I firmly believe that blogging is a wonderful way to introduce students to so many other Web 2.0 tools. Here's why and here's a slideshow of all Web 2.0 applications and sources mentioned below.
- - If you have to research for a blog post, RSS via Google Reader and bookmarking via Delicious are a dynamic combo.
- - If you want to interview an expert for your blog, Audacity, Gabcast and podcasting become important.
- - If you want to create a video/audio-visual on your blog topic, Animoto and VoiceThread then becomes meaningful.
- - Need a unique, visually striking image for your blog? Students then learn the value of digital creation/manipulation via Picnik, Splashup, Flauntr or Adobe Photoshop Express, as well as the importance of understanding copyright.
- - Need a one stop location where each student can provide a link to his/her blog so others can comment on them? Wikis get it done.
- - Additionally, along the way you could discuss how the "world is flat" and how this all ties into what skills students need with people - here and abroad, and with all things digital for a successful tomorrow (T. Friedman and D. Pink material). In the end, students end up getting exposure to a variety of online apps/services/technologies!
I know at least where I'm at, the high school class called "computer applications" used to be the standard MS Office class; however, students are really getting lots of this at the late elementary and middle school level. Two semesters ago I changed my approach and offer this same class as an introduction to Web 2.0 technologies. I want students to walk away with so much more than just knowledge of how to use a software suite. In changing the class, my primary focus has become showing students the immense power shift that has occurred with these tools; before, they were only consumers of what others wanted them to know and think, but now they can be intelligent, saavy consumers AND producers of original and remixed information/content.
Regarding using a wiki as a place for students to post the URLs to their blogs, wouldn't it be easier for each student to add the URLs as a blogroll on their own blogs?
ReplyDeleteMaryanne -
ReplyDeleteYes, I like your thinking, but usually I have the students create a blogroll that links to other blogs or sites that relate to their topic. I see what you're saying -- students could set up two blogrolls -- one to go to like sites on their topics, and one that links to peer blogs.
Hi, I saw your comments about Letter Pop on another blog and thought I would contact you. I am looking for Letter Pop type application but one that could give me(export, whatever) the html for the resulting newsletter. Do you know of any web 2.0 apps like this?
ReplyDeletethanks,
Sean
Sean -
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm sorry, not as of yet. But I will keep my eyes out for one. I wonder if Google Docs has a newletter template that you can save/download as an .html file? May want to look at their templates section. Sorry, other than that, I know there's tons of online sites that provide online newsletter services, but all these cost (as do some portions of the letterpop.com service). Sorry that I'm not of much help to you.
:(
Thanks for following up -- I'll keep looking.
ReplyDeleteSchuyler S -
ReplyDeleteI liked the way this was put together. It was very informative, and it pressed on some very important issues. One such example of this is how the President of the United States must be computer saavy in this technological age. I would hate to think where this country would go if our president couldn't even check an email. I also believe 2.0 will be a complete revolution in the way the world wide web is used. This will truely be a great thing for students, teachers, businessmen, consumers, etc. There are so many possibilities for this it is unbelievable. I am happy to see the constancy of improving the computer nd all its features.