Anita Brady Technology Administrator Ascension Catholic School

Why Web 2.0? Provide the tools for developing 21 st Century Skills Creativity, Collaboration and Communication Promote higher level thinking skills Use technology appropriately Adapt to change

The Challenge Standards, standardized tests, accountability OR Prepare students for the 21 st century, use higher order thinking skills, apply technology, adapt to change, acquire workplace skills “The goal is to provide an education that prepares students to have 21 st century skills and also ace the test without breaking stride.” Gwen Solomon

How do we do it? Use pedagogically sound instructional models Provide a structured approach to investigation Provide an opportunity to integrate multiple types of resources Increase level of student engagement Provide experiences that are inquiry based and focus on finding an “answer” or a conclusion Make the learning scalable for differentiation Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools by Gwen Solomon & Lynne Schrum

When is free, really free? Open-source – Software that is “Open-source” is free, and will REMAIN free The open-source copyright protects it Can be bundled and packaged and sold, but there will always be a free option. Most of it can run on Windows, Mac, Linux Other free software maybe free only for a time, then charge a fee

Common Web 2.0 Tools Wikis – Collaborative online spaces, easy to edit and add new content Wikispaces, pbwiki, Blogs – Online writing spaces Blogmeister, Wordlines, Blogger Podcasts – audio recordings iTunesU, many websites All these tools are online, which makes it easy to share the student’s work with people world-wide.

Tools: Movie Maker Storyboard Rebus Maker Classroom management tools Create a class, give students a log in Construct an activity Search for existing activities, from other teachers

Web Resources Downloadable lessons, resources Elementary, Reading, Math Toon book reader Toon book reader Units like: The Rock Family – Exploring igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks using Internet, note-taking, concept mapping software

International Reading Association Lesson Plan Index, searchable by grade level, literacy Web Resources Student Materials

Tools Note Card organizer Note Card Think Tank - Research organizer Think Tank - Research Track activities Track Resources

Google Tools Google Earth, Sky, shows constellations, stars Google Maps – Create a Map Sketch-up, Picasa, Blogger, Knol, Customized home page, links for students