The most comprehensive definition of Web 2.0
tools might be that they are a combination of electronic applications, tools
and technologies, which may enhance the individual creation of content on the
Internet as well as allow sharing via electronic media.
Different Web 2.0 possibilities,
such as programs and software, web pages created for the purpose of networking
and sharing, such as blogs, wikis, podcasts, workspaces, etc. as well as all forms of
discussion groups, chat rooms, forums, etc. can easily be used in any teaching
environment.
Workspace
A workspace is a shared space provided online offering various possibilities, such as collaboration, sharing, social networking, peer and group work. Furthermore, it can be used as a notice board, a virtual classroom and a storage space.
My all-time favourite workspace is PBworks http://pbworks.com
PBworks (PB) offers the teacher possibilities to collaborate with students and have them collaborate among themselves if needed. Various aspects, such as student engagement, organisation and coordination, data protection and access controls, evaluation and data collection are just a few of the benefits.
It is also a shared workspace because the pages on PB are not used as blackboards only but also as a classroom, which everybody (if invited) can participate in.
Everything related to a regular classroom, such as exercises, task sheets, tests, questionnaires and test results, can be stored forever. The teacher may upload and share classroom presentations, keep track of student assignments, progress and participation, connect teachers, students and even parents, post schedules, procedures and special events, upload files in any format, search them with a single click, provide shared space for classes, student groups and volunteers. Since data are protected by restricted access students can only read, download or view content, but not change it.
Three forms of usage may prove most valuable:
1. Upload study material and other files and documents for the students;
2. Notify the students about important upcoming events, such as tests and exams;
3. Keep record of their performance and assignments.
1. The upload function is probably the most important one because nowadays, teachers like bringing their own documents, worksheets, presentations or similar files to class. Rather than photocopying the material for each student, the teacher can simply instruct students to look for the material on PB to download and use it.
Links to various web pages and study sites are easier accessed by directly clicking on them than have the students copy them from the blackboard.
2. The second option refers to notifications and announcements. The “front page” of a workspace is the starting page which opens upon entering the
space. Notifications, announcements, instructions, etc. may easily be
circulated because every student receives a notification about any change on
the workspace in their mailbox almost instantly. Content
may be typed, underlined, emphasised by means of various colours and fonts and mistakes
may be corrected easily.
The Comment bar in the lower part of the front page enables the circulation of comments directly to all registered students or just one of them.
Everything that is posted is again sent to each student’s mailbox and all their
comments are sent to each of their fellow students’ mailboxes and the teacher’s.
Discussions that the teacher would like to
initiate or participate in if started by some of the students, will never
meander. Unlike a regular forum, where numerous discussion topics are started
so that participants may get lost, with PB the teacher has greater
authority over the flow of the discussion as monitoring and control are much
easier due to the restricted access. The fact that it is an online classroom makes
the student act in a more responsible way, which makes the job of the teacher a
bit easier.
3.If the teacher wants to keep track of the
students’ work, a student evaluation sheet may be uploaded. It may be opened by
registered users but not altered. The teacher will be the only one entering
data, such as marks and comments.
Final points:
The students can communicate with the
teacher directly or they can contact the teacher by using an e-mail address the
teacher supplies for such purposes. Communication must not necessarily be
public but it may be initiated on the workspace and then withdrawn to the
intimate one-to-one correspondence.
Students may submit their writing
assignments without the regular, and quite frequently even embarrassing,
exposure in a regular classroom. The assignment can then be corrected, commented
on, marked or sent back for further work on it so that the students can submit
their final version once they feel it is ready. Only then can the assignment be
uploaded if the teacher chooses to make the assignments visible to the student’s
peers.
The teacher may choose to create pages that may
be accessed by some users only, that is restrict access to certain files to a
group of users and allow it to another group of users. It all depends on the purpose,
aims and goals that the teacher puts ahead of themselves once they have created
a workspace. The feature with the partially restricted access may serve well
for communication with parents, students who need extra help or talented
students who want assignments that are more advanced.
A wiki is similar to a workspace, but less demanding. It may be defined as an online technology enabling the user to create a comprehensive and collective website on the Internet where information, news and additional material can easily be uploaded and made available to an open or closed group.
Designing a wiki is fast and simple. Depending on the preferences, the content can be written and edited by everyone or just published to be read and downloaded.
My personal favourite is the option offered by Google at Google sites. It is easy, quick, user-friendly and accessed through a Google account.
In case another account is preferred, there are other easy to use wikis available online. The explanations at Start-a-Wiki are a good place to start at. The step-by-step tutorial is quite easy to follow. The possibilities at Wikidot for education or Wiki-site would be a good choice.
Whichever one is chosen, a wiki makes sense with any group size. Publishing content is more than simple and students are easily motivated to browse the wiki as the layout can be adapted according to individual preferences.
This section will probably be the most comprehensive one. At the same time, it will be the section to be edited quite frequently. After all, this section is the primary reason why this blog has been started. Separate ideas shall be presented on the Skills pages within this blog as it will be easier to follow them.
For starters, a list of really great tools and programs is provided here with the suggestion that each one of them may be elaborated on and discussed on demand.
Cool tools for schools
For teachers
Many things
Word it out
Zunal.com
Prezi.com
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