Web 2.0: Module 6
By: Kris Hansen
YouTube is a multi media website that allows users from across the globe to post videos onto the Internet as well as watch others videos and is considered of the most popular Web 2.0 tools available.
YouTube can be accessed through this link
YouTube is a great tool for students to use for embedding videos that are related to a school presentation. This is also a great tool for students who are interested in making their own films or creative ways of expressing themselves. YouTube provides an alternative to those who have difficulty with the traditonal ways of written expression.
As a teacher, YouTube is a great way to use for anticipatory sets. During my IPT, I used YouTube very often as an opener for students to feel engaged with the upcoming class.
There is an age requirement for YouTube: it requires students with a Google Account to be a minimum of 13 years or older. Also, content can and will be blocked dependeding on the school computer administrator. Students should always double check if their material is suitable for the school environment.
Twitter is a social networking tool that can also be used for educational purposes. Arguarbly, Twitter is the fastest and most up to date way to get news and stories, as it is constantly always updating with short messages that get straight to the point.
In the classroom, an example of how twitter could be used would be answering questions from a teacher, especially for homework, in a short quick summary of what the student would learn. I would use this after giving a reading assignment and it would allow the students to check in with what they had read.
Like all social media, there has to be great caution with boundaries. If a teacher would to use twitter in the classroom, consent would have to be used. Also, the teacher would have to be explicit that twitter would be used only for educational purposes.
Twitter users must be at least 13 years old to sign up for an account.
Skype is an internet application that allows users to communicate through different means such as a web based chat or most predominately featured, face to face phonecalls.
Skype can be accessed through this link.
However, the best advantage of skype is how interactive it can be for presentations in class. Instead of bringing someone in for a presentation, you can do a Skype Conference call, where the presenter would speak to the entire class from anywhere in the world. This truly breaks down any limitations of distance by using this tool.
Skype does require a legal age limit to register.