Web+2.0+Tools

The resources on this page are intended to assist students with web 2.0 tools that will facilitate their ongoing professional learning and provide the potential for expanding that learning to include others in a social network.

===**Web 2.0 Assignment ** === Students will demonstrate their ability to use web 2.0 tools by creating the following: 1. IGoogle homepage. 2. A minimum of six gadgets on their homepage, three of which must be related to their professional work. 3. A Google Reader on their home page with a minimum of six RSS Feeds on their homepage. 4. Their own del.i.cious account with four separate "tags" containing a minimum of one entry each. 5. A subscription to ASCD's free e-newsletter, SmartBrief, and one additional e-newsletter. 6. A minimum of three postings on their wiki page: a Link, File, and Widget (i.e. Video).

 [|A short video that explains how to create your IGoogle Home Page.]

 [|An introduction to IGoogle and Google Reader with links to get you started.]

 [|Google Reader in Plain English (by Common Craft)]

 [|RSS Feed in Plain English (by Common Craft]

 [|A bit more detailed intro to Google Reader and RSS feeds].

This video, [|Social Bookmarking in Plain English], uses delicious as the example and provides a brief overview. And, this link takes you to the site to [|sign up] for a free delicious subscription.

An excellent source of free RSS Feeds for your Google Reader or for a widget on your IGoogle Homepage is Education Week Newspaper. Click on this link to their web site [|RSS Feeds].

Kelly Patterson found this site, Free Technology for Teachers. containing seven videos [|all teachers should watch]

Smartbrief now has a specialty, e-newsletter,[| Ed Tech], that is worth checking out. It's one way to stay current with the increasing importance of technology in education. Other sources for ed technology are [|e-School News] and [|Digital Directions] published by Education Week.

Here is a blog by a teacher who was looking to put more life into his class. I encourage you to not only [|read his blog] but also to use the link he provides to Michael Wesch, a young professor of cultural anthropology who specializes in digital ethnography. Wesch was named professor of the year and his insights have considerable application for all educators.
 * Want to learn more about the use and potential of social media, namely web 2.0 tools? **

One of my favorite web sites, [|The Daily Riff], reports on a 11/10 NY Times article that addresses the above question of interest to all educators. Included are a short video based on the article, a link to the actual article, and a link to a series of interesting, brief reactions to the article from another good resource, The Atlantic (Magazine) Wire.
 * Is technology a learning tool or a distraction from learning?**

Book recommendation. If you want to read an excellent, little, paperback on Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology, I recommend Collins & Halverson's 2009 book.