Part of the Cool Sites weekly series!
First off, I’d like to say how thrilled I am to be contributing to such an important and influential blog, which is a leader in cutting edge technology. When trying to compile a list of my favorite Web 2.0 apps and sites for education, there were many factors I tried to consider such as: how user friendly is it, is it safe and filtered, and the “why factor” (what separates it from the rest of the pack).
That being said, below is a list of my top 5 Web 2.0 apps for education:
1. Google Apps w/ Gaggle -is such a great free resource for education that it’s hard not to place this at the top of my list. Student’s can share, collaborate, email, etc. all online, which makes it ideal for education.
However, with the purchase of a Gaggle ($3.00 per student) a student’s gMail account is then being filtered. This makes it ideal when having to deal with swearing or online bullying, which is a must when facing CIPPA compliance. Another great feature of Gaggle is the feature of filtered and safe blogs, message boards, and digital lockers for students. More info can be found here.
2. Wiki – A wiki is a site that can be edited by more than one user. I like Wikispaces for this because a educator can setup free user accounts for their students and no email account is required. There are so many beneficial uses to a wiki that it needs to be on any person’s top 10 list. For more info on an educator account visit this website.
3. Mixbook – is a site where users can create online digital storybooks and share them with others in a safe secure environment. I like to think of it as an online version of iPhoto picture books with a lot more features. For a more detailed review click here.
4. Voicethread – I don’t think this comes a surprise being that it is probably the most popular Web 2.0 resource for education. Create an interactive web page or story using this phenomenally easy educational resource. For more info for educators, click here.
5. Glogster – is one of the newer Web 2.0 resources around, but also one of the best. This is a place where users can create online and interactive posters for education. There really is nothing you can’t do on Glogster and with student accounts it opens up a whole new world for collaboration. For a more detailed review click here.
Just missed: Fliggo (video hosting), Time Rime (time lines), Diigo (social bookmarking)
All of these sites on my list have educational portals which means they have safe student accounts available. This is ideal when things need to be monitored and approved in an educational environment.
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David Kapuler has been working with technology and education for over 10 years in a school setting. He hopes to incorporate 21st century and Web 2.0 technologies into students teachings, while preparing them for future learning. He is currently looking to get his Mac OS/Repair Certification, as well as, a Masters in Technology Integration. Also, he has a solid background in professional development, web design, and working with network/server support. On a personal note, he’s a proud father of 3 boys and has been married for 5 years. Read more of David Kapuler’s technology reviews for education by visiting his blog, Technology Tidbits: Thoughts of a Cyber Hero or following him on Twitter (@dkapuler).
