Web+2.0+Tools

**WEEK 2**
During Week 2, we will explore a variety of online Web 2.0 Tools that can be used in the early childhood environment. Some tools will be more appropriate for educators, while some can be used by children. For Online Presentation Tools, refer to the Digital Story Resources page.

As you explore and conduct research, write an annotation next to the tool, and tell us how you envision it being used in an educational setting.


 * Kidspiration - If as a teacher you are looking for reinforcement for the children from the activities, this site does not have that function. We found that this site would be a good motivational tool to get the keyboarding skills needed. Maybe a third grader who has the computer skills already fom the couple of years experience would do well on this site. Another idea that we thought was that a group of students to challenge the other children by publishing and printing out a worksheet for the other children to accomplish.**

__**Web 2.0 Tools**__ for Early Childhood

[|Glogster] Glogster is a poster that individuals design for various reasons The site is very user friendly and is a tool for self expression.Early Childhood professionals could use this tool as: Glogster is a great creativity site who’s tag line is “poster yourself”. Students can combine text, pictures, graphics, video, and audio to create an interactive online poster. Glogster has a very simple to use interface. The final glog can be hosted by glogster or you can embed it into a wiki, blog, or class web site. **How to integrate glogster into the classroom: Glogster**  is an awesome way for your students to display knowledge. Instead of creating a poster for a presentation, students can create an interactive glog to display information. Glogster can be used for history, math, language arts, book reports, science, social studies, and for public service announcements. Students can create these online posters to display any knowledge or learning. Because glogster has the ability to handle audio, students can create podcasts and upload the content into their glog. Students can share their school work and accomplishments online with classmates, family, and friends.
 * Parent Communication
 * Getting to know you and your family
 * Informal observations for classroom individualization
 * Visual evidence for director/teacher communication
 * Parent newsletter
 * Advocacy- using photos of classroom text and narration for representatives

Stephanie, Kimrenee and Juliet 

[|Blabberize] Is a fun way to animate photos with a recorded voice track take any picture set the area for the mouth and record your voice via the mike on your computer or your phone share with others and/or imbed in your moodle.wiki, or blog. Students can speak from any ones point of view

[|Kerproof] Kerpoof is a website for children ages Pre-K through middle school. It is owned by the Walt Disney Company. Children can create original artwork, animated movies, stories and cards. They can also make mugs and tee shirts. In each application, you can use features such as animation and sound (including music) to enhance the project. Kerpoof is interactive, fun and visually appealing. Its design may appeal to diverse learners since it incorporates different ways to be creative, use music, and work independently or interactively. Children can collaborate by accessing each others’ creations and providing feedback. They can vote on other children’s work. Children earn “Koins” that they can use to purchase items from the online store. Children create an “avatar”, an image to represent them as a member. They can purchase items for their avatar such as a pirate’s patch. Children can create for free, but need to become a member to save their work. Membership can be purchased for around $5/ month. However, it is free for schools. There is a teachers’ resource area that includes lesson plans, activity ideas and crosswalks to state and national academic standards. Teachers can sign up for an e-newsletter for educators that provide additional ideas. It is also available in seven different languages, so it could be a great tool for English language learners. [|Voki] media type="custom" key="3460122"

Voki enables users to express themselves on the web in their own voice using a talking character (avatar). Voki lives on your blog, social network profile and will soon be integrated in various instant messaging platforms. You will also be able to download it to most video supported phones. Not very appropriate for young children! Donna D, Kecia, Lisa


 * Wikis**! Check out how a group of kindergartners from across the country used a Wiki to "count to 100" with the [|100th Day Project.]

[|Top Ten Web 2.0 Tools for Young Learners] is a Wiki space with ideas and examples of some of the above tools, as well as a few others including Blogs and Wikis...Check out the examples to get some great ideas, and/ or join the Wiki and add your own. Yack Pack-aka: Yack Cast Instant communication Benefits o Parent teacher conferences o Individual updates on children Disadvantages
 * voice generated communication tool (live talk and voice messages)
 * Private groups-individual groupings of people can communicate with each other using voice mail rather than e-mail
 * Ability to give quality feedback to students or families
 * Personally send voice generated messages to friends and families
 * provides an opportunity for voice communications locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
 * Can be used personally and professionally
 * Parties do not have to actively present at the time
 * Can be used by adults and school-age children
 * Can be used to communicate with parents
 * Additional equipment needed such as microphone, downloads of accessories to run the program
 * Technology
 * Slows down system
 * Limited span of individuals (does not meet diverse population of families we serve socio-economic status)
 * Difficult to create an account due to additional downloads needed
 * Voice only heard

From Carmen, Antoine and Mary