WEB 2.0 TOOLS FOR THE MODERN CLASSROOM
Researched for EDU 210 by Jillian Meeks
Storybird is an online storytelling resources. The website has pooled artwork from many different artists, and the artwork can be used for free to create new visual stories.
The stories that are created on this tool can also be read, another fun element of the website. It is great for creating and sharing.
Storybird could be used in education in many different ways. The creation of stories on the tool is fun and engaging, I think that students of all ages (especially elementary school) would like being able to choose artwork and have a fully realised book that they have created. It could also be fun to use the website as a reading resources, even between students in the same class.
Barriers that this tool could remove would be helping students who have poor organizational/artistic skills. They still get to be artistic and creative without feeling like they are falling behind the rest of this class. Poor readers might also be motivated by using this tool to read books created by their friends. Storybird is a good tool in that it really all depends on the user in how complex the tool is. It could be used to create very simplistic stories or to create something much more complex.
There is no age of use specified on Storybird's website.
eduClipper is basically Pinterest for the classroom. Pinterest may be blocked at many schools, so eduClipper is the perfect solution to this.
eduClipper has links to educational websites, lesson plans and many other resources that can be used in educational contexts.
eduClipper can be used in a variety of ways, by educators and by students. Teachers can use it for lesson plans, ideas and resources. Students can use it for project planning and for extra help in studying certain concepts.
eduClipper can help overcome barriers that may face students by compiling many resources in one place. Students that may lose interest easily or have a hard time using the internet for research will find this tool very helpful. As well it can challenge students that may be bored in the classroom. This tool can give ideas and resources for going above and beyond the regular curriculum.
Kaizena is a tool that allows students to upload their work and teachers to add audio feedback right on the page. The teacher simply hightlights a portion of the text and then records.
This tool could be useful for providing feedback for students. Simply speaking feedback gives teacher's a break and more can be said in a shorter time.
This tool could be especially useful for students who don't have great reading comprehension but have good listening skills. It would also help students who need extra help with their assignement in that teachers can say more in a shorter period of time.
