u05a1 - Making good use of the Web 2.0 applications

Create accounts for the services listed in the three topics and explore how to use them. Select at least one application from each topic to review how you would implement it into the classroom. In your review, be sure to address:

• Age / parental consent requirements for users
• Overall function of the application
• Resources available online to help new users learn to navigate the interface
• Specific ways that students could use the application
• Caveats for teachers

I have found playing around and exploring the applications very fun and would not really consider it work at all…if all learning could be this fun and enjoyable!! Well learning should be fun and enjoyable as well as being useful!! I can see how what we are investigating would be similar to the process that our actual students would be involved in while they are working in a PBL group. I can start to appreciate the time and commitment needed to start and implement a PBL experience.

There are several applications that I think would be a wonderful addition to my class while they are working on their PBL projects. While working in our Wilkes group, I have found some of these applications more useful and more user friendly than some others. Most of these listed applications require only a personal computer that is equipped with Internet access, presentation software and word processing software. Other applications require video cameras, still cameras, microphones and podcasting software. I have decided to concentrate my review on three applications which cover a wide variety of uses that when utilized in combination the will result in a successful means of communicating, collaborating and publishing.

Communication Platform – Diigo

“Diigo is two services in one -- it is a research and collaborative research tool on the one hand, and a knowledge-sharing community and social content site on the other” (Diigo Inc., 2009). Diigo is a Web 2.0 application that allows for effective management of the flow of communication between all members of a group. The only requirement that is needed to use Diigo is a personal computer that has access to the Internet and that makes use of one of the common web browsers.

There is also a free upgrade available to K-12 educators, although there is a brief application process that has to be completed to get the free account. Since there are no age requirements for a Diigo account set-up, enrolling in the educator Diigo may be they most secure and reliable way to incorporate this communication tool in your classroom. Privacy settings of student accounts are pre-set so that only teachers and classmates can communicate with them. As well, ads are limited to education-related sponsors. Once you have set up the educator Diigo, student accounts can be created. Teachers can establish groups where students can make group bookmarks and annotations and group forums.

Some key features of Diigo include:

• The ability to search other peoples lists of bookmarks so find suitable resources under a specific topic.
• The ability to create lists that display bookmarks which than can in turn be played as an interactive slideshow.
• Good organizational tools that include a sidebar that helps you find lists and bookmarks that may be useful to you.
• A messaging system that allows you to communicate with friends and allows for the sharing of annotated bookmarks and other resources.
• Diigo can provide sites that you may be interested in which may cut down on time spent researching.

There are plenty of onsite resources that will help new users navigate through Diigo. There are video tutorials, a step-by-step introduction, how-to guides and user produced materials that cover just about every aspect of the application. These guides are easy to follow and would be very suitable for students to use, although the site seems to be quite user friendly and no doubt students would be able to navigate through it with very little help!!

I envision students using Diigo as the main way to share web resources and related ideas and questions. Students can comment on these resources as they analyze and evaluate them as a group. These uses would be central to the success of a global PBL activity. I really see little in terms of possible pitfalls that teachers may experience with this application, especially if teachers get approved for the Diigo Educator version.

Collaboration Platform - Google Docs

The use of Google Docs has been an integral part of the success of the Wilkes PBL group that I am presently involved in. Who knew that an application that I had not heard of a month ago would prove so valuable and so easy to use!! Google Docs is one in a series of applications available from Google. Google Docs allows students to synchronously work on the same file (word doc, spreadsheet, presentation, PDF or html page) by logging on with a password. One downfall that students may run into is that they may not have a Gmail account or other equivalent email account. I could not find the age restrictions to have such an account, although I know that the majority of my high school students already have a hotmail account which would enable them to use Google Docs. Google Docs can be set up in such a way that the student or teacher can control who can see the online files.

Google Docs has a much greater use than just file sharing. Some other benefits of using Google Docs include:

• Students can access their data from any computer anywhere on the globe and sharing of information and ideas can take place instantaneously.
• Presentations can be delivered to remote classrooms and files can be published for only members of a group to see.
• Different file formats can be used and are not just limited to .doc or .ppt.
• Videos can also be easily shared all the while keeping them safe and private. These videos are hosted on Google which means that videos do not have to be streamed. This would keep the tech support people happy as there would be no downloading required for videos and the bandwidth at school could then be used for other purposes.

Google Docs has an extensive support system that will help users get started. There is also a Google Docs Help Forum where members help each other out. I imagine that most kids would soon be able to provide answers to the questions posted in the Help Forum.

I would recommend using Google Docs as the central meeting place or organizational hub for all group members as it is an efficient, effective and safe way to communicate and collaborate whether you are next door or on a different continent. No longer would students have the excuse that “Suzy has our work and since she is home sick today we cannot work on our project.” It would be a suitable application for students of all age levels and since it is a very user friendly application it would be suitable for almost all ability levels.

Publishing Platform – Edublog

Blogging is a fantastic way for students to share their final projects and solicit comments from their peers and classmates. Edublog is ideal for use in the classroom as it is a safe and secure application. The same downfall exists as with Google Docs, students should have a Gmail account so teachers can register them.

Having an Edublog means much more than just the ability to blog. As found in the online article 10 ways to use your Edublog to teach (Edublogs, 2009), such uses include:

• Post materials and resources
• Host online discussions
• Create a class publication
• Get your students blogging
• Share you lesson plans
• Integrate multimedia of all descriptions
• Organise, organise, organise
• Get feedback
• Create a fully functional website

To help both teachers and students in their quest to use Edublogs, there is a help section with video tutorials, FAQs and user forums. But this appears to be a very simple application that is very user friendly.

I can hardly fathom the knowledge I have gained in the past few days will looking at all of the Web 2.0 applications introduced in Unit 5 and I cannot wait to start implementing them in my classroom. Even with the limited technology resources that I have available in my classroom students can take advantage of the Diigo, Google Docs and Edublog applications.


References

Edublogs. (2009). 10 ways to use your Edublog to teach. Retrieved March 28, 2009 from
http://edublogs.org/10-ways-to-use-your-edublog-to-teach/

Diigo Inc. (2009). About Diigo. Retrieved March 28, 2009 from http://www.diigo.com/about