Web 2.0 Toys

 I have used three Web 2.0 tools in this post: Voki, Google Docs, and Polldaddy.  I've used Voki and Google Docs before, but not Polldaddy.  they were all relatively easy to use, but a lot of the time when I go to embed something I have made, no matter what platform I am using, and the platform I am using is not a choice for the embed code.  It's really frustrating.  Sometimes I use the generic ones, but other times I just have to play with it and try them over and over again.

I like using Voki to create talking avatars to give instructions for tasks.  Unfortunately, students tend to listen to the avatars more than they do to me.  I guess it's just the digital age.





I love Google Docs.  I use it for everything.  I also use it to compile student information at the beginning of the year.  My survey would not fit on my blog so I just linked it.  It was made with Google Docs.
Web 2.0 Survey

A Story Without Words

Activity 1 - Advanced - Extention

You Should Know about Blogging with Students

1. If your students are at least middle school aged, most of them know more about blogging than you do...and if they don't, they will figure it out fast!
2. Administrators and parents don't know much about blogging and are all but afraid of it.
3. Don't underestimate the power of blogging with students. Students who you have a hard time reaching in the regular classroom will come alive online.
4. Choose your platform wisely. Choose it wisely for your private life. Choose it wisely for your professional life. Choose it wisely for your students. And avoid mixing the three.
5. You need to have a discussion or blog posting to set up rule about blogging. This could be similar to allowing students to help create a "class constitution." A place for students to add rules as they find a need is a good idea as well.
6. You yourself need a plan for handling inappropriate posting. The last thing you want is for the beautiful blogging atmosphere you have created to become a place for harassment or bullying.
7. Let them post! Let students create their own posts as well as responding to your posts.
8. Promote readership by having student constructively respond to other students posts.
9. Let them play! Show students new tricks like wordle, flickr, googledocs, ect. to add to their postings.
10. Read other blogs to get ideas for your blog. Get inspiration from every resource you have. Your ideas for postings topics don't have to come from electronic resources. Find a good old book of journal topics and use some of those. Just keep them posting!