My Favorite Web 2.0 Tools

Web 2.0, is a product by Google that is a web based platform for computer applications ,services, software, and tools . It is web based, which means that the information is from a website. It is not physically in your computer; like a program such as PowerPoint that has been physically downloaded. It can be viewed universally on all types of computers because it is non-proprietary. Web 2.0 is organizational, it is social in networking, and the applications are updated constantly so there is no need for downloading, nor updates to waste the user's time. A user can create, audio, video, images, word processing, and spread sheets, just to name a few applications. Web 2.o is referred to as "cloud computing". My interpretation of this coined phrase is the idea that there are all these little clouds of information, applications and services, floating all around waiting to be accessed, and all you need to do is pull them out of the sky and their yours, for free. Anything from anywhere is possible, right at your fingertips!. The sky's the limit. Go Google!

As an educator, these tools will be invaluable both for me and my students. They will empower us all and provide a creative language to use in developing and uniting our academic goals. I shall insist that anything they learn they need to teach me; since they will undoubtedly be learning at warp speed.This of course insures them a good grade-Ha! There are so many cool applications that we can play with. I was especially excited about "Wordle" and "Tokbox."

"Wordle " scrambles chosen words into a word/letter collage. I enjoy the graphic, colorful elements that are very easy to use. I see that as a wonderful tool for listing vocabulary words, or to be used as a graphic representation in a report where the student selects prominent key word that relate to their projects. It is a wonderful way to visually reinforce and connect content learning. It seems very friendly, playful and again, simple for elementary age students to adult.

"Tokbox" is an audio/video recording application. It would be a wonderful tool for students to present a speech, or a team research project on the computer. It would provide an alternative style of learning, a fun one, and a break from traditional writing. The students would have the benefit of editing it before presenting and have full ownership of their unique creation. It would literally give them a voice which they might layer with music or play with other cool effects. How fun to combine audio and visual together; creating a stronger, more memorable message for the viewer and student alike. It would also be a way that a student could turn in a project if they were home sick to prove they did an assignment. Or, if the teacher knew that they personally were going to be absent and needed to have a substitute, the classroom teacher could leave an instructive video for their students with a more in depth set of directions thereby, creating a more clear and personal interface. The substitute teacher would be appreciative of this as well by eliminating questions they couldn't answer, and in helping the class keep on task, staying out of trouble?, and continue their learning until the teacher returns. For a few more minutes anyway!

OTEN Conference

I attended the OTEN Conference at Pacific University in Forest Grove on Saturday, September, 26th,2009. It was a wonderful eye-opener presenting a myriad of technological uses and options to be using in education today. It stressed the responsibility of the educators to know and use technology as a tool for teaching and learning. Computers and these technologies are almost a necessity for reaching and relating to the students in their own language of computer, if we as educators want them to even begin learning and caring about a subject.

Myself and my cohorts attended three sessions in the half day conference; The first session was presented to all and the other two other were our personal choice. Dr. Mike Charles was the presenter of the first session; " Technology and Learning: Putting Together the Total Package in your Classroom." The two other sessions I elected were; "Personal Learning Environments" presented by Anita Z. Boudreau, and the other session was "Social Networking and Digital Citizenship in the Elementary Classroom" presented by Becky Tengs.

It was time worth spent and aside from feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the areas to assimilate, it is all so darn exciting! I am glad I had the opportunity to attend.