Web 2.0 Tools
Information on Web 2.0 Tools that can be used to enhance the learning of your students.
Audacity
audacity.sourceforge.net
Audacity is an application that allows the user to
Record live audio
Record computer playback
Convert tapes and record into digital recordings
Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together
And so much more!
Audacity could be used in multiple settings within the classroom. For example, students learning a second language could use Audacity as a way to present an oral report. Or, the teacher could use Audacity to record him/herself and have the students listen for oral comprehension.
Audacity could be used in an English classroom setting by allowing students to create, mix and remix music and add lyrics as part of a poetry unit.
This tool could be used in a Physics classtoom to allow students to record lectures to listen at a later time.
Audacity would be useful for learners who are shy infront of their peers. Being able to record something privately to be shared with the class often helps shy or timid learners. It would also allow learners to listen to lectures more than once. Many learners are not good note takers, or need to listen to something multiple times to be able to comprehend it. It would also be useful for learners who are musically inclined, giving them another option for assessment.
Yammer
about.yammer.com
For students 13+
Yammer is a private social networking tool that is used by many companies. Yammer allows you to
Work collaboratively with other members
Share your knowledge with other members
Join in spontanous collaborative conversations with other members
Keep your work organized and documented
And so much more
Many students and parents are concerned about being on social networking sites, especially in younger grades. However, collaborative learning and sharing is an essential part of the learning process. Yammer allows the teacher to create a safe and private area of sharing within the school environment. In this way, students, teachers and parents alike can rest assured that their information is safe and secure within the school environment.
Yammer can be used to share students' work and give constructive feedback. It can be used to manage group projects and to keep all work documented and organized. Yammer can be used by students to stay in contact with other group members, and to share ideas anytime and anywhere. Yammer is not restricted to class time only.
Yammer allows students to work collaboratively from the comfort of their own homes. This eliminates the stress and frustration of planning a time where the group can all get together at a common location.
Yammer also allows students to find expertise in a specific area. If they have a question, they can search out others who may have the answer. This allows the learning to be more meaningful and authentic.
Camtasia
www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html
For users 18+
Camtasia is a tool that allows you to
Record the screen of your computer
Create videos without the fuss and frustration of other programs
And so much more
Camtasia allows you to record the screen of your computer to show what you are doing. This would be extremely useful in the classroom. For a Physics teacher, she could record the screen of her computer as she solves a practice question. Camtasia allows you to share videos so her students could watch the video at home while doing their homework.
Camtasia allows you to record presentations and have interactive questions to allow you to grasp what the listeners understand. This would be useful for teachers of any subject level. If they had a missing student, they could record their class, add some comprehension questions, and send it to the students.
Creating your lessons in a video form would allow the students to rewatch the videos. Many students need to see some material more than once to be able to understand and comprehend. This would allow the students to watch the lesson as many times as they need to.
Having an on-screen example of how to solve a certain type of problem would help many students with their homework. It would show them where to start, the different steps to take, and how to come to an answer.