Web 2.0 Tools


for New Ways to Read and Create Writing 


in Gr.4-6


Say goodbye to the paper & pen! 


  • 1. Storybird

    3
  • 2.ToonDoo

    5
  • 3. Kidblog

    7
  • 4. ABCya

    9
  • Summary

    11
  • References

    12


1. Storybird

Web Address: https://storybird.com/about/

Purpose of the Tool/ What it does: This tool allows learners to quickly create visual stories through any type of device. The site collects artwork from different animators and illustrators around the world and anyone is able to turn these images into stories. People use it for five main reasons. They use it to create stories, discover interesting and exciting stories by following a favorite writer, learn and manage assignments for class, connect with people like fans around the globe, sell art or stories, and/or to just be in a community of writers, readers, and artists ("About", n.d.).

Required Age of Users:  Users need to be at least 13 years of age to create an account. However, if they are under the age of 13, they can create a kid account. In a kid account, they are required to have their parent or guardians permission, and their parents are the ones that need to activate their accounts. In a kid account, the email notifications from Storybird are sent to an email chosen by the parent, and there may be some blocked artwork ("What is a kid's account?", 2012). 


How it Could Be Used in Education:

Teachers use this web tool to interest students in reading and writing and enhance them in these skills. To explain, teachers can allow their students to create stories on Storybird and peers can comment on each other’s stories which create a stronger class and writing community. As well, teachers are able to easily manage students on Storybird by uploading class lists, making the classroom private, and they can put up assignments. It is also a quick and efficient way for teachers to review and grade a student’s work and give private feedback. Teachers can also reward badges to students, and they can turn books created within the class into profit for fundraising purposes ("Teachers", n.d.).

How This Tool Could Remove Or Reduce Barriers for Certain Learners:

This tool is beneficial for students who are visual learners and need images to inspire them to create stories. By looking at artwork, students can turn that into creative writing that they would normally get from a teacher telling them to write a story of their choice. Storybird is also helpful for students who need to be in constant communication with their peers or who like to help those around them. To explain, classmates can edit and comment on each other’s work to help each other improve.



2.ToonDoo

Web Address: http://www.toondoo.com

Purpose of the Tool/ What it does: This tool is an exciting and easy way focus for children (but can also be used by adults) to create comics ("About us", n.d.).

Required Age of Users:  According to the Terms of Use, ToonDoo is not restricted to users 13 years of age or above ("Privacy policy for ToonDoo", n.d.). Anybody under 13 using this site will have their information and membership revoked.




How it Could Be Used in Education:

ToonDoo allows students who have trouble understanding a concept through text, to learn through pictures. Pictures can also be a way to engage and interest students who would not normally by reading words off a sheet of paper. As well, it can be used to see if students truly grasp a certain topic by seeing if they are able to summarize information and turn that into a comic. It is also a way for students to demonstrate their computer skills.


How This Tool Could Remove Or Reduce Barriers for Certain Learners:

ToonDoo is a way for students who may not be able to express themselves creatively by drawing. Rather, they can just use their mouse to click and drag text or objects to create comic strips that show what he or she is trying to visually express ("About us", n.d.).



3. Kidblog

Web Address: http://kidblog.org/home/



Purpose of the Tool/ What it does: Kidblog was designed for teachers as way for letting each of their students create their own blog, publish, and share them within an academic and safe context ("Safe and Simple", n.d.).

Required Age of Users:  To access the full administrative privileges of this site, users must be 18 years or older. However, if you are under 18, you may use Kidblog with adult supervision. Anyone under 13 using this site as part of a class account must get permission from a parent or guardian ("Terms of Service", 2012). This site can be useful for any student in the K-12 system.

 


How it Could Be Used in Education:

Teachers can use this in classrooms as way for students to develop and re-assess their writing skills, reflect on what they have learned, learn and practice digital citizenship, create classroom discussions, and make an e-portfolio ("Safe and Simple", n.d.).

How This Tool Could Remove Or Reduce Barriers for Certain Learners:

Kidblog can be an outlet for students who are on the shy side and are less willing to contribute in class discussions. By allowing them to blog and interact with their peers and teachers online, their thoughts and ideas can be heard, thus allowing them to feel engaged in their classroom. Their parents can also read and comment on the blogs, and can provide them with encouragement and feedback. As well, this can be a great form of practice for students who are not comfortable writing.




4. ABCya.com

Web Address: http://www.abcya.com/

Purpose of the Tool/ What it does: ABCya is an online site that consists of educational games and interactive activities for students from grades K-5 ("ABCya.com ", n.d.). Most of the games were designed to help students with their language arts, math, and introductory computer skills ("ABCya.com", n.d.).

Required Age of Users: The site does not require any one to create an account and is for elementary students, which means that they know children under 13 years old will be using the site ("Privacy Policy", 2013). However, they ask that if children are under the age of thirteen that they inform their parent or guardian and tell them to read the Privacy Policy ("Privacy Policy", 2013).



"Word Clouds" Game

How it Could Be Used in Education:

This can be a site teachers use in-class or outside of the class. For instance, when there is downtime or a student finishes work quickly, teachers can tell students to go on this site. This lets the student improve on their language arts and math, but still have fun at the same time, because they are playing a game. ABCya.com can also be a web 2.0 tool that teachers suggest students to use at home, so they can have more practice of what they are doing in the class and the curriculum. As well, specifically for language arts, students can use the games like “Word Clouds” to make a visual and fast representation of their ideas, “Letter Blocks” to improve their spelling, or “Verb Viper” to help students who are having trouble using the proper tense of a verb.

 

How This Tool Could Remove Or Reduce Barriers for Certain Learners: The ABCya.com tool can be beneficial for students who have difficulty learning in class, because online games and activities can engage more of their senses with vibrant color and sounds. This tool also helps learners who have trouble remembering information, because games and activities allow students to have repeated practice on a certain are where they are having trouble understanding. For instance, the “Super Word Toss” helps students who are having trouble with synonyms and antonyms, by having them repeatedly match the words with targets until they get them all right.


Summary

This eBook discussed four different web 2.0 tools for Gr.4-6 students, which will help them with their language arts, such as reading and writing. The four tools were:

  1. Storybird: This web 2.0 tool allows students to create their own stories from different artists who have shared their images. This is great for students who need to get their ideas visually.
  2. ToonDoo: ToonDoo is a tool for making online comics, which replaces having to draw and color by hand. For students who have artistic troubles but want to express their ideas creatively, this is the tool for them.
  3. KidBlog: KidBlog  lets students create blogs, so not only can they practice writing, but they can also practice their online communication with others.
  4. ABCya.com: This tool is an online games and activity website where students can improve their language arts skills, such as spelling and verb tenses.

All of these web 2.0 tools are beneficial in their own way depending on the student. They are a great way to teach curriculum, but also help students practice digital citizenship and improve their technology skills. Also, remember that all four tools require students be thirteen years or older, so ALWAYS make sure students have their parent's/guardian's consent and notice.



References

 

ABCya.com . (n.d.). ABCya.com: Kids Educational Computer Games  & Activities. Retrieved March 13, 2014, from http://www.abcya.com/

About. (n.d.). Storybird. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from  http://storybird.com/about/

About us. (n.d.). ToonDoo. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from http://www.toondoo.com/aboutus.jsp

Privacy Policy. (2013, June 30). ABCya! . Retrieved March 15, 2014, from http://www.abcya.com/privacy.htm

Privacy policy for ToonDoo. (n.d.). ToonDoo. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from http://www.toondoo.com/privacypolicy.jsp

Safe and Simple. (n.d.). Kidblog. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from http://kidblog.org/home/

Teachers. (n.d.). Storybird. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from http://storybird.com/teachers/

Terms of Service. (2012, May 16). Kidblog. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from http://kidblog.org/home/terms-of-service/

What is a kid's account?. (2012, November 5). Storybird. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from http://help.storybird.com/customer/portal/articles/467369-what-is-a-kid-s-account-