Web 2.0 Tools in the Classroom
Animoto is a useful web 2.0 tool that allows users to quickly and easily create videos using their own pictures, music and voice-overs. Users can choose from a variety of video styles and custom music library, later adding captions/titles to their photos and video clips. The final product can then be shared using sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.
- Animoto can be accessed using any web browswer, iPhone/other iDevice, and Android
- Can make videos up to 20 minutes in length using up to 600 photos/video clips
- Free!
Ways in which students could use Animoto include:
- Could present pictures from a favorite vacation they have been on as a sort of modern day show-and-tell for their peers
- Could be used to create a presentation for a langauge course. Pictures could be linked to appropriate music and students could record their voice over the pictures, describing them in French, Spanish, German, etc. This provides a useful tool for students who get too nervous presenting in a regular classroom setting
How can using Animoto remove/reduce potential learning barriers for students?
- Animoto is a great tool because it allows students to express their creativity and present ideas in a verbal/auditory manner
- This could be beneficial for students with weaker writing/grammatical skills
According to the Animoto web page, all individuals must be of 13 years or older in order to be a "User of the Service"
EasyBib is an "intuitive information literacy platform" and another fantastic web 2.0 tool that can be used for educational purposes. By using the search bar on the EasyBib web page students can select their source type (ie. website, journal, book, newspaper, database, etc.) and EasyBib will automatically cite it! By using this students can easily and efficiently create a bibliography. Below are a few additional features of this tool:
- Free!
- Available using any web browser, iDevice or Android
- Can cite using MLA, APA or Chicago
- Provides many other student resources including guides for research, writing, citation and topics (ie. good place to start research!)
Advantages of using EasyBib is that it provides a fast and accurate way of easily generating a bibliography from a plethora of source types. This is great because creating bibliographies the traditional way can be time-consuming and cumbersome. As well, the website also provides easy-to-use note taking and research tools which can be helpful to students working on research projects or papers for a class.
Ways in which EasyBib can remove/reduce barriers to students learning include:
- Can help students who have difficulties with organization to stay on top of projects, maintaining their resources in a coherent and comprehensive manner
- Because EasyBib is extremely efficient it reduces the time students must take to create a bibliogrpahy thereby allowing more time for focusing on the actual project itself
- Helps students who may not fully understand how to cite sources in a scholarly format and want to avoid plagiarism
- Can help students who find writing papers and essays overwhelming --> The writing guide helps to break down the process (ie. brainstorming, research, outline, structuring arguments and ideas, revision and editing)
According to EasyBib's Terms of Service: "In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, any person under the age of 13 must receive explicit parental permission in order to sign up for any online service where their personal information may be shared."
Cram (previously known as 'Flashcard Exchange') is yet another fantastic web 2.0 tool for educators to incorporate into their classrooms. Using Cram, students can access a large selection of premade flashcards which are available on a wide range of topics to study, memorize and test themself on. Alternately, they can also choose to create their own set using the web-based flashcard maker. Once created, students can easily export and share their cards with classmates!
- Free versions available
- Works on both PCs and Macs
- Provides apps compatible with iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows and Blackberry devices
- Based on the principles of rote/repitition and memorization
- No limit to the number of cards students create
Flashcards created using Cram could help students in a variety of subject areas. Listed below are some examples of the ways in which Cram could be used:
- Memorizing elements in the periodic for an upcoming quiz
- Learning new vocabulary in another language (ex. Spanish or French flashcards)
- Help to improve basic foundational math skills via using cards with multiplication, division, addition and subtraction
- Definitions for a biology quiz
As well, because Cram can automatically convert flashcards into multiple choice, fill in the blank and matching-type questions, it provides a great tool to help students prepare for exams and quizzes. Cram also provides automatic feedback to the student on their progress and can hide flashcards they know well to help them focus on those they find more challenging. This helps to get all knowledge up to the same level!
Some of the ways in which using Cram as an educational tool could help to eliminate/reduce learning barriers include:
- Could help students with limitied study time or attention spans because the flashcards are easily accessible any time and quick to flip through! As well, studying this way is prioritized with greater emphasis placed on the flashcards the student finds more challenging
- Using Cram to study can save time because many sets of flashcards have already been created to choose from... this also helps to build a sense of community between students!
There is no mention of age in the Terms of Service section of the Cram website.
Thank you for taking the time to read my eBook. I hope you came out with a bit more knowledge about some of the many fantastic tools available with web 2.0!