Web 2.0 Tools for Secondary Science

TED (found at www.ted.com) is a Web 2.0 tool that allows students to connect worldwide with professionals and experts in many different fields. Many of us are already familiar with TED Talks and TEDx Talks, which are videos of talks given by experts in formal TED forums around the globe and independently organized TED forums, respectively. There are also forums and comment sections, as well as TED Books (short books on a wide range of topics), TEDed (content and lesson planning for educators), TED Studies (specifically curated content for life long learners), and an ideas blog to get users started on a new journey of discovery. The goal of TED.com is to promote an environment where discussion and debate is encouraged and appreciated, and inspiration is the main goal.

TED.com accounts are open to users over 13 years of age and do request some basic information to sign up. TED does monitor the site and forums to ensure that content promoting a certain product, person, or worldview that is disrespectful of others is removed. A full list of terms of use can be found on the Ted.com website.

Users under the age of 13 can still watch content, but they will not be able to create an account and post in comments and discussion forums.

One of my favourite TED Talks is about the wonders of the deep ocean by Robert Ballard, which discusses the treatment of the deep ocean in formal education and the wonders that we have just started to discover. Please find the link below! https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_ballard_on_exploring_the_oceans