Web 2.0

[Terry Sheehan]

Excited to be able to focus on bringing Web 2.0 into the Middle School. If anyone has any good sites that would be appropriate for 6-8 kids, feel free to send them my way.

[mrsunnyb]

Hi Terry,

Can I suggest the following excellent tools that form many of our base technologies:

Edmodo - online virtual classroom.
Voicethread - online based discussion platform
Sketchcast - quick presentations can be created
GoAnimate - a much more involved animation software.

Let me know if this helps.

I also run an international word-generation league that is starting in two weeks if you or anyone else is interested in competing (sixth grade would fit our current age-demos).

[Betsy MacDonald]

Hi Terry,

I did some work last year with MS kids both in my IT class and with other teachers in their content classes. I've had good experiences with the following:
Kidblogs.org
Xtranormal
Mixbook
GoAnimate
Weebly
Pho.to
Kizoa

Good luck,
Betsy

[Brooke A.]

Kizoa is really easy to use and free also. My kids love the slideshows I make for my presentations on lessons.

[Helen Lazzaro]

Check out our website that provides differentiation and ways to replace differentiated paper products( with technology. Covers appropriate web 2.0 for a variety of areas.


http://2differentiate.pbworks.com/Technology-Integration

Differentiation examples by subject or content, process, product or subject provides examples for middle school and high school for ways to differentiate.

[Jacqui Murray]

Sketch-up is a great FREE program for grades 6-8, as well as Alice and Scratch (for preprogramming). I teach K-5, so they're a bit of a stretch for my students sadly. I am going to try Scratch with them if I have time this year.

[Rob Residori]

My wiki page: chicagostrivingreaders.wikispaces.com and my blog:chicagoedtech.blogspot.com have a ton of great resources for middle school students. Is there anything in particular that you're looking for?

[Terry Sheehan]

I am looking for any and everything--as long as it is free. We are putting together a push for more Web 2.0 tools and It helps to get people excited when I can give them tangible examples of success stories.

[Jess Henze]

I've really been adding a ton of Web 2.0 stuff into my curriculum over the last year. In 8th grade, the following things have worked really well:

Glogster (online, interactive, multimedia posters)
Google Maps (create your own maps, with pin points, lines, regions, etc)
Prezi (presentations using cool transitions. No slides, all on one canvas)
ToonDoo (create cartoons online, can make a "book" of them)
Google Sites (for e-portfolios)
bubbl.us (an online Inspiration type application. Use bubbles to make webs, etc)
Go Animate

I've also had my students use Museum Box, but found that there were some glitches. Not sure if that was on our end or on theirs. It's a great idea, not sure if I'll try to use it with my students again).

[Mark Brumley]

My current favorite site for middle schoolers is Vuvox.com.

I love the digital collages!

Mark

[Mark Barnes]

Hey all, you can learn about most of the web 2.0 tools mentioned here at www.learnitin5.com. Enjoy.

[Peter Kelaher]

Hi Terry,

Here are two sites managed by a colleague in Australia, Adrian Bruce; both are great sources for discovering Web 2.0 tools;

http://www.adrianbruce.com/computers/educational-software.htm

http://adrianbruce.com/teacher-toolbox/

Regards,
Peter