This blog will be utilized in a Book Study format for Frisco ISD educators interested in learning the what’s and why’s about Web 2.0 and how it may be applied into their classroom curricula.
Please feel free to follow our Book Study but please know only invited participants may comment on posts.
Chapter 8: Podcasting, Video and Screencasting, Live Streaming
Please view the video - Podcasting in Plain Englishthen listen to Chapter 8's podcast post. Please make sure to click on the word "posts" on the below player as there are two podcasts. One is Chapter 8: Podcast and the other is an Overview of the Chapter 8's Assignments.
Downloaditunes to your school and or home computer (www.apple.com/itunes/) and visit the Education links under podcast. (See page 112 in book). The Education podcasts are free.
Please create a podcast for your last required personal blog. I recommend you either typing or handwriting this post as you will be recording it twice.
You will record your post (the first time) using Vocaroo. Please click here for an explaination on how this free online site works. Please embed this podcast into your personal blog. Please hear the below podcast example.
In addition to using Vocaroo, you will also need to create the same podcast using Audacity. Please visit the following link to download this free program, Audacity 1.2.6. In addition to downloading Audacity, you will need to download the LAME MP3 file in order to save your recording as an MP3. Please make sure to follow the directions on the site. Please follow this how to link.
You will need to set up a GCast account, upload the mp3 file (Audacity podcast post), and embed the CGast player into your personal blog as another post. Please follow this how to link on YouTube.
Visit this link, (it is a wiki from the Frisco Server) for the rest of the assignments. You will be required to sign in using your Frisco username and password. If you are unable to sign in please let me know as soon as possible.
Chapter 6 and 7: Social Web and Fun with Flickr Chapter 6: The Social Web: Learning Together
Please view the below video, Social Network in Plain English from Common Craft. Will Richardson surmises the social web may create a network of resources allowing us to work with others to help support our own learning. Additionally, he mentions that this is just "another example of how the collective contributions created by the Read/Write Web are changing the way we work."
Social Networks:After reading these chapters, setting up accounts and utilizing various social networks (Linked In, Elementary School Classroom 2.0 (Ning), and Twitter), I am hooked! I do have to admit, when I initially set up Twitter last fall, I tried it and then put it on the back burner. However, just recently, I decided to give it a whirl. The verdict…so far, so good. Please read, Laura Walker’s, Nine Good Reasons Why Teachers Should Use Twitter. If you want to get a better understanding on what Twitter is all about, please visit the following Twitter Bookmarks. Make sure to check out the How to Guide for Teachers too. Also, please check out the below video from YouTube, Twitter in Plain English. As mentioned, the following social networking sites are fantastic and applicable to education. The ones I liked the most are:
"Ning is a platform for creating your own social network. Our passion is putting new social networks in the hands of anyone with a good idea. With Ning, your social network can be for anything and anyone. You start by naming your social network and choosing a combination of features (photos, videos, forums, events, etc.) from an ever-growing list of options. You can then customize your social network's appearance and launch it! People who join your social network will automatically have a customizable profile page and will be able to message and friend each other"http://help.ning.com/cgi-bin/ning.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2695 (Please know: Ning is block at school but they did unblock two of the sites for the purpose of this workshop.)
Web20BookStudy Social Network - I set this up specifically for our book study - I will be sending you an invite for this one - please accept it and join. It is my hope that, we as a group will use this on a regular basis even after this book study is completed.
Here are a few educational social networking database sites you may want to peruse:
Social Bookmarking Please view the video, Social Bookmarking in Plain English from Common Craft: There are two main social bookmarks that are mentioned in this chapter; del.icio.us and diggo. Both are very good and I believe, it will come down to personal preference. I suggest you visit each bookmark cloud tags (which maybe found on the book study blog) and see for yourself. Assignments for Chapter 6:Please completed by 06May09
What are your thoughts about this chapter?Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
What relevance do you see in using social web sites (i.e. Twitter, 2.0 Classroom, Ning, Diigo, del.icio.us) as an educator?Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
Do you see relevance using these tools in your classroom/students? Why or why not?Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
Set up a Social Bookmark account with either Diigo or Del.icio.us and try it out.
Please join the following social networking groups:
Linked In
- (I will send you an invite.)
Classroom 2.0
. - (I will send you an invite.)
Twitter
Web20Book Study Social Network
- (I will be sending you an invite for this one - please accept and join.) Please post to your blog at least once a week and view and comment to each other's blog.(You do not need to comment to everyone's blog on a weekly basis but please post comments on a few.)
Set up your profile/My Page for the above social networks and begin becoming familiar with these sites
.
Check back from time to time to read some of the other participant's comments to the chapter post. You may find some interesting reads.
Chapter 7: Fun with Flickr
Please view the below video from Common Craft: Online Photo Sharing in Plain English. .As you may have read, Flickr has vast possibilities for classroom use such as virtual field trips, digital storytelling projects, slide shows and power points, digital student portfolios, and more. As of right now, the search feature is not blocked by the district. Because it is public and anyone may upload to Flickr, I would be very careful if you use it "live" in the classroom. Instead, I suggest you use Flickr Storm. Please view the following videos on TeacherTube to learn more.FlickrStorm Tutorial Part 1, 2 3 - (very short). Assignments for Chapter 7:Please complete by 06May09
Will Richardson surmises that, "Flickr is a great tools for introducing students not only to digital images and publishing, but also to the social conversations and collaborative-learning opportunities that the Web now offer."
What benefits do you see using Flickr in your classroom?Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
Please view the below video, RSS in Plain English by Common Craft. (In the event the below video does not play properly, please click here to view.)
I have to admit when I first heard about RSS feeds last year, I was clueless on how to use it and if it was really worth my time. But after viewing the above video, reading this chapter, setting up and utilizing the RSS Feed Reader through Google Reader, I am amazed how valuable this tool can be. Following the author’s suggestion, I (initially) subscribed to only 10 feeds - ranging from some of my favorite blogs to other topics of interests.
You will notice (if you use Google Reader) the blogs which you signed up to "Follow" for this book study, will automatically be inserted into your Google Reader. See below.
How do you use RSS feeds in the classroom? On pages 77-82, Will Richardson mentions several ways to use RSS feeds. Also, please visit the below Delicious sites on ways to used RSS in the classroom:
Please note: If you use Google Reader, you will use the account (email/password) you used to set up your blog. You do not need to set up a gmail account unless you wish too.
Please view the following SHORT YouTube Tutorials - these videos are blocked at school. (Please feel free to check out YouTube's other great tutorial videos on Google Reader- just type Google Reader in the search box.)
Please post to your blog at least once a week and view and comment to each other's blog.(You do not need to comment to everyone's blog on a weekly basis but please post comments on a few.)
Check back from time to time to read some of the other participant's comments to the chapter post. You may find some interesting reads.
You may have noticed two RSS Calendars on this blog (i.e. RSS Calendar and 30 Boxes). I know a few of you were interested in utilizing RSS calendars for your class.
Optional:
Attend the 13Apr09 workshop to set up your RSS Feed.
Visit the links under the heading of Favorite Web Tools.
Visit the links from Chapter 4 -which may be found on the wiki.
Please visit the following URL: http://web20bookstudy.wikispaces.com/. You will/should have received an invitation to sign up/post to this wiki. Additionally, you may also locate and post your Chapter 4 assignment(s) to this wiki.
Chapter 3: Get Started!
As stated in the first posting: "Are We Ready to Embrace Web 2.0?" and reiterated in this chapter, we should experience blogging first hand by both creating and posting to our own blog.
(To become a bonefide – “Blogger” before diving head first into a classroom blog.
Assignment for Chapter 3 - Please Complete by 28June09
Read Chapter 3: pgs 43-54
Create a PERSONAL interest blog (not a blog to use in your classroom or with students) using Blogger. Please refer to pages 48-53. If needed, please view the following YouTube video (Blocked at school) http://www.youtube.com/BloggerHelp
Once you created your blog, please comment to this post and provide your URL so we may view/comment to your blog. (Once everyone has created their blog, I will post them to the right for easier access.)
Throughout the summer, please post to your blog at least once a week beginning this week.
View and respond to at least 3book study participant's blog postonce a week.
Create an Avatar or insert a graphic/picture of you in the Profile section of your blog.
Sign Up/Follow all blogs that are listed on the Summer Book Study Bloggers section on the book study blog.
Add the RSS Gadget (Subscription Links Gadget) to your blog. Please view the how to video here.
Check back from time to time to read some of the other participant's comments to the chapter post. You may find some interesting reads.
Optional:
Visit the links under the heading of Favorite Web Tools.
Visit the below links that may be found in Chapter 3:
Please view the short videos: The Networked Teacher (please see below), the YouTube project, A Vision at K-12 Today, which was created to inspire teachers to use technology in engaging ways to help students develop higher level thinking skills and IT Curriculum 2.0.
I asked my husband what the Internet was to him, 10-12 years ago, compared to today. He calmly and purposefully stated: "It was a source of maintaining our checking account and conversing in email." I then asked, "How about today, honey?" Again, he calmly and purposefully stated, "It is a source of maintaining our checking account, and conversing in email." Ah...he is so techno advanced - it's mind boggling!
Unlike my husband, many years ago, most people utilized the Internet to browse/retrieved information from all regions across the world.
Today, it has been transformed into a facet of powerful tools, allowing us to communicate, create, collaborate, post (to name a few) in ways our parents could have never fathomed. Today, buzzwords such as Read/Write Web, Web 2.0, My Space, Facebook, Flickr, Jing, Google Reader, WikiSpace, Twitter, Blogging, Podcasting (to name a few) have infiltrated into our student's daily vocabulary.
Will Richardson surmises that our students are entering our classroom carrying with them a wealth of knowledge about the intricacies of what the Internet has to offer. As educators, it is essential for us to evolve with the times and learn how to harness these web tools into our curricula. Additionally, he also asked some very thought provoking questions to consider: (Chapter 1, The Read/Write Web, page 5)
What needs to change about our curriculum when our students have the ability to reach audiences far beyond our classroom walls?
What changes must we make in our teaching as it becomes easier to bring primary sources to our students?
How do we need to rethink our ideas of literacy when we must prepare our students to become not only readers and writers, but editors, collaborators and publishers as well?
How can we as learners begin to take advantages of the opportunity these tools present, so we may understand more clearly the pedagogies of using them in the classroom?
So are we ready to embrace Web 2.0? What is Web 2.0? Why should we use Web 2.0 in our classroom and what are some Web 2.0 tools we can use?
Are We Ready to Embrace Web 2.0?
For this book study, I wholeheartedly agree with the author, that we become acquainted and implement these tools into our own “learning practices” before we dive into using these new technologies with our students. It is my hope, by the time you finish this book study, you will:
First, utilize these tools personally (i.e. create a personal blog about whatever you are passionate/interests you).
Become familiar/comfortable with these tools.
Gain knowledge of how you may model/implement these tools for your classroom.
Finally, take advantage of the potential use of these tools to enhance student knowledge and prepare them “for the slew of new illiteracies and competencies in their post-education lives.”
What is Web 2.0?
According to Wikipedia: "Web 2.0 is a term describing changing trends in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and especially, collaboration among users."
I personally liked the following from Randy Rogers, a strong proponent of Web 2.0. "Web 2.0 refers to the part of the Internet that not only gives information; it allows users to contribute/create information. Web 2.0 allows users to use the Internet in a collaborative manner, to customize the web for their own needs, and to form valuable networks with other users, who share the same interest, expertise and goals. "Why Use Web 2.0 in the Classroom?
Web 2.0 is a valuable teaching tool for several reasons:
Collaboration - the widespread availability of the Internet allows students to work together, even from remote locations.
Motivation - students can and will be very motivated to create online products. A potentially worldwide audience is a big motivator to create quality products.
Meaningful - products reflect “real” society and the latest technological skills.
Communication -web-based student products, RSS/XML, blogs, etc. all facilitate communication between schools and parents/communities.
Availability - being Internet-based, students and teachers can access Web 2.0 tools from school, home, libraries, or anywhere Internet access is available, effectively expanding the school day.
What are some Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom?
Web 2.0 is a dynamic resource. New applications are being created almost daily. Some of the earliest tools included blogs, wikis, and filesharing sites. The list now includes, among other examples:
Blogs — online journals that allow creators and viewers to interact, sharing news, opinions, etc.
Wikis — collaborative web pages. Content is generated and monitored by groups, drawing on a greater pool of knowledge/resources.
Social networks — an evolution of blogs, social networks revolve around the creation of groups of users who communicate/share similar interests, occupations, etc.
Filesharing sites — these include sites where users can create and share audio or video.
Social bookmarking — sites designed to allow users to recommend websites, videos, music, etc. via online lists of favorites, or bookmarks.
Podcasts — audio or video files that may be downloaded by users for display on mp3 audio/video players.
RSS/XML — online subscription tools that allow users to remain constantly informed about new information, news, podcasts, etc.
Productivity tools — online versions of traditional software, such as word processors, spreadsheets, slideshows, etc
Chapter 2: Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice
Before reading the above chapters, please view the following short videos titled, “Blogs in Plain English ” and "Why Let Our Students Blog?" What is a Blog?
You will find countless resources defining, “What is a Blog?” Plainly put, a blog is a simple way for individuals to create/update and publish information to the web. Blogs comprise of reflections, conversations, they engage readers with ideas, questions, and links. In addition, blogs allow people to respond, think, network and most importantly, interact. Chapter 2, Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice
Chapter 2, Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice, provides an in-depth look on how educators have been using blogs in their school. Additionally, Will Richardson provides an insight of how blogs may improve student learning and why educators should consider blogs as a tool to deliver their curriculum. To surmise the pedagogy of blogs they:
Are considered a constructivist tool for learning
Add relevance to student’s writing because it provides a “real” audience (not just their teacher)
Expands the walls of the classroom
Archives/keeps historical work
Supports different learning styles
Enhances the development of expertise in a particular subject
Teach students the new literacies necessary to function in our “ever expanding information society”
Take special note on the sections, Blogging Across the Curriculum and Classroom Uses of Weblogs and Classroom Uses of Weblogs - pages 32 - 39. These pages may provide you with a better understanding of how you may utilize a blog into your curricula. Assignment for Chapter 1 and 2: Please Complete by 23June09 Chapter 1:
View the short YouTube project, A Vision at K-12 Today, which was created to inspire teachers to use technology in engaging ways to help students develop higher level thinking skills.
Discussion Questions: for Chapter 2: Answer the below discussion questions by posting to the "Comments" at the end of this post.
After viewing some of these classroom blogs and reading the chapters, brainstorm and post your ideas of how YOU would like to use a blog in your classroom? Post to the comment section at the bottom of this post.
Misc: Direct YouTube links to the above movies: (Blocked at school)
