Evernote is one of the Web 2.0 tool I investigated. This tool is great for students doing research because it allows them to store and organize notes for their project. Students can also save pictures, audio, and PDF files from the web to use on their research project. Teachers can also use Evernote to model how to appropriately acquire information and teach research skills. One feature allows students to highlight and clip text and link the information inside the program. The information retrieved from the web has the addresses linked as well for correct citation of information.
Netvibes is another Web 2.0 tool I investigated. After reading and investigating Netvibes, I immediately starting thinking about how this tool could be used when creating a Web Quest. Similar to Evernote, it can pull a variety of sources from the web and is a great tool for during research projects. Students can use Netvibes to create websites and student blogs. This is an awesome collaboration tool. It gives the students a global audience which increases the level of engaged learning for the students.
Educade is another Web 2.0 tool I investigated. This free site provides information about web tools for educators to review. (Solomon and Scrum, 2014) I was able to find a great app to use with my students. The StoryBots app allows teachers or students to add a photo and become the star of the show in an animated storybook. The books are age-appropriate and designed for emergent readers which is great for kindergarteners. Another great feature is that the book can be read offline after being downloaded.
These tools can enhance student learning by allowing the students to take responsibility for their own learning. They also support teaching because teachers are able to use them to monitor student’s work and provide immediate feedback. The students can use the tools to produce research papers, websites, and blogs giving them learning environment.
Tools like Evernote and Netvibes can be used to enhance the learning for students with disabilities because they allow the students to have visual learning aids. This is especially helpful for visual learners. Their also beneficial because they helps organize thoughts from the notes and other text retrieved from the web. This can help students with a learning disability because organizing and retrieving information can be very challenging.
I would allow my students to use the StoryBots app/website after they have completed their daily computer assignment. Every Friday, we go to the computer lab, this would also be a time my students could use this tool. In a blended learning environment, students could have more opportunities to explore these tools and enhance their learning.
The biggest challenge for is me using these tools is that most of these Web 2.0 tools are for the use of older students. My kindergarteners would have a hard time using some of the tools without one-on-one assistance. One way to overcome this challenge is to change grade levels but since I do not foresee that in the near future, I can look for ways to adapt the tools for my students or continue searching for more age-appropriate tools.
Netvibes is another Web 2.0 tool I investigated. After reading and investigating Netvibes, I immediately starting thinking about how this tool could be used when creating a Web Quest. Similar to Evernote, it can pull a variety of sources from the web and is a great tool for during research projects. Students can use Netvibes to create websites and student blogs. This is an awesome collaboration tool. It gives the students a global audience which increases the level of engaged learning for the students.
Educade is another Web 2.0 tool I investigated. This free site provides information about web tools for educators to review. (Solomon and Scrum, 2014) I was able to find a great app to use with my students. The StoryBots app allows teachers or students to add a photo and become the star of the show in an animated storybook. The books are age-appropriate and designed for emergent readers which is great for kindergarteners. Another great feature is that the book can be read offline after being downloaded.
These tools can enhance student learning by allowing the students to take responsibility for their own learning. They also support teaching because teachers are able to use them to monitor student’s work and provide immediate feedback. The students can use the tools to produce research papers, websites, and blogs giving them learning environment.
Tools like Evernote and Netvibes can be used to enhance the learning for students with disabilities because they allow the students to have visual learning aids. This is especially helpful for visual learners. Their also beneficial because they helps organize thoughts from the notes and other text retrieved from the web. This can help students with a learning disability because organizing and retrieving information can be very challenging.
I would allow my students to use the StoryBots app/website after they have completed their daily computer assignment. Every Friday, we go to the computer lab, this would also be a time my students could use this tool. In a blended learning environment, students could have more opportunities to explore these tools and enhance their learning.
The biggest challenge for is me using these tools is that most of these Web 2.0 tools are for the use of older students. My kindergarteners would have a hard time using some of the tools without one-on-one assistance. One way to overcome this challenge is to change grade levels but since I do not foresee that in the near future, I can look for ways to adapt the tools for my students or continue searching for more age-appropriate tools.
Formative Assessment
Illuminate is a student assessment system that enables educators to garner quick feedback mid-lesson or before moving on to the next concept by creating an “On-The-Fly” assessment. The result: Teachers can instantly utilize formative data to determine which lesson plans are successful and make necessary adjustments, judge how to pace the next lesson and establish flexible grouping of students. It’s formative assessment at its best.
My school district recently purchased Illuminate and I am currently being trained so that I can train other teachers at my school to use this assessment tool.
My school district recently purchased Illuminate and I am currently being trained so that I can train other teachers at my school to use this assessment tool.
I loved using Screencast-o-matic, it was very user friendly. When I explored Jing, I did not find it as easy to use as Screencast-o-matic. I am going to see if I can use this tool at school as well, because of all the blocking software I am not sure if I would have permission. I am eager to show my colleagues have to screen-cast their lessons. I can think of several different uses for screen-casting. One way to use screen-casting is to teach other teachers how to screen-cast and to train teachers how use Illuminate. Another way is to screen-cast my lesson for students to use as a remediation tool. The third way is to use screen-casting to create how-to-tutorials for parents to help work with their children at home.
Reference
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2014). Web 2.0 how-to for educators (2nd ed.). Eugene, OR. ISTE
Reference
Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2014). Web 2.0 how-to for educators (2nd ed.). Eugene, OR. ISTE