Web 2.0 Tools

Web 2.0 Tools to Use in the Classroom

By Sara McCaffrey

Edmodo

You can get to this site by going to https://www.edmodo.com/ 

Edmodo is used to connect teachers with teachers, connect students with students and connect teachers with students. Teachers are able to bring classrooms online with the use of Edmodo. This gives students and teachers the ability to communicate safely anywhere at anytime. 

Edmodo can be used to facilitate class disucssion. Students can be reminded of due dates easily and hand in assignments online. The teacher is able to see student progress so they are able to focus student learning on topics that the students struggled with. 

Edmodo removes the barriers between teachers and students once they leave the classroom or the school. Edmodo can connect the teacher and the student on weekends and evenings so the teacher is always avaliable for outside help. Students are also able to ask the teacher questions in private if they do not feel comfortable asking in front of the class. 

There is no age restriction for using Edmodo. 

Plinky

To get to this website go to http://www.plinky.com/

Plinky gives students a new questions every day that involves some thought and a creative answer. An example of a question is 'If you could pause real like and spend time living with a family anywhere in the world, where would you go?' The answers to the questions can be put on display for the students to share with their classmates or teacher. 

This program could be used in the classroom as a creative writing assignment. These questions are fun for the kids to answer, but will also help them with their writing skills. They can share their answers and engage with their classmates about these questions. 

This programs allows the students in the class to share thier responses with their class from home. Students can show off their answers, where as if they were just handing in thier answers on paper they would not be able to share them with one another. 

Students have to be 13 years of age or older to use this program. 

Game Classroom

To get to this website go to http://www.gameclassroom.com/

This website contains many educational games for grades kindergarden to 6. There are games for all four subjects and can be used as teaching resources for particular topics. 

Students can be told to go to a game that matches their grade level and subject and they can play it. Students will learn from the game and be able to complete games at school and at home. 

This removes barriers because students are able to learn at home in a safe environment that is fun. The computer is able to help them get the correct answers and this resource can help the teacher teach the students in the subjects they are individually struggling with. 

There is no age restriction to use this website.