Web+2.0

__** WEB 2.0 Assignment **__ Web 2.0 is a newer technology that is beginning to present itself in the school systems today. This new technology is a great adaptation to the public system because it allows students to view and learn interactively instead of the original chalkboard and over- head viewers. Web 2.0 also allows us to see how far technology has really come. A few of the Web 2.0 tools that I was looking at that I really enjoyed learning about were the: Podcasting, Tikatok, YacaPaca, DOGO and Jump Cut. The first tool that was very interesting to learn about and I was even able to produce my own was the podcasting. This idea was created to mean the combination of iPod and Broadcasting. This tool basically is used to deliver content to any audio player via the web. It is almost like a radio broadcast. You start out by recording a message, lesson or anything else you would like to over a microphone on your computer. Next you can add music to your podcast so it sounds more interesting. Then you can share this podcast with anyone and place it on the internet. This would be a very helpful tool in school because you could record many messages for your students. For example, you could put a voice lesson on the internet to listen to for more instruction on what they are supposed to do. Also, if your students are about to begin a project, you could put voice directions on a podcast for them to listen over and over again. I really enjoyed learning how to make my own podcast and if I am able to get the chance to, then I will make a podcast for my students to listen to in the future. The next tool that I found to be very helpful for schools was the “Tikatok” tool. This funny sounding tool is used to create your own books. You are able to add images and add your own literature. You also are able to upload it on the internet, email it and even purchase a hard copy if you liked it. I believe that this tool would be a very cool tool to know how to work. First of all, I know many students are instructed to make their own books throughout elementary school. For example, this last year my 3rd grade brother had to create his very own picture book. He was allowed to make a hard copy or make one on the computer. Unfortunately my family and I did not have knowledge on making an internet book so he was forced to make a time consuming hard copy. However if we had known about Tikatok, it may have helped him make a book using online images. This tool could also be used for teachers. Some may want to create their own storybooks for their students and this would be a great tool to use in that case. The next tool that I would love to try out is the YakaPaka. This other funny sounding tool is used to create tests and quizzes. The neat thing about this tool is that you can either create your OWN tests or quizzes or you can use quizzes that were already created by others. This tool would be good to use for obvious reasons. Students are required to be tested on what they are learning in school. This tool could be used for 2 reasons. Firstly, you can easily create a test or quiz yourself for your students and grade them on how they do. This would be a nice change from taking quizzes and tests with just pen and paper. Virtual tests and quizzes are already becoming very prevalent in the school systems today. Another way this tool can be used it for practice quizzes and tests for your students. You can create a few quizzes for your students to practice what they need to know for the real test that will be given. The next tool that I chose to learn about was a research tool called “DOGO”. This tool is fodder, cool sites and global news for young minds. This tool was very cool to look at because it shows students about current events that they can really learn about and understand. Instead of having students go home look through a newspaper or on Google, they can use this tool to find things out about what is relative to their age and grade. It also has other helpful information that keeps them all up to date on the latest trends. This can also be important for teachers to use because they will be able to know what their students are learning and following. The last tool that I really enjoyed learning about was the “Jumpcut” tool. This a tool that is used to create your very own videos. You can upload your media, grab shared media, create and remix movies, publish and share with the world! This would be a great tool to use in the classroom for many reasons. You can teach students how to use the tool and they will be able to create movies and videos for their classmates to watch and learn about. Example: If you were teaching your students about the Solar system, you could have them create a whole movie about the 9 planets and they would be able to be interactive and make their presentation more interesting than a poster board. Teachers can also use this tool to create their own video about a certain subject. This tool reminds me of the Digital Story Telling activity that we did in class. That was my favorite assignment out of them all and I know that I would use that tool when I become a teacher. In conclusion, there are hundreds more Web 2.0 that I read about and that can be very useful in schools today and for the future. As you can see, Web 2.0 is very important because the society that we are living in is turning in to a much more interactive world and almost everything is being converted to the internet. It is very important for everyone, especially teachers to know how to use these tools so we can teach the future generations.