators might be interested. This particular podcast focused on the iPhone, Aperture, Picasa, and new features of Google Maps. Unlike the other podcasts I listened to, this one was not something that had already been written; this podcast was two people discussing their thoughts and opinions. It was very easy to listen to.
School Library Journal Podcast
http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheSljPodcast
I listened to one of their "Site of the Month" podcasts, this time about Photojojo. This is a site where you can subscribe to a twice-weekly email about new and interesting things to do with your digital features. You can also access archives of previous emails. Two interesting sites I found in the archives were Flickrvision (a combination of Google Earth and Flickr) and Blabberize (a site where you can make a digital photo talk!).
Thursday, July 12, 2007
TeacherTube
Resource #3: TeacherTube
TeacherTube is a safe, educational environment for teachers to harness some of the power of the Read/Write Web; it is the teacher-friendly version of YouTube. It is an easy-to-search site where you can find videos for student and teacher use: teaching videos, professional development videos, student project examples, and more. One important use, especially in terms of Web 2.0 resources, is that teachers can upload their own videos here to then be embedded in blogs, wikis, or websites. Obviously, this was designed with teachers in mind, and the uses are numerous. One way I hope to use this is to both show teachers this resource and hopefully share videos and I ideas with teachers that I have found here; as a library media specialist, I think helping teacher find media resources to use in their classrooms is an important part of my job.
Although I already have two examples of TeacherTube videos in previous posts, here is one I found on this visit to TeacherTube:
TeacherTube is a safe, educational environment for teachers to harness some of the power of the Read/Write Web; it is the teacher-friendly version of YouTube. It is an easy-to-search site where you can find videos for student and teacher use: teaching videos, professional development videos, student project examples, and more. One important use, especially in terms of Web 2.0 resources, is that teachers can upload their own videos here to then be embedded in blogs, wikis, or websites. Obviously, this was designed with teachers in mind, and the uses are numerous. One way I hope to use this is to both show teachers this resource and hopefully share videos and I ideas with teachers that I have found here; as a library media specialist, I think helping teacher find media resources to use in their classrooms is an important part of my job.
Although I already have two examples of TeacherTube videos in previous posts, here is one I found on this visit to TeacherTube:
Gliffy
Resource #2: Gliffy
Gliffy is a free, web-based resource that is, in general, similar to Inspiration and Kidspiration. It can be used to make graphic organizers, flowcharts, floor plans, network diagrams, and more. You can collaborate with others on the same document, so, like the best examples of wikis, users can work together to make the best possible document. Unfortunately, with the free service, you can only have five free public documents; if you want to have more, you must upgrade to a Gliffy online premium account. Because of this, it probably is not the best tool for student use; however, it could definitely be used for professional purposes by the school staff. Possible examples are sample floor plans for new spaces in a school and flowcharts for student discipline. As I tested out the service, I created this floor plan of my library:
Gliffy is a free, web-based resource that is, in general, similar to Inspiration and Kidspiration. It can be used to make graphic organizers, flowcharts, floor plans, network diagrams, and more. You can collaborate with others on the same document, so, like the best examples of wikis, users can work together to make the best possible document. Unfortunately, with the free service, you can only have five free public documents; if you want to have more, you must upgrade to a Gliffy online premium account. Because of this, it probably is not the best tool for student use; however, it could definitely be used for professional purposes by the school staff. Possible examples are sample floor plans for new spaces in a school and flowcharts for student discipline. As I tested out the service, I created this floor plan of my library:
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Ta-Da List
Resource #1: Ta-Da List
Ta-Da List is an organizational tool that allows you to record information in list format. You then have a variety of options; you can check items off on your list, share your list with others, and be notified of changes to a list through an RSS feed. Although many of the uses would be professional in nature (to-do lists, resource lists, etc.), you could also use this resource with students. I am currently using Ta-Da List to keep track of what I am reading and will keep a link to my lists on my blog (see the sidebar); this way students can see what I am reading and ask me questions or share their opinions. It also shows them that I am reading, and modeling this reading is an important component of creating lifelong learners and readers. You could have students use Ta-Da Lists for the same purpose (recording what they have read) or for other purposes like brainstorming or listing sources. This is a 21st century way for students to meet the Wisconsin Media and Technology standard B.8.5 (Record and Organize Information).
Ta-Da List is an organizational tool that allows you to record information in list format. You then have a variety of options; you can check items off on your list, share your list with others, and be notified of changes to a list through an RSS feed. Although many of the uses would be professional in nature (to-do lists, resource lists, etc.), you could also use this resource with students. I am currently using Ta-Da List to keep track of what I am reading and will keep a link to my lists on my blog (see the sidebar); this way students can see what I am reading and ask me questions or share their opinions. It also shows them that I am reading, and modeling this reading is an important component of creating lifelong learners and readers. You could have students use Ta-Da Lists for the same purpose (recording what they have read) or for other purposes like brainstorming or listing sources. This is a 21st century way for students to meet the Wisconsin Media and Technology standard B.8.5 (Record and Organize Information).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)