Friday, February 24, 2012

11 Tools #6 Using Web Tools

1. Choose at least two of the tools from the above list. Create an account for each (if required).
2. Use each of the tools you choose to create a sample of how you would use it in your classroom.
3. Embed the sample (preferred) or link to the URL.
Since I don't have a classroom, I' just have some ideas about how I'd put two of these tools to work.
Diigo - The ability to form a group could be extremely helpful for group assignments. A student group or a class could be formed, collect and share information from their own libraries and create a product, not to mention developing material that could be passed from year to year. Creating a class network for either individual classes or all classes for a teacher would be an excellent way for a teacher or members of a class to follow each other. Online assignments such as responses to a reading could be followed and discussed in the network.
Skype - There are so many ideas for Skype. I think a class Skype with an author or authority on a particular topic or reading would be extremely valuable for students in an English class. For example, an ideal and interesting lesson would be to see if Oscar Casares, a current Texas writer, would conduct a Skype interview with questions about his book Brownsville Stories and then Skype interview Sandra Cisneros about House on Mango Street, then have students in groups discuss/compare/create products based on those two books.
Share your thoughts on how you see the tools being integrated into your classroom. How do you see them encouraging participation?
All of the tools listed have many possibilities in the classroom. They give students the opportunity to participate in a variety of creative ways - they are no longer limited to paper/pencil.

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