Explore Web 2.0 Tools - Learning Center 1- Computer Applications 1

I wanted to create something interesting to break up the monotony of keyboarding in my Computer Applications I class.   Almost the whole first marking period is dedicated to learning how to key and I wanted to have activities available for the students to work on when they finish their work or to do in the middle of our 86 minute period.   The Web 2.0 tools that are featured in the learning center are Glogster, Edmodo, and Quizlet.   
The plan is to use Glogster throughout the semester, relating the poster assignments to current lessons and technology.  The first Glog assignment was entitled "All About Me" and the students had to write a paragraph about their families or their interests, insert two pictures, and link to a web site.   I have other Glog assignments planned, including career exploration and research on local businesses.   Using Glogster is fun for the students because it does not seem like work, but they are developing their computer and written communication skills at the same time.   

I just introduced Edmodo and Quizlet in class this week.   Edmodo is a secure social networking site that allows me to communicate with the students in a way they are all familiar with.   I will use Edmodo throughout the semester to post either current events or interesting articles for the students to read and reflect on.  This week, I introduced Edmodo with a Quizlet assignment.   When the students signed into Edmodo, they found a Quizlet link that took them to flash cards I created for their test which was the next day.   After they completed the assignment they could turn it in while logged on to Edmodo. 


Quizlet is a site where you can create flash cards.  I created a set of flash cards to help the students study for their test on Friday.   Quizlet is a great way to give students the option to study online and it is available if they forget their notes at home, with an Internet connection.  The assignment I created for the students, and posted in Edmodo, was to go to the flash card set in Quizlet and try a study option and a game using the flash cards.   When they finished they were to post their scores in Edmodo.  This can be used as a non-competitive review session for the students.   They had a lot of fun using it and the class consensus was that the game Scatter was better than the game Space Race.   I also plan to use Quizlet in the classroom by having students create their own study flash cards.  


The bulletin board will be used to post assignments for Glogster and Quizlet that students can choose when they have completed the assigned keying work in class.   The Web 2.0 tools that I selected enhance learning in the classroom because they are fun and allow the students to be creative.   By including a writing component in each of the assignments, the students will continue to develop their communication skills.  As we work on current event assignments using Edmodo, they will also be developing critical thinking skills by answering questions based on their opinion.  There is a lot of potential to reinforce content using the Web 2.0 tools and I am looking forward to exploring them.

Educational Blogs

Wow!  There are so many great blogs out there.  I have been caught in the web of clicking on interesting links and going to another blog for more great information.   I decided I better start writing before I get way off track.

I was interested in looking at the Technology & Innovation and spent some time looking around Friday night.  As I was scrolling through the list today, I selected High Techpectations by Lucy Gray.  Her blog can be found at http://elemenous.typepad.com/weblog/ .  Lucy has 18 years experience in the education field, working as an elementary teacher, then for the University of Chicago in educational technology roles.  She currently owns her own consulting firm and advises on 21st Century Learning Initiatives. The blog I was reading discussed simple ways to communicate with parents and families of the students.  She outlines several blog and wiki sites that can be used for classroom communication and student publishing.  She has some good ideas, and I am interesting in finding an easy way to manage content and allow students to publish/post in my Computer Applications I class.  Lucy provided a link to Larry Ferlazzo's blog My Best Post's for Tech Novices (and a few other people),which can be found at the following link: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/06/28/my-best-posts-for-tech-novices-plus-one-from-somebody-else/ .    This is where I started to explore the links within the blog and I highly recommend that you do the same because there is some great information contained in Ferlazzo's blogs.

High Techpectations was a straightforward blog with lists of tools that can be used to publish in the classroom.  Some of the sites we are familiar with such as Blogger, Glogster, and Weebly.   There are several more listed that I quickly checked out: 
Edublogs - easy to use blogging tool that is for educational purposes, and not usually blocked by school filters.
Posterous - allows you to post using email and will convert a wide vareity of files using a web friendly format.  Appears that you need an email account to post student work.
Tumblr - another blogging site that seems easy to customize. 

Lucy Gray discusses wikispaces and how some teachers prefer them for publishing because they make it easier for multiple people to collaborate.  Easy to use wiki services are Google Sites, Wikispaces and PBWorks. 

I liked this blog and the information that was included in it was helpful.  There were many links to other sites that show examples of how the tools she mention are being used.  I found the information helpful because I want to do some fun and interesting things with my students and some of the Web 2.0 tools mentioned in the blog are ideal for what I want to do.   Now it is just a matter of picking one.