Increasing the Use of Web2.0 Tools to Improve 21st Century Learning Skills

June 29th & July 1st 2010

What are Web 2.0 Tools?

• Interactive tools for the internet• Users create their own content on the web– Blogs (posts and comments)– Social Networking (Facebook, MySpace)– YouTube, TeacherTube– Chat, IM– Skype, Videoconferencing

What are 21st Century Skills?

• The skills that our students will need to succeed in the 21st century in terms of core subject knowledge, learning and innovation skills, life and career skills, and technology literacy.

What is a Blog?Parts:

Header

Pages

Posts

Comments

Sidebars

Widgets

Educational Blog Examples

• My 3 blogs: – McCann Forensics: http://mccannforensics.edublogs.org– McCann Biology: http://mccannbiology.edublogs.org– Mrs. Mucci’s Science Classes: http://mucci.edublogs.org

• The Edublog Awards: http://edublogawards.com/• Blog Index:

http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers (and this page is a wiki!)

Take a few minutes to explore these links and see how others are using blogs

3 Ways to Set-up Your Blog

• Blog creator is the only author, other users can comment – Example: Mrs. Mucci’s Science Classes

• Students are authors, they can create posts and comment on posts – Example: McCann Forensics & McCann Biology

• Students have their own blog linked to the class blog, they have control over their own blog pages– Example: Rumford Writers

How Can You Use a Blog In Your Class?

• Take a moment to think about what type of blog you may want to use

• Consider who should be authors of content• Brainstorm 3-5 ideas for lessons that could

incorporate your blog

Resources You Can Use

• Use the McCann Educational Technology website to find resources, and ask questions! We can update this continuously to help you figure out how to do anything you want to do: http://mccannedtech.edublogs.org

• Getting Started With Edublogs Manual: http://help.edublogs.org/getting-started-with-edublogs/

• 10 Ways to Use Your Edublog to Teach: http://edublogs.org/10-ways-to-use-your-edublog-to-teach/

• Search for other examples of classroom blogs for inspiration

Set Up Your Free Blog

• Create a free account at http://www.edublogs.org

• Let’s explore your new Dashboard together– Pick a theme– Add widgets– Fill in your ‘About’ page– Add your content!