WEB 2.0 TOOLS IN A CLASSROOM
SpiderScribe is a Web 2.0 tool that allows users to brainstorm and create online mind maps. It lets you organize your ideas by connecting notes, files, images, events etc. SpiderScribe allows you to collaborate with others, by giving you the option to share your creation or keep it private. Maps are stored within a cloud, therefore users can access their work from any computer, any browser or any place. This can be intergrated in the classroom as a structural scaffold. If students can master the organization of concepts, learning and therefore grade will be enhanced. Within a science classroom, many terms are thrown at students and many of them don't know how to organize all this information, using mind maps they can organize their notes in a logical fashion. By doing so, it will be easier for them to understand and learn the concepts.
Students who have poor organizational and planning skills, will benefit from this Web 2.0 tool. SpiderScribe organizes information in a visual, linear fashion allowing students to better connect concepts together. It helps engage several types of learners because you are able to incorporate different forms of media within the mind map. It is not just a text base tool, you can include images, videos, music that help the students get a better grasp of the material.
There is no age requirement to use this tool.
http://www.spiderscribe.net/
Prezi is a online presentation tool that allows you to design your own unique, creative presentations. Prezi is a non-linear approach to presentations, instead of your usual slide by slide, powerpoint presentations, Prezi allows you to create a flowing presentation. It gives you a story telling aspect by allowing you to zoom in and out. You are able to access your presentation from anywhere and share it.
Prezi is a tool that can help students engage with the material learned in class. Students who are visual learners can benefit from prezi presentations, since it's more than just words, slide after slide. It's an interactive presentation that can include audio, music, images, and other videos within the presentation. It appeals to various types of learners and can help students understand concepts more than, a simple monotone lecture or worksheet.
Students with writing difficulties can make a presentation that doesn't include any writing and just an narrated presentation of images to help understand concepts better. Many students don't think in a linear fashion, they are very artistic and Prezi helps students express themselves.
Prezi is licensed for users 13 years of age or older.
http://prezi.com/
Quizlet is a web 2.0 tool that allows you to study in a flexible manner by allowing you to create flash cards, make quizzes and share them. It not only allows you to create, it allows you to use quizzes and flash cards other people have made to become more successful in a subject area that you may find challenging. It's a way for students to engage with the course material.
Quizlet allows students to summarize material the way they feel fits best for them. Being engaged with the material, students will understand the concepts better. Students who suffer anxiety from test situations can create their own quizzes or do quizzes that other people have created. This gives students more than enough practice in order to cope with test anxiety. They can time themselves doing these quizzes to emulate the pressure of a test situation within a classroom. Quizlet also has an audio feature which will read back flash card questions and answers for auditory learners, for those who are visiually impaired, for those who exhibit signs of dyslexia or any type of learning disability.
Quizlet is provided to users of all ages however, users under the age of 13 need parental consent and some social features are limited to protect them.
http://quizlet.com/