Web 2.0 Tools for Your Classroom

Web 2.0 Tools

For Your Classroom

Storybird allows anyone to create visual stories. It is the reverse of visual storytelling, for it begins with an image. The artwork (provided by illustrators and animators) inspires students to tell stories. The art and word combination of Storybird can help motivate those students who are hesitant to write and read.   

In school, students can write stories on Storybird. These stories can then be shared with their classmates and others worldwide. Real-time feedback about the stories may be provided by anyone. The feedback most likely would improve how a student writes.

Storybird would most likely increase student engagement with reading, for students would want to read their classmates’ stories. Students can follow their favorite authors and be notified of new stories.  

As a teacher, I would use Storybird to increase student engagement of reading and writing and increase creativity. I would have the class create a library, filled with their stories.  

The Terms of Use does not indicate any age limitations.

NaturalReader (the Education version) converts written text in various formats (e.g., Word, pdf, emails and websites) to speech. This text-to-speech program can help students with learning difficulties.

It can improve a student's reading and spelling skills.  For example, students with dyslexia (who find both reading and spelling challenging) would benefit from using NaturalReader, for the tool focuses on the students' strength of hearing instead or reading.  This tool shows words and simultaneously highlights them on the computer screen as they are read.  Consequently, student reading and comprehension improve.

The Education version of this tool can read text (by word or sentence) as a student types.  This real-time feedback helps the student with sounds and letter combinations. NaturalReader not only helps those with reading and spelling difficulties, but also helps those with vision problems since text is read aloud.  The tool can help with proofreading and learning foreign languages.

There are no age limitations indicated.   

Diigo is a Web 2.0 tool that helps manage personal knowledge. It has annotation tools that you can use while browsing the Internet. These annotation tools (e.g., digital highlighters and sticky notes) can help organize your research and help you to read more effectively.  Diigo also allows you to do as follows:

• Create a library of your notes, images, links and pages.
• Archive webpages.
• Collaborate with small and large groups. 
• Share as much information as you would like.
• Provide feedback by using stickynotes, highlights and screenshots. 

In school I would get the students to use Diigo when researching on the Internet. Diigo will help those who struggle with organizing the information they retrieve.  Since you can decide how much information you share with others, those who are shy in the class may share as much as they feel comfortable with.

I might put the class into flexible groups. Some students like to work independently. This will allow them to do so. However, those in groups, can use the on-the-page annotations to discuss and comment on the information.  

There does not appear to be any age limitations for Diigo.