Web+2.0+Tools

The red team chose "Middle School" as our teaching area. The tools are listed from best to worst for teaching middle school levels. I reviewed the 4th set of Web 2.0 Tools. My ratings are as follows:

1. Glogster-- Allows students to create digital and interactive posters online. 2. Go Animate 4 Schools-- Tool where students and teachers can create animations to practice skills or to teach concepts. 3. Dipity-- Allows students to create timelines online. 4. StoryJumper-- Allows students to make publish story books.

I chose Glogster next because this tool allows a student to be creative and customize their online poster, it is affiliated with high quality technology tools such as Wikispace and Discovery Education, and because it is aligned with the national standards of ISTE.I chose Go Animate 4 Schools next because it seemed to be a very good source. I liked it because it was a hands-on source, it seems like middle school students would be attracted to that, and teachers and students can use this tool. Dipity seems to be a great tool as well, but students do not always need timelines in all subjects. I chose Story Jumper last because I did not think that it was appropriate for middle school aged students.

//Reflection:// Of all the tools reviewed, I think I would use Glogster. I chose this tool because it could be used for any subject, any grade-level, and the user could be a teacher or student. Three ways I can use this tool in my middle school English classroom are: Working with this WebQuest, there were advantages and disadvantages I discovered: >
 * 1) I can use it for direct instruction, such as: projected notes for the class to copy, presentations on a new subject, introducing a new assignment.
 * 2) I would have my students pick a chapter from the book they are currently reading and have them make a Glogster out of it. This would be much like creating a poster for the chapter, but instead it would be digital, thus, letting the students be more creative.
 * 3) The Glogsters I make could be shared with other English teachers in my school/county and they could use them as well.
 * __ Advantages __ : **
 * I learned from others as they reviewed tools and posted their thoughts.
 * I was able to learn a new world of web tools I never knew existed.
 * __ Disadvantages __ : **
 * Not everyone completed the tasks as much as others did, thus, I was not able to really understand and learn about some tools as much as others.