Web+2.0

During my teaching career, I will have many different opportunities to use Web 2.0 tools during my class periods. The 5 that I chose, I honestly believe I could use in my classes. These Web 2.0 tools will not only keep my students informed, but it will also keep them focused. By using these tools, my students will enjoy learning. The 5 Web 2.0 tools I chose are: YouTube, Prezi, Tagxedo, Songza, and Bitesize BBC.

First, YouTube is a video sharing website. It’s the biggest and most known throughout the world. You can watch any type of videos from music, to learning how to do math equations, to learning how to do sign language. Second Web 2.0 tool I chose was Prezi. Prezi is a program that allows you to combine videos, images, PDF files, drawings, and more to teach your class. It is sort of like PowerPoint, but I think it’s more “funky” and fun. Thirdly, Tagxedo would be a great tool to use in class. It is a program where you can choose a photo and add words to it. The picture will be perfectly outlined in words that resemble the photograph. The next tool I chose was Songza. Songza is a free music website. They have perfect music for any occasion and even have a children’s genre. Lastly, I chose Bitesize-BBC. It is a fun website filled of Math, Science, and English games to help your students learn in a fun way.

It took me awhile to find these 5 tools on the Wiki website. I tried looking at every subject that I will be teaching and thinking of how I could use these any way possible. Starting with YouTube, and since they have so many varieties of videos, you can use it for anything and for any subject. Say I am teaching history, I can pull up a video on the Revolutionary war and it will describe it. Sure, it will be only a few minutes, but in that few minutes the video can explain a lot. I feel as if videos are very informative. Throughout my previous school years, I have had a handful of teachers that have used YouTube. Next, I could use Prezi throughout any type of lecture I was giving. Since it sort of like PowerPoint, it can be used for any type of lecture. It’s a lot more fun flowing then boring PowerPoints. Say I am talking about Math and teaching my students how to multiply, I could give step by step examples but make it enjoyable to watch and listen. If things are a lot more interesting to see, I think they would be more in tuned to what they are doing which makes them ultimately want to learn. Tagxedo is a fun creative project I can use with my students. I would use this around holidays or have them do these for Black History Month for Martian Luther King. During the holidays, let’s say on Thanksgiving, they could choose an image of a turkey and be able to fill in their own words and create their own perspective of Thanksgiving. They can also do the same thing on a picture of Martian Luther King. Overall, it’s an enjoyable way to see how creative your students can be. Music! Who doesn’t enjoy music? I chose Songza for this exact reason because I think music is great for the mind. It can keep the kids energized and keep them moving in general. What is great about this site is that it allows the teacher chose a genre. And as I was searching the site, there was a children’s genre which is PERFECT! I could use this while we are having clean up after projects. I could play it while they are cleaning/organizing their desks. Music is great and I would try and use it as often as I could. I last chose Bitesize-BBC because I thought it had fun ways to teach children Math, English, and Science. I think there needs to be a variety of ways to teach the children whatever subject they are learning about. The website had a bunch of games the children would and could enjoy. I even played one myself and thought it was fun. They can be challenging but not too hard on the kids so say they mess up, they won’t be embarrassed. They will try harder to get to the end of the mission.

Overall, I believe all the Web 2.0 tools I chose would be significant to all my students learning. They’re not only fun and different, but would keep all of my students informed and eager to learn more. And as a teacher, who wouldn’t want that?