Tag Archives: Web 2.0

Web tools 4 u 2 use

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WebTools4u2use is an excellent wiki created by American ‘school library media specialists (teacher librarians) for school library media specialists’.

Homepage
Homepage

Listing a host of web 2.0 tools by category, the wiki has a few innovative features such as:

  • Five to test drive (the best five tools in each category)
  • More to explore (further tools in each category)
  • Ideas for using the tools in the library
  • Tutorials – how to use the tools
  • More information on how some schools are using the tools.
Meet the tools
Meet the tools

 This wiki is both an attractive and user friendly resource that takes the hard work out of selecting the best web 2.o tools for school libraries.

A big thank you to Helen Boelens for forwarding this site.

Connect/SLAV Web 2.0 competition

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Thanks to Connect’s Kerry Rowett for the following text:

Are you doing some wonderful work connecting students using web 2.0 applications in your classroom … or keen to start? You might be interested in entering the Connect and SLAV web 2.0 competition 2009. What do you need to do? Work in a team to create a unit of work incorporating the use of web 2.0 technologies and submit it, along with an application form to Connect by Monday October 5th.

Web_2.0_comp

There will be two prize packages awarded to winning schools with a value of approximately AU$800 each. Wii machines have generously been donated by the International Digital Entertainment Festival (iDEF) and games donated by Madman interactive. Each package includes:

  • Nintendo Wii Console 
  • Wii Sports
  • Nintendo 7 in 1 sports kit
  • One copy of each of the following gaming titles: Disney Think Fast, Ultimate Band, Bratz Kidz Party and Build A Bear Workshop

Prizes

Please share this information with other teachers you think may be interested in entering! Visit the link or click the images to find out more.

Web 2.0: Cool tools for schools

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Web 2.0 Cool tools for schools is a terrific wiki that groups Web 2.0 tools into categories such as:

  • videos
  • slideshows
  • presentations
  • widgets
  • research
  • image
  • audio
  • mapping
  • drawing
  • organising
  • music
  • writing and more.
Homepage
Homepage

Most of the tools have examples or tutorials as well as a short comment about the individual site.

So if you have a task in mind, check this wiki out and you are sure to find the right tool for the job! Thanks to Jennifer Frisardi for the link.

Feature blog St Martin of Tours – Rosanna

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Kim Yeomans of St Martin of Tours Primary School in Rosanna has allowed Bright Ideas to gain insights in to the development of her library blog.

Kim says:

I did the SLAV Web 2.0 course last year and decided this year to set up a blog for our LRC. The LRC already has an active presence on our school intranet but I felt the blog and Web 2.0 tools might let me do a little more. The Library already has a MyClasses page (intranet), but I was looking for other engaging ways to share what we do in the LRC and promote reading.  The Web 2.0 online course offered by SLAV last year introduced me to many new and exciting tools.  Attending the SLAV conference with Will Richardson earlier this year provided the impetus to actually begin our LRC Blog in mid February.

Homepage
Homepage

The main aims of our LRC Blog are to

  • Share the activities and learning we do in the LRC
  • Promote books and reading
  • Encourage students to participate in an online community
  • Introduce students to appropriate Web 2.0 tools
  • Develop student understanding of a global classroom

 It has been really encouraging seeing the students embrace the blog and add their comments.  Even our Principal who is on Enrichment Leave is contributing her learning on our blog and adding dots to our ClustrMap!  I have found Slideshare and Animoto are great Web 2.0 tools that enable us to share our work. This term I’ve added to our blog with the New LRC and Websites pages.  I am currently trialing SimplyBox for our website collections (even though it is blocked at school) because it is simple for me to set up and visually easy for the students to use at home. 

Ripper reads - student comments
Ripper reads – student comments

Our LRC Blog is evolving along with my own skills and knowledge and will continue to do so to meet the needs and interests of both the students and our Library program.  It is trial and error seeing what works on our blog, but I’m really enjoying the process!

Congratulations to Kim on inspiring both students and staff to become a part of the Web 2.0 world! Well done Kim.  (Don’t forget that Kim had previously shared some excellent photos of previous Book Week displays that might prove inspirational.)

Flowgram

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Flowgram is a total online multimedia presentation tool. 

Flowgram homepage
Flowgram homepage

Think Powerpoint with voiceover, interactive webpages, photos and more. Ideal for online conferences and even better for archiving conference sessions, Flowgram is almost as good as being there.

Here is a Flowgram on Web 2.0 by mseifman:

 Although it can be a little clunky to use, the benefits of Flowgram far outweigh the drawbacks.

21st Century learning?

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If you are having trouble convincing colleagues about the need for technology in schools, this video entitled Mr Winkle Wakes might just change their minds…  It would be a great way to begin a meeting or presentation on ICT in schools. (If you don’t have access to TeacherTube at school, consider accessing it at home and dropping it into Vodspot. It is well worth the effort.)

It is certainly food for thought and is true in many schools, despite the best efforts of many! Thank you to Sharon Brennan for sharing this one.

One to one professional learning

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Have you had a tough time getting Web 2.0 tools on the agenda at your school? No matter what you try, those in power aren’t listening? Then why not try the idea of ‘one to one professional learning’. The idea here is that you chip away at people until they give in to the power of Web 2.0 – one by one.

One to one professional learning can be held during spare periods so that staff do not feel that this is ‘just one more thing to deal with after school’. By teaching one person at a time, the sessions are casual and fun, without the need to monitor large groups who need their hands held. And one of the philosophies behind the program is that the person you teach goes on to teach another person that particular tool. This takes the strain off library staff and empowers learners to teach and reinforce their learnings. This survey  may help you to introduce the topic to staff via a group email. Good luck!