Web 2.0 Tools

Which Web 2.0 tools did you explore and how might they be used in the classroom to promote communication and/or reflection?


Over the past couple of days I have been exploring the use of social networks, blogging and media sharing in the classroom. Here are a few brief thoughts about each: 


Social Networks
Of the three web 2.0 tools that I took a closer look at, this would be my favorite.  A few weeks ago I came across a social networking platform made specifically for education called edmodo.  It allows teachers to post discussion questions, assignments, quizzes, course calendars, documents and presentations.  Best of all, it is modeled after Facebook, so students pick up on it quickly.  This tool is going to change the way that I teach and communicate with students. Hopefully the resurrection of the DOPA (deleting online predators act) legislation doesn't hinder its use. 


Blogging
Prior to taking this course, I had heard of weblogs and bloggers but I had no idea what they were.  I learned that they are personal online journals where people publish their reflections on life/learning to the rest of the world.  At the moment, I do not see any benefits of this that I cannot achieve through a social network such as edmodo.  But then again, our state has recently added standards for reading and writing across the curriculum.  So I may find a use for this type of tool in the near future.


Media Sharing
I have never made a youtube video or podcast in my life, but my students have.  They are comfortable "putting themselves out there", and I am excited to have them share what they are learning in class with the world.  I can't believe I never thought of having students do a project using youtube as their medium.  With a class set of ipad 2s coming next week, watch out!