Web 2.0/Open Source Resources

 

 

   Edmodo.com is a social networking site that is safe for use by teachers,       students and administrators.  This Web 2.0 too was created in 2008 and today it includes more than 6 million user. Basic features allow teachers to create messages, begin classroom discussions, assign classwork, and it even grades returned homework!  It is very easy to use and the interface is similar to Facebook.  See image below for the basic look.

 

 

 

 

Dipity.com creates fun, unique and interactive timelines for free.  Students or Teachers can use this tool to create a timeline of a series of events.  This is a tool than can be used in any class to show when musicians, scientists, or authors lived.  The tool also allows the user to zoom out and see how the period of history under examination is related to other periods of history.  Timelines incorporate text, audio, and video to create a dynamic and interactive timeline.  The website also offers the use of pre-made timelines that can be shared or embeddedto any website.  These timelines greatly benefit visual learners and are an asset to any class.

 

 

 Glogster.com was created in 2007 and has 6 million users world wide.  This web 2.0 tool allows students to create visually stimulating “glogs” or digital posters.  Text, audio, clipart, and videos can be added to a page to create a unique informational page about any subject.  The colors and backgrounds used make this homework assignment fun and interactive as gloster.com appeals to a youthful audience.  Once a glog is done, students can publish their work which can then be viewed by others on the web or the publication can be kept private and viewed only by the teacher.

 

 

www.museumbox.e2bn.org/ provides students with an unusual way to describe a historical event.  The user can describe an event,person, or historical event by placing digital items into a virtual box.  The user can add text, video, audio, or pictures into an interactive box that allows other people to view.  There are lesson guides and instructions for teachers who are learning how to use this tool for the first time.

 

 

 

  Wordle

http://www.wordle.net/  This is a quick tool that allows student and teachers to create word clouds.  Simply highlight an article or text and paste into the box and your word cloud is created.  Students can then change the design, color, and themes to make their own unique and personal word cloud.  The word cloud highlights the major topics or words contained in the text.  This helps student identify and remember key words or topics from the reading.