Developing 21st Century Skills

Using Web 2.0

Kearny Public Schools *  December 2009

What does the future hold?

Watch this video, thinking about the bigger picture of our society and culture. What surprises you? What doesn't surprise you? What are the implications for preparing today's students for tomorrow's world?

 

1.  Wordle:  Creates word clouds.

  

Classroom Benefits: Current unit of study is healthy living. In El país newspaper (Spain) an article about a new kind of electric bike was published. The teacher would like to use the article with the class. As a pre-reading activity, the teacher creates a Wordle of the article’s text. Prior to reading the article online, the students will (1) individually skim the Wordle, then (2) with a partner guess what the article may be about.

Why Wordle-By Steven W. Anderson   

 

 

2.  Glogster facilitates creating multimedia posters. (Information from ckendall.wikispaces.com)

This handout will walk you through some of the key features of Glogster:

Examples:

All About Me Project (Spanish) Note that students can include their own voices!

I.wonder  A student's perspective.

Costa Rica A different way to do a country report

20 Years Later.....   Infused with multimedia.

 

 

   

3. Voki      Create talking avatars - a digital version of oneself.       

 

 

Voki:- Avatars in Education   Great information about using Voki in the classroom.

Ways to use Voki in the classroom:

(Source: Helen Otway. January 2008. Voki avatars in the classroom)
  1. Students can create avatars that are similar in looks or personalities and record a message that tells about themselves.
  2. Students can exchange these avatars with e-pals either within their own setting or anywhere in the world.
  3. Students can generate questions to ask their avatar e-pals.
  4. ESL (English as a Second Language) students can use the speaking avatars to practice and listen to their speech. They may use the computerised voice first then record their own voice when they feel more comfortable. Writing, reading and pronunciation are all practised.
  5. Students can create an avatar that resembles a character from a story, add a setting and give it speech. The speech could be from the story or a creative point of view (POV) from the character on an event.

 

4.  **Blabberize** Bring a photograph to life by adding voice.

 

5.  Animoto for Education  - An easy to use photo and video collage making tool..

6.  Xtranormal - Free movie making.

  Can be viewed on Animoto site/case studies.

7.  Pixton -  Make free comics.

8.  Sketchfu  A a fun site that allows students to draw and share pictures. The program then animates the drawings by instantly making it come to life! Students can share their creations between each other and post comments as well.

Used in 2nd grade class: for book reports. Each child read a book and then reported back in a drawing visually telling what the story was about. As soon as they finished, they shared with their classmates by showing their individual creations. Even if you are not artistic, this program makes you feel like it. What a great confidence builder!

 View the time changed at Sketchfu
Make your own drawings at SketchfuMore from this artist at SketchfuShare this drawing from Sketchfu
Learn how to draw cartoons, comics, and anime at Sketchfu!

9.  Poll Everywhere

 

10.  Gliffy  A graphic organizer.