WEB 2.0 TOOLS FOR THE UPPER ELEMETARY CLASSROOM
iMovie
http://www.apple.com/ca/mac/imovie/
This app, as the name suggests, is a very simple and intuitive movie making tool. Not only will iMovie simply create videos, it will also allow the user to add text, use pictures from the iPad, capture new pictures and videos, add voice overs and edit the clips to suit your needs, and has easy sharing capabilities to sites like YouTube and Facebook.
This tool would be a fantastic way for students to create alternative types of presentations to the typical oral presentation. Because of all of the various features, like adding text and audio, this app will remove barriers to learning by allowing students to tailer the presentation to their abilities and thereby increasing motivation to see the project through to the end.
This tool would be confusing for younger studentsm and therefore would be best suited for grade 6 students.
2) Skitch
https://evernote.com/skitch/?var=2
This is a drawing tool that allows students to not only draw, but allows students to add pictures from the web as well as pics that are already on their device, capture pictures, draw over these pictures, draw on a map, add text, use many shapes, as well as many colours and point sizes. Further, their work can be saved as a picture and, because of this, facilitates ease of sharing with their peers.
This tool would be best suided for visual learners and kinesthetic learners who need to manipulate information in order to fully grasp the content. This app, just like iMovie, allows for Flexible methods of presentation and in doing so, overcomes barriers for students. Students have the flexibility to simple use a blank canvas to work with or add photos to siute their mode of expression. A possible use of Sketch in the classroom is when students are learning about geography. Instead of simply looking at at a map on the teachers powerpoint presentation, the students can use the add map feature and write notes over the map to help them interact with the map and thereby learning by interaction.
Since this app is not very complex, it would be best suited for grade 5 or 6 students.
3) Prezi
https://prezi.com
This web 2.0 tool is an alternative method for presentations. Prezi goes beyond the traditional method of powerpont presentations by having features such as: uploading documents, audio files, images, unique and visually stimulating trasitions/animations to slides, and, of course, add text.
I believe that this tool would be best suited for the Elementary teacher. Prezi wouls allow teachers to tailer presentations to their students needs by allowing insertion of video and audio. In doing this, students learning barriers will be removed.
Because I see this tool being used by the teacher and not the student themself, I think that it would be best suited for any elemetary grade!
Resources:
https://dmourlam.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/10-apps-that-can-enhance-your-lessons-through-udl/