Web2.0 Smackdown

What happens when you put about 150 educators who love technology in one room and ask them to share their coolest Web2.0 tool?

Check out the whirlwind tour!


Poll Everywhere
Create multiple choice polls and have students use their cell phones to answer- works with classroom sizes up to 30.

Chacha
1- 800 tochacha Use your cell phone to call and ask a question. You will receive a text message with the answer.

Animoto
Create music videos for your images and pictures.

CoverItLive
Blog live sessions. As moderator you accept others to join in with you in blogging about the event.

Qik
Via your cell phone you can do live streams, post an announcement of the stream on Twitter, and embed it on the web. Also includes chat capability.

Mogulus
A tv studio which enables you to have multiple cameras and switch between them.

HandiPoints
A game kids play to teach responsible habits. Kids earn points for doing chores, homework, and staying healthy.

MakeBelifComics
Make your own comics and then take screen shots to embed them on your site.

ajaxim
A free that tool will enable you to create your own IM network.

Doodle
Helps scheduling meetings and other appointments. Simply set up a poll, send a link to plan and schedule it.

TimeBridge
More easy scheduling for coordinating meetings. Also snycs with Outlook.

Tag Galaxy

Browse through Flickr photos in 3D with this flash application.

Exalead
Gives you a screen shot of any page.

Plurk
Alternative to Twitter.

PHEW! Now go have some fun!

Social Networking with Students

Do you do Social Networking with students?
Are you considering social networking with students?

The second session of EduBlogger Con 2008 I attended explored these topics.

We need to educate our students about social networking.
Students may be using social networking in their personal lives and we need to help them understand how to use social networking in their professional networking. Students need to learn to use appropriate behavior which is expected to be used in a professional educational space.

In using social networking in the classroom situations arise across different cultures which enable us to have discussions about what is considered appropriate with our students and which also furthers our ability to teach digital and global citizenry.
Educators are finding that through social networking, students who are reticent to share in the classroom will share through online chats or back channels. Once they realize that their ideas are valuable and respected, they become more active as learners in the classroom.

We need to educate our technology departments and administrators.
When deciding to use social networking with students we need to know:
What kind of sandbox will it be?
How will you keep kids safe in there?

We need to educate our parents.
We need to educate our parents about social networking and what we are doing with their children just as we do with other experiences we provide for our students.

So, not unlike anything else that is new, we need to engage all of the stakeholders in understanding it. We shouldn't expect it to be easy because we are forging the road. We are exploring the pitfalls and successes so that even more students will be able to benefit. What is important is to continue to find a way to gather all of our collective ideas together so this can happen. Are you game?