Free Web-based Tools

You can call it Web 2.0 if you like … or not.

Hello, and welcome to this resource related to free web-based tools for educational uses. I am creating this repository of information as another possible presentation approach for some of the tools that I cover in my Web 2.0 Whirlwind presentations. I’m hoping that this will be an effective way for attendees to follow along during the audioconference as well as providing the opportunity to revisit at a later date to review the information and explore the links even further.

1st Quickie: Fun Creativity Tool - Toondoo

Creativity Tools « Free Web-based Tools

freewebtools.wordpress.com/creativity

2nd Quickie: Fun Creativity Tool - Animoto
Animoto is a free music video creation site. Have your students collect some pictures on a particular theme and convert them into a music video using the copyright-free music available on the site. 30-second videos are free, full-length videos cost about $3 each. Fun and very easy.

Section 2 - Wikis

2-1. What's a Wiki?? (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Definition
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki

A wiki is computer software that allows users to easily create, edit and link web pages. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, power community websites, and are increasingly being installed by businesses to provide affordable and effective Intranets or for use in Knowledge Management. Ward Cunningham, developer of the first wiki, WikiWikiWeb, originally described it as "the simplest online database that could possibly work".^[1] One of the best-known wikis is Wikipedia.^[2]

2-2. Wiki Examples

Blogs & Wikis Workshop using JotSpot Wiki (barrydahl)
barrydahl.jot.com/WikiHome

Blogs and Wikis Workshop - LSC

Will Richardson Presentation Materials (Wikispaces)
willrichardson.wikispaces.com/

A Web of Connections: Why the Read/Write Web Changes Everything

Second Life in Education » Educational Uses (Wikispaces)
sleducation.wikispaces.com/educationaluses

Educational Uses of Second Life

Minnesota Online Summer Conference 2007 Wiki
mnonline.wetpaint.com/?t=anon

Minnesota Online Summer Conference 2007
Using a wiki for conference materials and interactions

Welcome to the Debatepedia Wiki
wiki.idebate.org/index.php/Welcome_to_Debatepedia!

Debatepedia is the wiki of the International Debate Education Association (IDEA) with the mission to become the "Wikipedia of debate and reasoning".

2-3. Check out pbWiki for Education!!

Education Wikis - Engage, Collaborate & Educate | PBwiki.com
pbwiki.com/education.wiki

Your own ad-free wiki in 30 seconds

Increase student engagement using a safe online wiki.
Stop waiting for IT to make me an easy-to-update web space!
Create a no-hassle way to showcase my students' work online.
No IT required.

How-To Guides. Perfect for printing and handing out.

How to create your own PBwiki in 5 minutes (NOTE: This is handout #1)
How to create a classroom calendar
Frequently asked questions on how to use PBwiki. (NOTE: This is handout #2)

2-4. Your wiki assignment:

Follow the instructions (or follow along with Barry) and create a wiki at pbwiki.com/education.wiki

Pick a topic of your own or use one of the following as an example:

Create a wiki that has a point/counterpoint (pro & con) format to discuss No Child Left Behind (or any other topic that interests you). Include your own opinions, opinions from educational experts, and possibly opinions of ordinary citizens (parents and students).
Create a wiki that is a compilation of various resources related to how to make a video screen-recording of a particular computer task (how to make a chart in Excel, or how to create a Toondoo, or whatever task you choose).
Create a wiki that can be used by a campus committee to record the work that is completed.
Create a wiki for any purpose that you can imagine.

After creating your wiki, add at least one thing to the wiki.
After adding your own item, find a partner and add that person to your wiki as an author. Each added author should now add one item to the other person's wiki.

Section 3 - Blogs

3-1. What's a Blog??
Check out http://freewebtools.com/blogs
What – Weblog: A blog is a website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order. Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Most blogs are primarily textual although some focus on photographs (photoblog), videos (vlog), or audio (podcasting), and are part of a wider network of social media. (From Wikipedia)

3-2. Where can I get a Blog?
Where – Lots of free sites. Blogger, Wordpress, Wordpress Open Source, Edublogs, Movable Type, Live Journal, etc.

Many campuses host their own blogs: see Ball State, Pace University, LSC blogs, LSC Wave (news), Paradise Valley CC Student Life

Start « WordPress.com
faq.wordpress.com/2007/08/16/im-new-to-blogging-wh...

3-3. I’m new to blogging. Where do I start? (this was basis for handout #3)

If you’re new to Wordpress or blogging in general, here’s a brief introduction to (almost) everything you need to get started at Wordpress.com.

Features « WordPress.com
wordpress.com/features/

3-4. Features of WordPress Blogs (basis of handout #4)

Here’s a sampling of features that might make you want to use WordPress.com. (Besides it being run by some swell folks!) We’re not fancy-pants marketers, just a group of geeks who are passionate about enabling people to publish on the web. You can explore our features below, browse our list of well known WordPress bloggers, or find out which features some of our users like best. When you’re ready, we’d love to have you sign up for a blog with us!

3-4. Your blog assignment:

Follow the instructions (or follow along with Barry) and create a blog at http://wordpress.com

Pick a topic of your own or use one of the following as an example:

Create a blog that will be used to share information with your students about classroom activities.
Create a blog that is really more of an information repository of a particular project that you are working on, or that you want to keep an archive of information about.
Create a blog about something that interests you at a personal level - politics, kitten-racing, CSI-New York, books you're reading, etc.
Create a blog for any purpose that you can imagine.

After creating your blog, add at least one post to the blog.
After adding your own item, find a partner and leave a comment on that person's blog, and they should leave a comment on your blog.

Next - Click here to go to the Podcasting section

This link is also available on Barry's Presentations Page