Wikis, Podcasts and Blogs Integrating Social Software into the Classroom

Wikis, Podcasts and Blogs Diane Watkins Taylor Kendal

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner Session Overview What is Web 2.0?What is Web 2.0? Introduction to new “cool Web tools”Introduction to new “cool Web tools” –Blogs –Wikis –Podcasts Examples of how educators are using these tools in their classroomsExamples of how educators are using these tools in their classrooms Hands-on activitiesHands-on activities

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner Web 1.0 Internet began as a text-based research toolInternet began as a text-based research tool Invention of the browser changed it into a graphical source of information for many peopleInvention of the browser changed it into a graphical source of information for many people World Wide “Web” of linked information grew rapidlyWorld Wide “Web” of linked information grew rapidly People “surf” the Web for information and entertainmentPeople “surf” the Web for information and entertainment One-way communicationOne-way communication Writing Web pages required knowledge of HTML and FTPWriting Web pages required knowledge of HTML and FTP

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner Web 2.0 Read / Write WebRead / Write Web Knowledge of HTML and FTP not required to create and put content on the WebKnowledge of HTML and FTP not required to create and put content on the Web People contribute and share informationPeople contribute and share information Multiple-way communicationMultiple-way communication

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner Social Networking Tools The invention of “social networking tools” (such as wikis, blogs and podcasts) make it easy for anyone with a computer and an Internet connection to communicate and collaborate via the Web.

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner Social Networking Tools BlogsBlogs WikisWikis PodcastsPodcasts Photo sharingPhoto sharing Video sharingVideo sharing Cell phonesCell phones iPodsiPods Social bookmarkingSocial bookmarking

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner What Does This Mean to K-12 Educators?

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner What Does This Mean to K-12 Educators? Students will soon become part of the workforce and will need these skills to be successful: Thinking critically Thinking critically Analyzing and synthesizing Analyzing and synthesizing Communicating meaningfully and ethically Communicating meaningfully and ethically Collaborating with people virtually Collaborating with people virtually Writing for a global audience Writing for a global audience

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner What is a Wiki? A software tool that allows visitors to become participants in the collaborative effort of creating and editing a website.A software tool that allows visitors to become participants in the collaborative effort of creating and editing a website. The website that is created is also called a wiki.The website that is created is also called a wiki. Participants can easily add, remove, edit and change the content of the site.Participants can easily add, remove, edit and change the content of the site. Participation requires no special technical knowledge or tools apart from a computer with an Internet connection.Participation requires no special technical knowledge or tools apart from a computer with an Internet connection.

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner What Can You Do With a Wiki? Ideal tool for collaborative authoringIdeal tool for collaborative authoring It’s easy to include:It’s easy to include: –links to other pages within the wiki –external links to sites on the Internet –images, animations, audio and video Possible uses in the classroom:Possible uses in the classroom: –communicating with parents –professional development collaboration –student communication and collaboration

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner Wikis in the Classroom Victoria Davis, a computer science teacher at Westwood Schools in Camilla, Georgia, created an informative video presentation about using wikis in the classroom.

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner What is a Blog? Frequently updated web page of short journal entries (called posts) about the author’s:Frequently updated web page of short journal entries (called posts) about the author’s: –opinions and thoughts –current news –links to interesting web sites Written in a relaxed, conversational styleWritten in a relaxed, conversational style Readers of the blog make comments to the posts allowing them to contribute to the conversation.Readers of the blog make comments to the posts allowing them to contribute to the conversation. A distinguishing feature of blogs - entries are listed in reverse chronological order – the most recent entries are on top.A distinguishing feature of blogs - entries are listed in reverse chronological order – the most recent entries are on top.

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner What Can You Do With A Blog? Teachers can use blogs to:Teachers can use blogs to: –communicate with their peers –students –students’ parents Some schools also provide individual blogs for their students.Some schools also provide individual blogs for their students. –This provides a way for students to post their journal entries and for the teachers to respond back with their comments.

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms Will Richardson shares many more suggestions for using blogs in the classroom in his book.Will Richardson shares many more suggestions for using blogs in the classroom in his book. He also created a short video about blogs.He also created a short video about blogs.

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner What is a Podcast? A digital audio file, like a song, MP3 file, or radio show, which can be downloaded to your computer and played on a portable audio device.A digital audio file, like a song, MP3 file, or radio show, which can be downloaded to your computer and played on a portable audio device. Podcasts offer the ability to subscribe to a feed and have audio automatically downloaded.Podcasts offer the ability to subscribe to a feed and have audio automatically downloaded. Anyone can create, anyone can listen, and topics are limitless…Anyone can create, anyone can listen, and topics are limitless…

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner Podcasts in the Classroom Offers exciting new opportunities for teachers to engage studentsOffers exciting new opportunities for teachers to engage students Provides students with new ways to access contentProvides students with new ways to access content

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner What’s Next? Hands-on exercisesHands-on exercises –Write to a blog –Collaborate on a wiki –Be recorded for a podcast that will be posted on the AAM-CO website Regroup to see what we created!Regroup to see what we created!