Web 2.0 Tools - Student Retention Todd W. Jorns Senior Director for Educational Technology Illinois Community College Board

Definition “Web 2.0 is a set of economic, social, and technology trends that collectively form the basis for the next generation of the Internet – a more mature, distinctive medium characterized by user participation, openness, and network effects." O'Reilly Radar

Technologies Wikis Blogs Podcasts/Vodcasts Online Sharing Applications

Wikis A wiki is computer software that allows users to easily create, edit and link web pages – Social Knowledge tool. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, power community websites, and are increasingly being installed by businesses to provide affordable and effective Intranets for Knowledge Management.

Wikis Benefits Author in a collaborative environment  Learning from others  Develops a higher level of critical thinking  Deepens investigative skills Empowers students to create knowledge Encourages creativity

Wikis - Free Sites pbworks - wetpaint - wikipedia – wikispaces -

Wikis – Software & Example Personal wikis that can be used on your computer or a pen drive (as well as online)  TiddlyWiki -  MonkeyGTD - Five Strategies for Using Wikis in the Classroom tegies_for_using_wikis_in_the_classroom#ixzz0mxtBIN5 E tegies_for_using_wikis_in_the_classroom#ixzz0mxtBIN5 E

Blog Blog is short for Web log. Web publishing tool that allows authors to quickly and easily self-publish text, artwork, links to other blogs or Web sites, and a whole array of other content. Usually on a specific topic or theme (political, personal, topical, health, travel, research, etc.) Updated regularly reflecting the personality of the author.

Blog Most blogs are headed by an individual called a blogger. Blogs work well for students because they can be worked on at virtually any time, in any place with an Internet-enabled computer. Can be used by teachers to create a classroom that extends beyond the boundaries of the regular classroom.

Blog Benefits Motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not become participants in classrooms. Excellent opportunity for students to read & write. Effective forums for collaboration and discussion. Powerful tools to enable scaffolded learning or mentoring to occur.

Blog Uses Classroom Management – portal to foster community of learners and post information. Collaboration – peer reviews, mentoring, etc. Discussions – inside and outside of classroom. Student Portfolios – display, organize and protect digital works and increases motivation. Student Journaling & Reflection – helps teachers & students stay connected, improves writing skills.

Blog Uses Post class materials and class supplements. Integrate all types of multimedia (webpages, audio, video, photos, slideshows, etc.). Comment modes encourage interaction. Team blogs enable engagement. Create a class publication Student journaling & reflection

Blog – Free Sites Blogger – Edublogs – LiveJournal – Podbean –

Blog Resources More information: wt1/www/A_Cho/history.htm wt1/www/A_Cho/history.htm Create a blog in THREE Minutes!

Podcast (iPOD broadCAST) is an audio broadcast that has been converted to an MP3 file or other audio file format for playback in a digital music player or computer. The "pod" in podcast was coined from "iPod," the predominant portable, digital music player, and although podcasts are mostly verbal, they may contain music. Video Podcasts - vodcasts

Podcast Using the RSS 2.0 syndication format, podcasts are made available to subscribers just like news feeds. The client program that captures the audio feeds and synchronizes them with the music player is a "podcatcher," such as Curry's own iPodder, available at

Podcasting Process Access Subscribe using podcatcher Download episode Playback episode Create Record episode Edit episode Distribute Publish episode to webserver Reference episode in feed

Podcasting Benefits Meet the needs of more students with varying learning styles and aptitudes. Provide ‘make up lectures’ to students who were absent. Supplement existing material and resources with a portable and remotely accessible source of information. Audio benefits vision impaired students and non- native speakers.

Podcasting Benefits Ability to replay and review information helps to embed lessons in memory. Asynchronous consumption allows for convenient access and multi-tasking (riding the bus, walking, working out, etc…). Flexible curriculum pathways to encourage student participation and facilitate success. Most appropriate presentation of spoken/audio material—e.g. native language, foreign language,reading assistance.

Podcast Tutorials How to Podcast – Quick & Dirty Podcasting Primer -

Podcast – Free Software Audacity -  Easy to use  Multi-track audio  Multi-platform (Mac & PC)

Online Sharing Applications Google Docs  Need to create a Gmail account  Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Drawings  Private or shared with others (collaboration)  Stored online or downloaded to computer/USB drive  Upload MS Office files  Export (download) as MS Office files (.doc,.xls,.ppt)

Online Sharing Websites docs.google.com - online office suite. docs.google.com zoho.com – online office suite. zoho.com openoffice.org – open source suite. openoffice.org zamzar.com - free online conversions – docs, images, audio, video, etc. zamzar.com

Other Online Resources Jeff Newell's Web 2.0 TiddlyWiki: TiddlyWiki for the rest of us: The World of Blogs: wt1/www/A_Cho/examples.htm wt1/www/A_Cho/examples.htm

MERF Technology Check Is the technology Meaningful? Is the technology Engaging? Is the technology Relative? Is the technology Fun?

Key to Help Student Retention Meaningful – interesting, useful & practical Engaging – keeps their interest/motivation Relative – to their needs, skills or world Fun! – keeps them wanting to learn more

Questions Todd W. Jorns (217)