Web 2.0 Tools - Student Retention
Todd W. JornsSenior Director for Educational Technology
Illinois Community College Board
Definition
“Web 2.0 is a set of economic, social, and technology trends that collectively form the basis for the next generation of the Internet
– a more mature, distinctive medium characterized by user participation, openness, and network effects."
O'Reilly Radar
Wikis
A wiki is computer software that allows users to easily create, edit and link web pages – Social Knowledge tool.
Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, power community websites, and are increasingly being installed by businesses to provide affordable and effective Intranets for Knowledge Management.
Wikis Benefits
Author in a collaborative environment Learning from others Develops a higher level of critical thinking Deepens investigative skills
Empowers students to create knowledge
Encourages creativity
Wikis - Free Sites
pbworks - http://pbworks.com/
wetpaint - http://www.wetpaint.com
wikipedia – http://www.wikipedia.org
wikispaces - http://www.wikispaces.com
Wikis – Software & Example
Personal wikis that can be used on your computer or a pen drive (as well as online) TiddlyWiki - http://www.tiddlywiki.com/
MonkeyGTD - http://monkeygtd.tiddlyspot.com/
Five Strategies for Using Wikis in the Classroom http://teachingtechnology.suite101.com/article.cfm/5_strategies_for_using_wikis_in_the_classroom#ixzz0mxtBIN5E
Blog
Blog is short for Web log.
Web publishing tool that allows authors to quickly and easily self-publish text, artwork, links to other blogs or Web sites, and a whole array of other content.
Usually on a specific topic or theme (political, personal, topical, health, travel, research, etc.)
Updated regularly reflecting the personality of the author.
Blog
Most blogs are headed by an individual called a blogger.
Blogs work well for students because they can be worked on at virtually any time, in any place with an Internet-enabled computer.
Can be used by teachers to create a classroom that extends beyond the boundaries of the regular classroom.
Blog Benefits
Motivating to students, especially those who otherwise might not become participants in classrooms.
Excellent opportunity for students to read & write.
Effective forums for collaboration and discussion.
Powerful tools to enable scaffolded learning or mentoring to occur.
Blog Uses
Classroom Management – portal to foster community of learners and post information.
Collaboration – peer reviews, mentoring, etc.
Discussions – inside and outside of classroom.
Student Portfolios – display, organize and protect digital works and increases motivation.
Student Journaling & Reflection – helps teachers & students stay connected, improves writing skills.
Blog Uses
Post class materials and class supplements.
Integrate all types of multimedia (webpages, audio, video, photos, slideshows, etc.).
Comment modes encourage interaction.
Team blogs enable engagement.
Create a class publication
Student journaling & reflection
Blog – Free Sites
Blogger – http://www.blogger.com
Edublogs – http://www.edublogs.org/
LiveJournal – http://www.livejournal.com/
Podbean – http://www.podbean.com
Blog Resources
More information: http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/05-06-wt1/www/A_Cho/history.htm
Create a blog in THREE Minutes! http://blogger.com
Podcast
(iPOD broadCAST) is an audio broadcast that has been converted to an MP3 file or other audio file format for playback in a digital music player or computer.
The "pod" in podcast was coined from "iPod," the predominant portable, digital music player, and although podcasts are mostly verbal, they may contain music.
Video Podcasts - vodcasts
Podcast
Using the RSS 2.0 syndication format, podcasts are made available to subscribers just like news feeds.
The client program that captures the audio feeds and synchronizes them with the music player is a "podcatcher," such as Curry's own iPodder, available at www.indiepodder.org.
Podcasting Process
Access• Subscribe using
podcatcher• Download episode• Playback episode
Create•Record episode •Edit episode
Distribute•Publish episode to webserver•Reference episode in feed
Podcasting Benefits Meet the needs of more students with varying
learning styles and aptitudes. Provide ‘make up lectures’ to students who were
absent. Supplement existing material and resources with
a portable and remotely accessible source of information.
Audio benefits vision impaired students and non-native speakers.
Podcasting Benefits Ability to replay and review information helps to
embed lessons in memory. Asynchronous consumption allows for
convenient access and multi-tasking (riding the bus, walking, working out, etc…).
Flexible curriculum pathways to encourage student participation and facilitate success.
Most appropriate presentation of spoken/audio material—e.g. native language, foreign language,reading assistance.
Podcast Tutorials
How to Podcast – http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/
Quick & Dirty Podcasting Primer - http://www.stager.org/podcasting/guide.html
Podcast – Free Software
Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Easy to use
Multi-track audio
Multi-platform (Mac & PC)
Online Sharing Applications
Google Docs Need to create a Gmail account
Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Drawings
Private or shared with others (collaboration)
Stored online or downloaded to computer/USB drive
Upload MS Office files
Export (download) as MS Office files (.doc, .xls, .ppt)
Online Sharing Websites
docs.google.com - online office suite.
zoho.com – online office suite.
openoffice.org – open source suite.
zamzar.com - free online conversions – docs, images, audio, video, etc.
Other Online Resources
Jeff Newell's Web 2.0 TiddlyWiki: https://edocs.uis.edu/jnewe2/www/TiddlyWiki_Jeff.html
TiddlyWiki for the rest of us: http://giffmex.org/twfortherestofus.html
The World of Blogs: http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/05-06-wt1/www/A_Cho/examples.htm
MERF Technology Check
Is the technology Meaningful?
Is the technology Engaging?
Is the technology Relative?
Is the technology Fun?
Key to Help Student Retention
Meaningful – interesting, useful & practical
Engaging – keeps their interest/motivation
Relative – to their needs, skills or world
Fun! – keeps them wanting to learn more