Ideas for using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom - updated September 2016

Editor's Notes

• #3: Digital literacy – information literacy, critical thinking on the web Media literacy – questioning and challenging sources, who has made/written this, who for, why – don’t believe everything you see/read etc. analyse media and interpret just like text Have a look at some new technologies and evaluate how/if they can support 21st Century learning and foster these important skills
• #4: What might good practice look like? When should we use ICT when should we not use ICT? Enable e.g. time lapse film of mould growing Enrich e.g. control software to animate models Enhance e.g. drafting, refining, editing, publishing If the use of ICT did not enrich or enhance the lesson, or enable children to learn more effectively, then consider what purpose was served. In your opinion did the use of technology support children’s subject learning or impede it?
• #8: Can moderate each post before allowing to go public
• #11: tilde character ~ between words that go together
• #21: Copyright: eBoy "Godfathers of Pixel" a pixel art group founded in 1997 Their complex illustrations have been made into posters, shirts, souvenirs, and even displayed in gallery exhibitions
• #25: A number of tools from wikis to blogs. Depends on whether you’d want the children to work in small groups setting up their own blogs about an individual composer, or class contribute as a whole and by doing so generate an information database. This approach would suit a wiki approach as different pages could be set up on a number of composers. The advantage of using a wiki or a blog is the children can add media files such as digital images, sound or music files – assuming you’re not breaching copyright laws. The potential benefits fall into many categories: Increased motivation and attitude towards learning Collaborative allows a number of children to be involved Easy access at home and school Extends engagement of child beyond school gates Allows for personalisation and creativity More effective and efficient means of communicating ideas includes the ability to alter formats Develops children’s thinking skills along with reading and writing capabilities Provides feedback (from within computer program and from peers) Provisional nature – ability to change things easily Multimodal – you can add a range of digital items and tools Non-linear (if its not a story) the use of hyperlinks will allow for changes in direction to suit the reader 3. Main characteristic that allows digital text to be changed is its provisional nature. Text, images can be cut, copied and pasted between programs. Useful when considering the needs of audience – you can make a text simpler for younger children and include more images for example. 4. Supporting children’s work both at home and at school means that similar facilities (software, computer, internet) must be available in both locations. You may need to exchange files between them, or use collaborative tools e.g. on internet or school MLE. Ensure safeguarding of children is also considered and fully addressed.