Web 2.0 Tool Handbook off to the Publisher!

It has been a really busy week as I have been busy taking a few classes, getting my classroom ready, analyzing my students' state test results, and most importantly if I'm looking at a time crunch, finishing my handbook for my new seminar with the Bureau of Education and Research. I will be presenting this seminar in Phoenix and Seattle in January and then Cherry Hills and Newark, NJ in February. Now that the handbook is completed, I get to breathe a bit and then begin organizing the actual presentation of the seminar. The seminar is all about how to use Web 2.0 tools in the classroom.

My latest find is called, "Elluminate." I realize it has been out there a while; however, they now have a Three Room Suite you can use for free. I can easily see how I could use this to hook up with two other classrooms across town, the state, the country, or the world. It is pretty intuitive to use and has a lot of great features for taking polls, surveys, and even identifying whether someone agrees or disagrees with your comment. I like the "Raising Your Hand" feature the best.

I have run into a bit of glitch that may put a kabosh on all the Web 2.0 ideas I have for my classroom this fall. I'll need to have a meeting with my principal and with someone from our District's OIT Department to get permission to put some of the web-based softwares on my school computer. This is always a bit difficult and usually involves a number of steps and pleas. Wish me luck.

I definitely want to put the following on my classroom computer: Jing, CamStudio, Audacity, and Videora. They all will allow me to do some podcasting, vodcasting, and screencasting.

Right now, I have been experimenting with a blog with my future students. I sent them a snail mail card with information about my blog: Studentsinroom 118.pbwiki.com. They call me to get the key for access. They can view information about their summer homework, tomorrow's barbecue details, and participate in a "comments" forum that allows them to share what they have been up to this summer. So far, just a few have tried it, but they seem to be quite successful.

It is now getting late, so it is off to bed. Tomorrow I get to get back to my geneology family study as I have had to put it on hold to finish my handbook. Thank goodness for Ancestry.com!

Bonis Family Headstones in Colorado

WEB 2.0 tools I have found and love!

Ugh! I have been so busy that I forgot to blog. Sorry... I have been working on my handbook that I will use for my technology seminars. It is a lot of work but I love it. The main problem is that I keep getting sucked into the new technology opportunities and get lost in cyberspace only to resurface with dinner not made, laundry not folded, and a starving dog staring at me lovingly. (Isn't a pet's unconditional love great)

Anyway, things I have found include:

Jing - a great tool for taking a screenshot of something on your desktop. The best part is that you can select what you want in the shot, then you can add arrows, text boxes and highlights. It has been a lifesaver for creating my handbook. http://www.jingproject.com/

Voicethread - a tool for having online conversations and discussions. The Voicethread can hold a video or picture, then you can narrate text that is recording. Then others can provide feedback or add to your voicethread. Check it out: http://voicethread.com/#b409

Bibme - a site on the web where you enter the name of the book, magazine, website url, etc. then it gives you the bibliography entry - It has saved me a ton of time and helped me cite my sources legally and easily. Giving credit where credit is due has never been easier. http://www.bibme.org/

There is much more, but I have to get back to my handbook!