Web 2.0 Tools
While exploring the Web 2.0 tools, I explored tools that I have used before, and tools that I have not. I was able to really focus on how these tools can be used collaboratively as well as for critical thinking. I also was able to decide what advantages and disadvantages these tools have when using them. I chose to explore the following tools:
While exploring the Web 2.0 tools, I explored tools that I have used before, and tools that I have not. I was able to really focus on how these tools can be used collaboratively as well as for critical thinking. I also was able to decide what advantages and disadvantages these tools have when using them. I chose to explore the following tools:
- Padlet- is an app used to create an online bulletin board that can be used to display information about a chosen topic. Collaboration can be used with this application when students are able to create, join, share, and add information to any padlet that they have a code for. Students can add information, videos, links, etc. to a board and when they post. This can be used for research, and would be a great way to present information to others. Critical thinking can also be encouraged by teachers who add questions to a board and then leave it open for students to input their thinking and research about a topic. At the Tech conference this year, we were able to create a Padlet each day to post our learning about each session that we attended. This was good because we were able to see the things that others were learning that we were not able to see because the session was at the same time as another one.
- Advantages- FREE!, Great for group work, Can add links, videos, images to the Padlet
- Disadvantages- Students would need access to a device, so this may be harder for schools with a low number of devices to share.
- Google Hangouts- is a part of Google Suite. This allows students to be able to text, voice, or video chat with other students either 1:1 or in a group setting. As a teacher, I would use Google Hangouts to be able to video chat with other schools, or allow students to use it at home to work on a group assignment. It would be really good if you had a topic that you were working on collaboratively. I could also see Google Hangouts being used for critical thinking if the students are allowed to text their response/research to a teacher-posed question.
- Advantages- FREE with Google Suite!, Great for group work, Allows students to be able to see others and chat with them about anything that they may need to.
- Disadvantages- Some people do not know about it, Teachers may be worried about letting students video chat at home, or students may not have access to a device at home to be able to work with Google Hangouts
- Canva- is a tool in which anyone can create a visual presentation to showcase knowledge. Canva is a free application, but it only gives you basics for the free version. To upgrade to premium, it will cost you a fee. However, when I use Canva I am able to get everything that I need to use through the free version. Teachers can encourage students to create their own visual showcasing knowledge about a topic. Other students can collaborate with these projects as well. For one class in college I had to create a brochure using Canva, and it turned out fabulous. I also used Canva to make the handouts for my presentation last semester to the staff during our after school training on tech tools. Students should be encouraged to research about topics and make their presentation on Canva as amazing as possible!
- Advantages- FREE version available! Allows students to be as creative as they would like with the presentation.
- Disadvantages- May be difficult to use if students do not have computer, tablet, or ipad access. It would be hard to use all of the tools on a phone. This application does not allow students to access other students' work to collaborate. They would have to create the presentation together on one device.
- Popplet- is a tool that presents visuals to show ideas. Teachers and students can create graphic organizers, timelines, and other forms of visuals. This tool has a strength for as a collaborative brainstorming tool. It can also be used as a great presentation tool. Teachers will also enjoy this tool because each time that a student works on the graphic or puts a comment, it places the student's name above that comment. This is a great way to see that each group member is doing their share of the work. Students can collaborate together on different topics. Also, teachers can encourage critical thinking by posting questions in the middle and letting students research or add their information to the visual.
- Advantages- FREE! Students can add information and it will present their name above it so that they can get the credit. Students can join other people's Popplets to add information as well if they have a code.
- Disadvantages- May be difficult for students who do not have access to a device. Also, a lot of people do not know about this tool.
- VoiceThread- is a learning tool to enhance student engagement and online presence. A student or teacher can create, share, or comment on images, Powerpoint presentations, videos, documents, etc. by using microphone, webcam, text, or phone. Students can collaborate together on a topic and create a video presentation to model their understanding. Teachers can use the critical thinking aspect when asking students questions about their presentations. The students can create a discussion using their voices throughout the presentation. This is such an engaging way to communicate!
- Advantages- FREE! Can be used with a variety of items, Adds an "individualized" touch to presentations
- Disadvantages- May be difficult for students who do not have access to a device.
- Wordle- is a visual representation of the words that are contained in a piece of text. The more the words appear, the bigger the word will appear in a word cloud. You can choose the font, color, etc. of your word cloud that you create. Also, you can use these word clouds as you would like by saving them to your desktop or printing them off. Students could collaborate together on a topic by researching the topic and writing their own response to it. Then, they could piece all of their writing together and create a word cloud to be able to see how many of their words they may have had in common. Teachers could also encourage critical thinking by allowing students to research on a topic or question and then see what words come into the topic the most by creating a word cloud and showing the class the information that they came up with.
- Advantages- FREE! Students can change the front, color, and arrangement of their word clouds.
- Disadvantages- It would not download on my computer. Therefore, some people may have to install a desktop version of this application because it may not work on all computers.
- Below you will find my video about these tools. Please excuse the fact that it cut me off at 10 minutes. :) I must like to talk too much.
-BYOD-
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is a growing trend in both the educational and professional worlds (Schoology "BYOD in Schools: A Beginner's Guide"). This trend is not something that we currently use at the elementary level, only because a lot of our students still do not have their own technology. However, other schools around our area have teachers that offer BYOD in their classrooms, depending on the age and maturity of their student. If I was able to use BYOD I would want to begin using this by implementing the devices in small group only. I've learned that I have to be very aware through many years of watching my students "fake read" or pretend they are on an instructional site when they are really playing games on CoolMath. My oldest son is in middle school, and his school offers students the option to be able to use their own technology in class. They also have a classroom set of chromebooks that students can use, but they can make their own decision as to which technology they use.
BYOD has both advantages and disadvantages. Some of these advantages include:
Some of the disadvantages include:
Managing BYOD
The first step to using the devices in the classroom would be to make sure that the reasons that we are using the technology is directly aligned to our school educational goals and standards. To be able to successfully integrate BYOD in my classroom then I would be prepared to offer a plan to my students/parents weekly. For example, if my lesson plans only require the BYOD on Monday and Friday, then I would let my students/parents know that in the weekly newsletter, and on days that students would not be needing their devices then they would be left either at home, or in the students' bookbag. Another step would be to survey parents and guardians to make sure that they have the internet access at home. As a teacher, I would need to make sure that I am safeguarding the student data. Also, throughout the school I would make sure that there are designated areas where we post signage to specify that no devices are to be used at that spot.
BYOD Troubleshooting
After seeing the technologies that the students bring to class, I have noticed that most all of them are Apple products. At North LaFayette, we also have chromebooks in each grade level. Troubleshooting devices would be something that I actually felt comfortable doing as a teacher. I am pretty tech-savy when it comes to devices, so I would feel comfortable answering questions that my students had to ask. However, if I had any difficulty then I would use the Chromebook support page, as well as the Apple support page. These two pages offer support for anyone who may be having trouble with the troubleshooting issues.
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is a growing trend in both the educational and professional worlds (Schoology "BYOD in Schools: A Beginner's Guide"). This trend is not something that we currently use at the elementary level, only because a lot of our students still do not have their own technology. However, other schools around our area have teachers that offer BYOD in their classrooms, depending on the age and maturity of their student. If I was able to use BYOD I would want to begin using this by implementing the devices in small group only. I've learned that I have to be very aware through many years of watching my students "fake read" or pretend they are on an instructional site when they are really playing games on CoolMath. My oldest son is in middle school, and his school offers students the option to be able to use their own technology in class. They also have a classroom set of chromebooks that students can use, but they can make their own decision as to which technology they use.
BYOD has both advantages and disadvantages. Some of these advantages include:
- Affordability-Which school system do you know that doesn't want to save some money?
- Easy Sharing- These students share everything else, might as well share this too.
- Academic Access- Using these devices at school to complete activities may make it easier on students to understand how to access the material at home as well.
- World at the Student's Fingertips- Students will listen more to the internet these days than they will a teacher.
- Skill Building- Life skills are easier to acquire when you practice, practice, practice.
- Encourages Differentiation and Personalization- Students will be working independently more if they have their own technology. They can also put more of themselves into their own work if they are creative.
Some of the disadvantages include:
- Security Breaches- Students may see information that they are not supposed to see.
- Socio-Economic Inequality- "Buuuuutttt Mommm, everyone in the class has a phone but me!" Students who are not financially able to have their own devices may feel left out.
- Disruption- Are the students using their devices for the assignment? Or are they scrolling SnapChat videos?
- Cheating- Cheating is easy when you have the answers right at your fingertips. Turning off devices during exams may help students not want to cheat.
- Training for Teachers- Most teachers today will know how to use these devices, but what about the ones who don't? Training for these teachers will be necessary to help them understand how to help the students with troubleshooting that may occur.
- Incompatability- All students must be able to access their own devices with the school network. What if the device is not compatable with the school's networking? (Schoology "BYOD in Schools: A Beginner's Guide")
Managing BYOD
The first step to using the devices in the classroom would be to make sure that the reasons that we are using the technology is directly aligned to our school educational goals and standards. To be able to successfully integrate BYOD in my classroom then I would be prepared to offer a plan to my students/parents weekly. For example, if my lesson plans only require the BYOD on Monday and Friday, then I would let my students/parents know that in the weekly newsletter, and on days that students would not be needing their devices then they would be left either at home, or in the students' bookbag. Another step would be to survey parents and guardians to make sure that they have the internet access at home. As a teacher, I would need to make sure that I am safeguarding the student data. Also, throughout the school I would make sure that there are designated areas where we post signage to specify that no devices are to be used at that spot.
BYOD Troubleshooting
After seeing the technologies that the students bring to class, I have noticed that most all of them are Apple products. At North LaFayette, we also have chromebooks in each grade level. Troubleshooting devices would be something that I actually felt comfortable doing as a teacher. I am pretty tech-savy when it comes to devices, so I would feel comfortable answering questions that my students had to ask. However, if I had any difficulty then I would use the Chromebook support page, as well as the Apple support page. These two pages offer support for anyone who may be having trouble with the troubleshooting issues.
Resources:
Amazing conversations about media. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://voicethread.com/
“Bring Your Own Device.” Information Technology, cpschools.com/information-technology/bring-your-own-device/.
Canva. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://www.canva.com/
“Fix Chromebook Problems - Chromebook Help.” Google, Google, support.google.com/chromebook/answer/4514391?hl=en.
Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://padlet.com/
Popplet for School. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://popplet.com/
Schoology. “BYOD in Schools: A Beginner's Guide.” Schoology, www.schoology.com/blog/byod-in-schools-a-beginners-guide.
Wordle - Beautiful Word Clouds. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://wordle.net/
Amazing conversations about media. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://voicethread.com/
“Bring Your Own Device.” Information Technology, cpschools.com/information-technology/bring-your-own-device/.
Canva. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://www.canva.com/
“Fix Chromebook Problems - Chromebook Help.” Google, Google, support.google.com/chromebook/answer/4514391?hl=en.
Padlet is the easiest way to create and collaborate in the world. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://padlet.com/
Popplet for School. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://popplet.com/
Schoology. “BYOD in Schools: A Beginner's Guide.” Schoology, www.schoology.com/blog/byod-in-schools-a-beginners-guide.
Wordle - Beautiful Word Clouds. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://wordle.net/