Web 2.0 in Education (UK) - Recently Updated Pages

Timeline Makers

dw10cw — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:24:41 CST

Timeline Makers are traditionally used to explore the life of an idividual or the events of a particular period. You could also use them to explore the day in the life of a person such as a Priest or Rabbi. I haven't come across any tools that allow you to compare two timelines simultaneously but obviously it would be possible to get students to produce different timelines for comparison. These could be used to explore differences or to think about an event from multiple perspectives. For example, using a Timeline to map the possible thoughts and feelings of Martin Luther and the Pope during the Reformation. In some tools you can attach pictures, text and video so why not use a Timeline Maker to make a presentation rather than Powerpoint. As always care should be taken to check the appropriateness of the material on display when using public websites.

1. Dipity - This is one of my favourite timeline makers. It requires Internet Explorer 7 to run which may be a problem for some networks. While Dipity has limitations such as not being able to go BC, it does allow you to add pictures, video and text to your timeline. What really makes it stand out from the crowd is that if you give your timeline points a geographical tag it will automatically produce a google map of all your key points. So, for example, if you collected the points in a person's life you could also see their geographical journey.

2. Capzles - This is one of the best looking Tools around. You can begin building a Capzle without validating your e-mail. The Uploader works quickly and is striaghtforward to use. I thought the tool for dating and tagging the photos would work better if you could enter dates rather than scroll through them. In addition the actual day and year had to be exact or it would not save with the entered date but rather the default date of creation. So for example, if you enter Fri 4th 1965 and Friday was actually the third, then it will not save. Of course if you are a stikler for detail then this may well be a positive. The easiest way to get the correct day is to type the year into the box rather than scroll and then click on the date in the calendar. Once events are entered they will automatically be put in order. This example does not include video, audio or text but the multimedia elements are easily attached. There is also a comment box for viewers to add comments about the finished Timeline. Click on the Capzles logo on the bottom left to see the full size timeline in all its glory.

3. XTimeline - You can start building the timeline without password validation. When creating the timeline you set the editing permissions. You can have a public timeline that anyone can edit or a private one where editors must be invited. You do not need to add a complete date, year and month are suffcient. (If you don't add the month it automatically becomes a 0 on the timeline)There is also the ability to show an event over a period of time by adding an end time. There is also an option to go AD/BC which is particularly useful for anyone making a history timeline. Events are added reasonably easily and can include a picture, video and a written description. It is not the best looking timeline on the market but it works well. An added bonus is that the timeline can be printed. You can view more or less detail by clicking on the green icons in the top right of the page.

4. Our Story - Comes with a Parenting Magazine 'Mom Tested' recommendation so should be relatively safe to use. You can add video or photos to your timeline. You can be as specific or vague about the date as you like. You can tagg photos and there is also a place to edit your photos and videos. The timeline can be private or public and others can comment on it if you wish. You also have control of who can edit your timeline. There is a small choice of designs for your timeline. Each user can only create one timeline on the free account therefore you would need to delete the existing line before adding a new one. There is no facility to print the timeline although you can purchase a book version if you want. There is a question function which I never quite worked out. One of the best features of this tool is that the finished timeline can be played like a movie as you can see in the example below.

Streaming Media

dw10cw — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:06:08 CST

Most people will be familiar with Youtube but there are an increasing number of websites offering streaming video/audio. Some of these are specialised education sites. If you find something you like then use one of the tools in the Video Tools links to record to your hard drive.

1. Teacher tube - A selection of videos that will be of interest to teachers. Channels are organised by subject as well as a professional development section.

2. School Tube - This is intended to be a safe place for students to access and post video. Videos are organised by subject as well as careers, student clubs etc.

3. Edublogs TV - Another dedicated educational site. Videos are organised by subject and year group.

4. Seeqpod - This site works like an online radio station combined with a music search engine. Type in the songs and create your own playlist for free.
Works very well.

5. Last FM - As with Seeqpod you can listen to whatever music you want when you want. You can search by artist or song and the more you use it the more accurate a profile the site will create. You can then have music recommended on the basis of your profile. My favourite option is the 'listen to similar artists' option which plays an unending stream of music based on the type of music you have chosen. All free.

6. Research Channel - This site plays videos from the leading universities. 3, 500 titles available and most suitable for A Level.

7. Watchknow - This site aims to bring together all the best educational videos on the web available in one place. Seems to include quite a few short video clips such as experiments and what is a verbs etc.

8. SnagFilms - This is a collection of documentaries covering topics such as sport, history, music, politics etc. All for free and over 500 films are already available.

9. Totlol - This is a Youtube for kids. All videos have been moderated by parents and would be particularly suitable for primary students.

10. John Locker - This is a collection of documentaries for learning. Seems to suit older children, videos are arranged by topic

11. Schoolwax - This is a collection of videos for school. It is a moderated site so should be safe.

12. History.Com - A selection of free history videos.

13. Spotify - This site promises to be the next big thing in free music as it is supported by several record companies. Currently in invitation only Beta certainly worth keeping an eye on.

14. Academic Earth - For those of you who believe in the importance of free education for all then this site will do you good. Thousands of video lectures from the world's greatest academics have been gathered together for your learing pleasure.

15. Hotchalk - This is a new learning environment that allows you to create classes, communicate with parents, assess homework etc. In this regard nothing particularly unique but what makes this tool worth considering is that it allows access to NBC News video clips, National Geographic and the History channel. It therefore has the potential to be a very useful source for the classroom.

16. ARKive - This is a collection of videos and photos specifically based around nature. With an introduction from Sir David Attenborough you can be sure of a quality product. There is also a scrapbook function within the site which will be of interest to those doing research on animals or the environment.

17. Studybeat - A nice collection of educational videos. There is a good selection of free videos but others are also available upon subscription. Is American although all users can upload their own videos. Like many of these tools it could be a good revision source for topics students don't quite understand.inin

18. Brainpop UK - A collection of educational animations across a wide range of subjects explaining concepts such as semi-colons, Hurricanes etc. Is a free trial but after amonth you need to pay for a subscription which begin at £199+Vat for a multi user licence.

19. Timelines TV - An interesting new website for historians. Students use the timeline to choose a video and can then watch it. Links are also provided to related videos. It covers the American West and British History from 1000 AD to present day.

20. Meaning of Life TV - Does exactly what it says on the tin ! Video lectures about faith, philosophy, science etc.

21. Zuitube - Claims to be the largest collection of videos for kids. From what I saw it has a lot of youtube videos embedded into the site which have been chosen and monitored by parents and teachers. It is mostly clips rather than full programmes but there is a good disney section and a songs section. If you have problems accessing youtube this probably won't be much use to you.

Diagrams/Drawing Tools

dw10cw — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:52:23 CST

There are several tools out there that allow collaborative drawing in freehand form. Personally I think there are limitations to what one can draw using a computer at the moment so I will only list one such tool. Rather I will focus on those tools which have a wider application and that I feel can be put to more productive educational use. (Sorry all you art teachers) You may also want to look at the Thinking Tools link which includes Visual Thinking Diagrams.

1. Myfloorplanner - I'll begin with this particular tool as I think it is brilliant. Once logged in students can produce a plan for a building and insert different furnishings. I have used this as an RE teacher to make plans for a Mosque or a Church and have been very pleased with the end results. They have a new gallery feature which looks very cool but I am not convinced adds to your ability to find something in the gallery. What is more impressive is a button that allows you to convert your 2D plan into a 3D building for walkthrough. This will require a bit more effort in the planning stage but can produce excellent results. I have included an example of a Floorplan for a Church produced by a 13 year old student. Very Impressive.

2. Best 4C - This tool allows you to create a wide variety of maps from scratch which can be published privately or publicly for collaboration. You can make flow diagrams, maps, plans or any sort of diagram you want. It is very easy to use and text and colour can be included. Students could make a diagram to explain a concept or a decision making process. Alternatively you could create a map for them to complete. I did have some difficulty saving my diagrams so make sure the save function is working when you begin your map so you don't loose it.

3. Draw Anywhere - Similar to Best 4C. Although the editor is a bit basic in appearance it is easy to use and you can do everything you would need to do to make your diagram. One additional feature here is the ability to input your own graphics but only two images are allowed on the free version. Collaborators can be invited through e-mail and the resulting diagram can be published on the web or downloaded as an image file. Click here for an example diagram.

4.Interactive Diagram Generator - This is not a free tool but will only cost £30 for an unlimited licence so you may be interested. In essence it allows you to create an interactive diagram where pupils can input information and print it out. It is perfect for scaffolding thinking or for guided model answers. Visit their website where you will see several examples of the tool at work. Below is a screen shot.

5. Gliffy - Probably one of the best looking diagram makers with a 30 day free account. The paid account for schools depends on the number of students but would cost around per student per month. This would seem a bit steep considering other tools do the same for free.

6. Flowchart - This is a great looking tool which is currently in an invitation only Beta trial. It was a little slow but given the quality of the tool I'm sure this will be sorted out by the time it goes public.

7. Lovely Charts - This tool is in an invitation only Beta at the moment. It has all the functions of the other tools but in my view looks better and is easier to use. Keep an eye on this one when it goes pubic. This is a simple example of a diagram I created.

8. Imagination Cubed - This is basically a tool for drawing on a whiteboard. As well as pens you have access to shapes and colour. The finished version can be saved and e-mailed. While drawing could be a bit fiddly it may work well with an interactive whiteboard. One possible way to use this tool would be to write a mathematical problem, part solve it and then get a student to record their solving of the equation. For literacy based subjects perhaps they could draw a diagram to explain a concept. Basically the tool is allowing you to record a thinking process.

9. Logoease - This is a simple tool for designing your own logo. Below is a quick design I created in under 2 minutes.

10. PlanningWiz - This is a pared down version of MyFloorplanner which is restricted to designing a single room. Any budding interior designers will love this. The tool can be used without registering but a username needs to be created for saving. You can print or save the final plan and it is so simple to use a primary school child would have no difficulty. Very Impressed.

11. Iplotz - This is a very specific tool to allow programmers to design a prototype/wireframe of a webpage or software with some functionality. This can then be shared with others and feedback obtained. I don't teach programming so I can't comment on how useful the tool is but it certainly looks like it may be worth a look.

12. Sketchcast - I really liked the idea behind this tool and it could be used for many different tasks. In essence you record yourself making a drawing and add a narration to make a short film. It could be used as a tutorial tool or simply as a bit of fun. I thought it might be a good way to explain what a word means, a sort of virtual charades. Obvious potential for abuse but at this stage seems to be quite well policed. Have a look at the tutorial below and let me know how you might use it. (I have had a recent report 'Aug09' that sketchcast can be a bit unreliable with recent downtime as well as saved docs being lost.)

Comics and Cartoons

dw10cw — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:39:25 CST

The tools in this category can be used in a variety of ways to fulfil a variety of functions. Some produce a 2D comic book, others help you to create your own 3d comic films.The one thing they have in common is a high quality graphical output. I will give suggestions as to how each tool may be used in each review.

1. Ipopetz.tv - I read somewhere that this tool could be used to give a book report from a different perspective or just a different voice. Perhaps in the future, but at the moment you are restricted to a 20 second video. You must also download a small programme (10 seconds) to allow the 3D characters to work which will cause problems if you don't have easy access to your network. Nevertheless, this is a good example of the power of Web 2.0. To create a short cartoon of this quality which lipsyncs to your voice would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Now, it's here albeit with some limitations. I have included a link here to view an example I created but I suspect it cannot be viewed without first downloading the browser add on.

2. Comeeko - This is one of my favourites and I have used it for a number of years to produce cartoons of Martin Luther King's life. You can choose the number of cells and adjust the layout fairly easily. Your own photos can be added and there are some tools to add to them. Occassionally students have found it a bit fiddly when adding text or speech balloons, but usually the issues can be overcome by changing font size etc. You must make sure you have saved the cartoon at the end of a lesson (even if not complete) as it will be lost if you don't. There is nothing more frustrating than coming in for a second day and having to start from scratch. Saved Comeekos can be re-edited if they can be found. This is simple if you know where to look and it is worth noting that you do not click on the Gallery Tab to find your saved Comeeko but rather on the 'My Gallery' link just above it. You should see a thumbnail of your comeeko and this can be edited by clicking on it. Note that sometimes when I have used it the thumbnail did not appear although when I ran my mouse over, it did register there was something here. This seemed to be a problem with not having the most up to date flash downloaded. Worth learning this tool as it does give an excellent end product that can be viewed online or printed.

3. Fix8 - This is a downloadable tool so I will not spend too much time reviewing it. However, it's groundbreaking technology means it is worth a mention. Using a simple webcam you can bring life to a variety of avatars who mimic your movements and lipsync with your voice. You can also take a photo of yourself to create a digital persona. The creative uses in the classroom are endless and while I found the software did not run perfectly on my computer it worked well enough to show its potential. ( I even gave myself some hair!) I would suggest a high end computer, camera and a well lit room for best results. Below is a screen shot and the You tube video will give you an idea of what you might be able to achieve with this free tool. While some of the humour is a bit adult, as a downloadable tool you will have complete control over acccess.

Mindmaps

dw10cw — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:30:22 CST

The Following Tools can be used for Mindmapping. I have included a brief description of some of the features of each tool and there are one or two examples included. Click on the name of each tool to visit its website. You can sign up for free by providing an e-mail and user name to all of the sites featured here. There are some good paid versions but I don't see the point in paying for something we can get for free!

Mindomo - The free basic account includes 7 Mindmaps which should be enough for most needs. There is a fairly comprehensive help section. I found the Menu a little tricky at first but very useful once I had spent a few minutes with it. Mindomo allows you to make a colourful map which can include pictures, text, video, audio and links to webpages. It has a small library of symbols so pupils will need to learn to upload own images. Students can publish in a private Folder and share maps by e-mail and control how much the recipient can edit. Alternatively they can publish in the Public Folder allowing anyone who finds the map or is given the web address to edit or view. An Example map can be viewed by clicking here. The finished map can also be printed or included in your own website.

2. 2. Mindmeister - The free basic account allows 6 mindmaps. You can export the mindmap as an image file or include it in a website or blog. I have included a live example posted in this blog below (something I couldn't do with Mindomo) There is a facility to move maps bettern Mindmeister and other mindmap software such as Freemind which may or may not appeal to you. You can't add files to the map in the free version although you can in the paid version which also allows for the maps to be created offline. You can add icons to the map, notes, and webslinks. However, the fact that you cannot add files/your own images or change the look of the mindmap are two limitations in my book. Collaborators can be invited by e-mail and quite cleverly they give a different colour for each collaborator so you can see who has done all the work. (Useful for teachers!!). The Map can be published online for viewing but doesn't allow for editing.

3. Wisemapping - This tool comes with a useful short video to explain how to use it. The maps can be easily made and are colourful although you are not able to alter the shape of the connecting lines. It is a much simpler tool than the first two which means you cannot attach files or pictures. However, you can add notes and links and you may decide that the simplicity of use outweighs the lack of features. The maps can be shared by inviting collaborators through e-mail. Alternatively it can be published online for simple viewing. The Map can also be exported as an image file or for inclusion in Freemind. It can also be printed fairly easily. Overall, I think this would be a good choice if you had a limited time and just wanted a quick map. This is an example of a map I produced. (not live)

4. Mind 42 - Free Mindmap maker with an emphasis on the collaborative. The first thing you will notice is that it has a built in Google instant messenger to aid collaboration. If you are a fan of Wikipedia there is also an option to attach an article which is quite useful. You cannot add pictures to a node but you can choose between having a text or image node. This means you can have a very graphical map but you can't have both images and text on the same node. I think this is a weakness in what is otherwise a good tool. You can add notes and hyperlinks as required. Collaborators are invited by e-mail. Alternatively the map can be published for viewing but cannot be edited by viewers. Below is an example of Mind 42 at work.

5. Text 2 Mind Map - A new tool still in development but worth a mention as slightly different from the others. This tool takes a list of words and automatically generates a map. At the minute it does not have a great deal of functionality and I was unable to save my map, however, may be worth watching to see how it develops.

6. BBC Mindmaps - These maps are part of the GCSE Bitesize revision site. They are basic but colourful and allow text and a simple icon to be added. The maps can be saved or printed. May be useful for very young children to give them the idea or a brainstorming session using an interactive whiteboard or data projector.

7. Bubble.us - This presents itself as a Brainstorming tool but as you can see from the example below it is presented in Mindmap form. Fairly easy to use although there are no images or graphics allowed. I would suggest this may be a good tool for an interactive whiteboard for an introduction or plenary session where you don't have the time to introduce graphics.

Electronic Books/Writing Tools

dw10cw — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:16:19 CST

The tools on this page make use of traditional book elements (text and photos) to create electronic books. In many cases the books can also be printed if desired but having them published online gives them an immediate audience.

1. Mixbooks - I reviewed this site under Photo Fun and it is primarily a tool for producing Photo Books. However, a small amount of text can be used and its professional look and ease of use may be of interest to some. Remember that as well as adding photos you can upload student drawings you have scanned in. Why not produce an illustrated book of student poems!

Visual Search Engines

dw10cw — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:18:20 CST

Google has become so much a part of the Internet that is easy to forget that there are different search engines available. The sites here tend to focus on making the search results more visual and in so doing make the Internet more attractive to students. Another benefit is that many of these search engines/bookmarking sites allow you to save your favourites and share with your students to create an instant set of resources for Project work.

1. Search Me - This is one of my favourite tools. Search me allows you to search the web for pages, video, sound etc. The results are presented very similar to album covers on Ipod. What makes this tool so special is that a teacher can gather their favourite sites together in a 'stack' which can then be shared with students. In a few minutes it is possible to create a set of resources for a project which are presented in a very visual manner. The example below is for the Amazon. Unfortunately it seems that Search Me is up for sale and no longer active...great shame as it had real potential for educators to create quick projects.

Thinking Tools

dw10cw — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:28:01 CST

The tools on this page are designed to help develop student thinking skills. It is quite an ecclectic mix so make sure you look at the potential of each tool.

1. Thinkature - It is difficult to categorize this tool as it includes several different elements. The basic idea is that students use an online whiteboard to show their thinking. You begin by posting cards onto the whiteboard. These cards can be text or image and can be colour coded. You can then draw connecting lines between the different cards. There is also a chat function on the page, either text or voice, which again will facilitate collaboration. Collaborators can be invited by e-mail. I have not tried to share the URL but this may possible be another way to share the whiteboard. I would be interested to hear how you think you could use this tool. Click Here to see an example workspace.

2. Bubble.us - This presents itself as a Brainstorming tool but as you can see from the example below it is presented in Mindmap form. Fairly easy to use although there are no images or graphics allowed. I would suggest this may be a good tool for an interactive whiteboard for an introduction or plenary session where you don't have the time to introduce graphics.

Assessment Tools

dw10cw — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:08:15 CDT

Much of what passes as assessment on the Internet is no more than a multiple choice quiz. While this has its place (see quizzes and games links) Web 2.0 clearly affords the potential of a more complex, formative style of assessment. Many of the tools have the potential for simple assessment built in with students able to rate work or perhaps leave comments but there are issues with security etc. The tools below are the most promising I have come across in the field of formative assessment, while not perhaps the finished article they illustrate some of the potential of Web 2.0 in this area.

1. Annotate - This simple tool allows you to collect feedback on a document you have posted. It is simple to use and worked really well when I tried it. Perhaps students could post a piece of work for peer assessment before submitting a final redrafted piece for teacher assessment. Teachers could perhaps post exemplar material for students to analyse for a marking exercise.

2. Backboard - This tool is one of my favourites. While products such as annotate allow you to gather feedback on website pages by converting them to PDF this tool allows the orignal page to stay live. This means you can see the site as it is intended and check any links etc. and collect comments in a box beneath the actual page. Backboard works with Files or webpages and is definitely worth a look.

3. RCampus - iRubric tool - This site will particularly appeal if you use rubrics or marking grids in your assessments. You can either browse through a selection of shared rubrics or make your own. What makes iRubric different than other such rubric makers is the rubric can be either printed or made interactive. Interactive rubrics can be used as stand alone tools or attached to a task that you have created. Irubric is a great idea but I did find it a little complicated to use. iRubric is part of a suite of tools known as RCampus and if you were looking for a free online learning environment and were willing to invest the time then these tools are well worth a look. Student gradebooks can be created and marks from the rubrics can automatically be added. iRubrics can also be used in a collaborative fashion. I have embedded one such rubric below to give you an idea of what the tool can do.

4, Yacapaca - This tool was recommended by one of our members and is another one stop solution to creating an online learing environment. You begin by creating class lists and then assigning tasks to students. You can either use existing tasks or create your own. Students can make and take surveys, quizzes, tests and create websites and documents which can then be kept in an e-portfolio. Marks can be simly analysed and feedback given. Personally, I prefer a tool that I can dip in and out of as ICT is only one element of my teaching. However, if the majority of your time is spent online this is another one of those tools that is worth considering.

5. Revizr - Similar concept to annotate. Students can post their docs and allow other users to comment upon them. There is a free version but limited to a 25 mb file size which doesn't seem too generous. This is a screen shot below.

6. Co-Ment - This is another tool which allows users to comment on a text. The text is highlighted and the comments are listed beside the text. You can view all the comments at once or filter them. You can filter comments by user which could be useful in a class situation where several pupils commment on the document. In the example below, go to the view, simple filter and type in the name of one of the contributors such as 'rita'. Seems to work well. Yiou can also improve the uploaded text online and print the final version which is an advantage over other such tools.

Learning Support Tools

dw10cw — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:44:05 CDT

While many of the tools on the other sections can be used to assist learners with specific needs, the collection of tools on this page are those that I believe may be particularly useful for those with learning dificulties

1. Wordahead - This tool gives a short animated film to explain each word. The dictionary they have created is excellent if a little limited (apprx 600 words so far). I did find the words to be quite difficult although you can upload your own videos and this in itself may make an interesting lesson. There is also a flashcard revision tool. The widget below gives you an idea of what the site can do.

Quizzes, Games & Revision Tools

dw10cw — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:35:48 CDT

There are an increasing number of educational games being created. One of the best lists I have ccome across is from Zaidlearn and if you click on the link you will find over 75 games across a range of subjects. The sites I have featured on this page are concerned primarily with creating games and quizzes. I find them particularly good for teaching key ideas and vocabulary and I have used them on my own website to encourage students to learn the keywords of the various topics they study. They can also be a useful plenary activity or an entertaining way to revise.

1. Quia - This is a paid site but the annual subscription is relatively smalI for what you get. I have been using it for years to create activities and quizzes but it can also be used as a classroom management system where resources can be uploaded and student performance monitored and for creating student surveys. You can create word games such as Hangman or battleships or use it to create an internet scavenger hunt. Visit the site and see the 16 different activities you can create. There is also a specialist maths section which I haven't used but if it is as good as the rest of the site it will well be worth a visit. Click Here to visit an activity I have created on the furniture in a synagogue.

2. MyStudiyo - This is a new site on me but has a very professional looking finish. The quizzes can be used on the website or hosted on your own site. There is a space for comments, a high score scoreboard and within the game you can add a text response to add to the learning. My only concern for educaitonal use is that the site does advertise other quizzes created by other users on each quiz you create when hosted on the Mystudiyo site. While I didn't come across anything too inappropriate it would be worth keeping an eye on how the site develops and the type of quizzes that are created. This is an example quiz on the environment.

3. ESL Video - This simple tool allows you to turn any piece of video into a quiz. You could create quizzes for students or get students to create a quiz to show their understanding of a topic. For example, use a video of environmental problems and ask questions around it. The questions appear in a list rather than as the video progresses which may work better. Most quizzes only seem to have 4 or 5 questions and I don't know how practical it would be to include more than this. There is also the potential to add notes for the viewer. Try the simple example below to get an idea of what it can do.

4. Classtools - This site allows you to create flashbased games but it also has templates for thinking diagrams such as Fishbone or Venn. The finished games can then be hosted on your own website. This is an editable history example below. Simple but quite effective.

5. Content Generator - Your pupils will like these games. There are one or two free games but most have to be bought as part of a package. Individual packages cost from £25-£65, school packages cost from £100-£300. Click Here to play a walk the plank game based on Martin Luther King.

6. Scratch - This is a downloadable tool rather than web based but worthy of inclusion. In essence it allows you to create games via a drag and drop menu. The games can then be hosted on the web.

7. Purpose Games - This site allows you to create Multiple choice and quiz games. A lot of geography games based around maps but can be used for a variety of games.

8. Exam Professor - I really like the look of this site. It creates a good looking quiz that also has a review function after it has been scored. The free version only allows for one quiz to be created but it does look like the sort of tool that may be worth investing in. With a monthly charge you could simply purchase the licence for the time that you would be using it. Alternatively, individual students could perhaps create their own quizzes. Exams can be embedded in other sites. Click here for a simple example based on animals.

9. Cramberry - This tool allows you to create a simple set of revision cards. The cards are text based and at present no option for colour or graphics to be added

10. Flashcards - As the name suggests this is another Flashcard site. The difference here is that once you have your data on the site you can use it in a a variety of games in addition to the Flashcards. There are better looking sites but this one gives a bit more variety than many sites.

11. Quizlet - This is a good looking Flashcard tool with a number of interesting additional features. Initially you have the option to familiarise, learn or test the Keywords, you then have a number of games that can be played which insist on the correct answer being given before proceeding. They are curently testing a new feature using voice recogintion which could be useful for language teachers especially. You can also include images on the cards.

12. Knowtes - This is an excellent tool which could be used in many different ways. In essence you create revision cards for topics you have studied. These cards can then be viewed, commented upon and used to test you. You can rate how well you know a particular card to control how often it appears in the test. You can create a double sided card with a question and answer which flips over. Completed 'Decks' can then be shared with others or copyrighted. Click Here to visit a quick example.

13. Brainflips - Good looking Flashcard maker including a testing function.

14. Arcademic Skill Builders - This is a suite of free games which mostly feature maths and languages. Students can play alone or against other students in an online environment. For example, in a racing game the speed of your car is controlled by correct answers to addition and subtraction questions.

Video Tools/Screencasting

dw10cw — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:27:43 CDT

In my view the online video editing tools that are available at the moment have not yet reached the stage where they can compete with desktop software such as PowerProducer/Director. That said, as bandwith increases it will only be a matter of time before we are editing videos online. The tools that are listed below therefore tend to focus on how you might use existing videos in your teaching. You should also look at Whiteboards and Collaborative Tools for further screencasting software and Presentation tools where you will find tools such as Vimeo.

1. Jing - This is a free download which could be very useful for teachers. After installing a yellow circle will appear on your desktop which enables you to make a screencast of anything that is on your screen. This tool is very easy to use and works really well. The finished video can be saved on your own computer or uploaded to the Internet for others to use. There are many uses for this tool from recording a demonstration for students to recording feedback for computer based work. You can use the tool to grab flash videos from the net but the sound is not quite right. There are better tools to use such as those below

2. Replay Music/Media recorder - This tool is designed to record streaming media from the Internet. You can record audio or video from anysite just like using a video recorder or tape recorder to tape from the radio. The tool can be used for free to download 25 songs and then must be purchased for approximately £10-£20. I have used it to create audio files of streaming files such as lectures, I haven't tried for video as there are other free tools which work very well.

3. Screencast - Having obtained your media or created audio or video files you will probably want to share them with your students. Screencast is a free service for hosting your own videos...your own personal Youtube. This may be useful if your school website blocks youtube as you have total control over what is posted. You can also embed the video from Screencast into your own webpage as I have done below.

Multimedia Scrapbooks

dw10cw — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:21:00 CDT

A Multimedia Scrapbook is a website that allows you to gather together text, media, video and audio in one place. You could use Website Makers, Blogs and Wikis, some Timeline tools or even some Presentation tools such as Voicethread to make multimedia scrapbooks. However, on this page I have focused on tools that are designed specifcally for the purpose of making such books.

1. Glogster - The strength of Glogster lies in the appearance of the pages that can be created. Media is added to the page very easily and you can then apply a wide range of themes and other objects such as picture frames to your inserted media. Glogs can be inserted into other pages such as the one I inserted into the homepage of this site. The style of Glogster will appeal to teenagers but you will need to take care with the public posting of Glogs as some may be inappropriate. Even in the few months that I have been using this tool the tone seems to have taken a downward turn with more and more bad language and inappropriate material getting posted. Perhaps because of such concerns they have launched an educational version which is much more secure. Student Glogs can be made private and only accessible to invited members. There is also a comment and rating function for the Glog. You could do a group project by giving the same user name and password to several students. The tool is used for a variety of purposes and quite a few people use it to post poems or thoughts in a more graphical form. Glogs can be printed by following the instructions in the FAQ section but ultimately this defeats the purpose of having a multimedia scrapbook which is best appreciated when viewed live. While the student site is an improvement, It should be noted that the address is simply glogster.com/edu and it would therefore be very easy for your students to end up on the wrong site if they forget the 'edu' part of the address.

Web 2.0 in Education (UK) Home

dw10cw — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:30:49 CDT

Hello and Welcome to the Web 2 in Education Wiki. This site is designed to provide teachers with a directory of free webtools along with some suggestions as to how they may be used in the classroom. I have searched over 2000 websites and listed over 295 tools, that's almost 300 opportunities for you to use ICT in your classroom and all for free! Where possible I have included a brief review and a screenshot or working example of the tool. If you come across any other tools that are not on my list please let me know. Alternatively, if you use one of these tools in the classroom why not let me know how you got on by becoming a member and joining the discussion forum. In the meantime check out the list of tools on the Site pages to the left or have a look at the Prezi presentation below which showcases a variety of resources created by my students and myself using Free Web 2.0 tools. (May 2009 -If you are a frequent visitor check the What's New page to see which sections I have added new tools to) CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO LAUNCH THE PRESENTATION.

Once you open the presentation, navigate using the arrows in the bottom right hand corner. If you wish to enlarge any of the pictures simply click on them then click the arrow to resume the presentation.

Presentations/Slideshows

dw10cw — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:38:29 CDT

Bored with Powerpoint? There are many slideshow makers available online which make Powerpoint seem so last century. Some will allow you to add music or a narration to the slideshow, some include video as well as pictures. As with most online tools you can collaborate with others or easily allow your peers to view and comment upon your presentation. The main problem with using online presentations is that it is not always possible to download the completed presentation to your hard drive which means some cannot be viewed without a live connection. One possible solution is to use a Flash grabbing website such as Vixy. A further problem is that these tools tend to be quite popular with young people and unfortunately they do not always use them to post material which would be suitable for students to view in the classroom. It is worth having a look to see how suitable the general tone of the presentations on a siste are before you use them. Some websites will remove unsuitable material if you inform them. If you are looking for something different why not try using a Timeline Tool or Multimedia Scrapbook to host your presentation.

1. Rock You - One of the best looking slideshows but some of the material does tend to be a bit risque. If you were comparing these sites to television channels this would be a Channel 4 compared to others which are more BBC. You can add short pieces of text. You cannot add your own music but there is a reasonable selection to chose from. There are no controls in the player to allow Pause etc. but you can silence the music by clicking on the speaker in the bottom left corner. (If all the presentations on this page are playing it is probably a bit noisy by now!)

Avatars

dw10cw — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:13:29 CDT

Security is a huge issue for students who wish to have an online presence. With the tools on this page students can create an avatar to express their identity but still retain a degree of anonymity. You could even build a lesson around Avatars by discussing why a student may wish to represent themselves in a particular way. I would also recommend you have a look at some of the tools in the Photofun link, especially the Be Funky cartooniser.

1. Osoq - A nice little tool to create an animated Avatar, plenty of options and works very well.

2. Simsonize Yourself - Have you ever wanted to be in the Simpsons? Now you can so long as you don't mind being sponsored by Burger King.

3. Doppel Me - Creates a very life-like Avatar in no time at all...don't you think?

4. Build Your Wild Self - Something a little different. This allows you to build an avatar which is half human half animal. This is a quick exmaple I created

5. LegoMan - Create a lego version of yourself. Not as lifelike (honestly) and you need to do a screen print in order to copy the image as there is no way to export the image. Otherwise, fine.

6. Meez - The most sophisticated tool which creates an animated avatar to use as your identity. There are a range of download options, if it cannot be embedded directly to your website you can download the file as an animated gif which can then be inserted as an image file.

5. Mikons - This site doesn't allow you to create a personal avatar but rather a personalised icon (Mikon) which could be used to represent your students. This is a screen shot and well worth a look if you are looking to create an online presence/logo etc.

Word Processor/Note Taking Tools

dw10cw — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:48:33 CDT

There are various ways to make notes or write documents using Web 2.0 tools. You can use Blog and Wiki tools individually or in groups to make notes or write stories and you may wish to look at this section to see what is available. The tools listed on this page, however, are designed specifically for the purpose of making notes and word processing. Generally speaking you can create a new document or upload an existing document in a range of different formats.

1. Buzzword - This is the adobe version and you would expect it to be a market leader. That said, I tried on several occasions to create an account and was unable to do so. A pity.

2. Zoho Writer - This is another tool from the Zoho family. It looks and works in a similar fashion to Microsft word but is free and also gives you the option to collaborate with others. You can share through e-mail or by sharing a username and password. Once published others can leave comments on the document but cannot edit the published doc.

3. Zoho Notebook - I reviewed Zoho Notebook earlier as a Multimedia scrapbook. It allows for text, images, video and links to be gathered onto the page. There is no print function although you can export the document onto your hard drive and print from there. Collaboration is achieved through e-mail.

4. Google Docs - One of the first ever tools I used was an online word processor known as Writely. This product was eventually bought by Google and became known as Google Docs. You need to have a Google account to use this tool and collaboration is achieved trough e-mail or a shared user name and password. You can publish the documents for others to view. I use tools like this for a number of purposes. Students have created shared notes on a topic, they have used the space to prepare for a debate with another school and finally I have also posted questions for the group to answer as a summary of a topic. The big advantage of an online word processor is that students can collaborate on the same document even from home. I sometimes get different students to use different colours as in the example below. In my view this is still one of the best word processors available.

5. Writewith - Your e-mail does not need to be validated before use. As with most word processors you can begin from scratch or upload an existing document. This is not the best looking word processor in the world but it does have two important features that make it worth trying. First collaboration is available either through e-mail or sharing the URL of the document. Where others only allow viewing at the URL, this tool allows editing. In my experience it is quicker and easier to share a URL with other students than to e-mail invitations. The second feature is a chat box to the side of the main doucment. This means students can chat about the doc as well as make changes to it. Click Here to view an example and feel free to edit the document.

6. Your draft - If sharing and speed are the most important factors then this tool is worth a look. No log in is required, just give your document a name and you are away. Sharing is through a URL and you are given two, a read only and a read/write version. This gives you some control over other contributors. Simple and effective layout similar to Microsoft word and the finished document can be shared. Click Here to view an example.

7. Evernote - There is a free and paid version although I think the free version should have enough feaures for the majority of classroom uses. You must validate your e-mail before you begin. This is a much more sophisticated tool and you can also download it to your desktop or mobile phone to sync your information. You can save information by typing notes, clipping web pages, snapping photos of anything you see, recording audio clips. That said the web version does not seem to support the clipping options so unless you install the download it will remain a basic word processor.

8. Reqall - You need to validate your e-mail before beginning. This site enables you to collect notes and photos. There is also a to do list which may be useful for group work. Rather than being designed as a note taker, this site is intended to collect together reminders. In this respect it may not suit everyone's taste. Perhaps may be of most use as a tool to organise group work.

9. Versionate - This site compares itself to wiki sites such as PBwiki. However, I have included it here as it has the look of a word processor rather than wiki. Collaborators are invited by e-mail although if you make the file public it can be edited by sharing the URL. As well as creating hyperlinks as in any normal document, you can attach a file to be viewed by anyone reading the page. Viewers can also leave comments about any page. I think it would work particularly well as a place for a group to gather together their research in one place. You can upload a wide range of documents including PDF.

10. Writeboard - This tool does not require a validated e-mail to begin. Its great strength is its simplicity, you can launch a writeboard in 20 seconds. The downside is that you have very basic editing functions to change the appearance of your text. However, if the task is to create a collaborative document rather than a good looking one then this is definately worth a look. Collaboration is through e-mail invite or alternatively through sharing the URL and password for the document. Click Here for an example. (Password: darren) Click Here to see a second example which is a group script writing exercise with a Yr 8 class. Note especially the ability to leave comments and discuss.

11. Wordle - Technically not either a word processor or note taker but an interesting tool for anyone working with words. This tool creates a word cloud from a list of terms you insert. I would advise creating the list in word and copying and pasting into wordle as it doesn't save the original word list if you wish to change it later. If you have a two word phrase use"~" to create the space between the words. You can control the colour and layout of your wordle and it is saved online. If you wish to use it elsewhere you will need to take a screen capture of the image.

12. Luminotes - A wiki notebook - The notes are collected on the same page like separate paragraphs and can be scrolled through. This may become a bit tiresome if there is a lot of information although the title of each new note is collected in an index on the left. (Most wiki tools give each page a title or a tab and only display one at a time) I found no button to add images diretly although you can attach files which would fulfill the same function. That said, the exampple on the homepage shows text and image together on the same page. There is the ability to link pages together although I didn't quite see the point. Finally your page can be shared through e-mail for collaboration.

13. Helipad - You can begin the tool without validating your password. You create notes in a simple text format with a heading. These are then displayed on your home page where they can be sorted and searched. You can apply some simple themes to the notes which may help to colourcode them. Sharing is simply by giving someone the URL to your note. Anyone with access to the URL can edit a shared document. This is quite a basic but functional note taker for text only notes. The one flaw is that you cannot have a group note taking area. However, if the group shares the same password and email address then it will act as a group note taking tool.

14. Just2Easy - You can begin without validating your e-mail. An interesting tool this is a word processor/simple web page maker. It is quite simple to use although looking at some of the examples produced it is difficult to get a very professional looking finish. However, it does allow you to create some interesting web pages using the forms tool such as jigsaws and text box inputs to scaffold a task. Click Here for an example about whether dogs make good pets.

15. Notecentric - This tool has been around for a while and is well worth a look. However, the log in was not working the day I tried it so I was unable to review.

16. Stikipad - In process of changin servers but worth a look.

17. Thinkfree and Openoffice - These two tools offer you a full free version of typical Microsoft office tools. They can be used online or downloaded to use on your desktop.

18. Etherpad - This site is currently in closed Beta but if it lives up to the hype it could be worth a look. Etherpad's main selling point is that it aims to allow several users to edit the same document with each keystroked almost instantly updated. Anyone who has ever tried synchronous editing of a document knows the difficulties that ensue so this could be a development worth watching.

19. Google Notebook - This tool runs as a stand alone programme or a browser extension. It allows you to copy and paste text and pictures from pages you are visiting and in this respect I think the browser extension is likely to be more useful as you will not need to be going backwards and forwards between the notebook and browsed pages. There is also a collaborative function to share your notebook with others. I didn't test the collaborative function and presume it works on an asynhcronous basis.

20. Springnote - This is a wiki-based note taking tool. Private or public notebooks can be created and there are templates available which help imprive the presentation. As such what you end up with is a wiki-type website which also enables you to add multimedia elements to each page. Why would you use this over a stnadard wiki? I think the usability is probably the key with a simple editor to allow you to add the different elements to each page.

Internet Research/Page Clipping tools

dw10cw — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:43:52 CDT

The tools on this page are suitable for students undertaking research on the web. Generally speaking they allow the user to take snapshots or clips from the page directly and occasionally add notes and comments for other users.

1. Web -Chops - This is a downloadbale tool which gives the user the option to keep the resulting research private or to share it with others. The reusltant page also appears to be editable bu other users.

2.

Music Tools

dw10cw — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:46:43 CDT

There are plenty of tools around for sharing and listening to music but music creation tools seem to be a bit thin on the ground.

1. Jam Studio - A drag and drop approach to making music. You have a wide selection of instruments and 8 tracks to mix your tune. The one limitation for me is the inability to add a voice. This leaves the online tool with some ground to make up on desktop rivals such as EJay DJ. The songs cannot be downloaded on the free version although a link can be created. Click Here for a quick example.

2.Jamglue - This is a remixing tool. You can upload music or record your own. There is a collection of tracks to add to your mix provided by other uses.

3.Bojam - This site hoped to do for music what wikipedia did for text.

4. Last FM - While not a music creation tool I like this one so much that I think it is worth sharing. It is basically an online radio. You can put in an artist or a track and listen to the song 3 times for free. After this you would have to pay for the song. You can choose to listen to similar artists and the radio will play for ever, a good way to be introduced to new music.

5. BBC Virtual Studio - An online tool to allow you to create your own mixes. There are over 1000 samples to play with on this 4 track mixer.

Photo Fun

dw10cw — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:49:06 CDT

The tools on this page are all designed to allow you to do something with your photographs. I will not list all the photo editors available but will rather be looking for tools that allow you to do something extra with your photos. You may also consider looking at the Presentation/Slideshow, Cartoon and Comics pages. While many of the tools listed below also support presentations the primary output for these tools will be printed.

1. Zoomr - This tool can be started without validating your e-mail. It has a simple photo uploader which worked quickly. I think the idea is that you can post your photos and then talk to others about them using a blog like tool called a zipline. Not overly impressed.

2. Flickr - One of the original photo sharing tools. You can upload and edit your photos and allow others to see and comment upon them. Photos can then be made into cards, photo cubes, calendars and photobooks. Increasingly other tools are allowing you to import photos from other accounts and because of Flickr's high profile you are almost certainly going to be able to import photos from Flickr to other tools. It may therefore well be worth students using a Flickr account as standard to host all of their images wihch can then be reused in several tools.

3. Photoflexer - Sometimes you want to edit a photo before putting it into another tool such as a website. If you don't have expensive software such as Photoshop then Web 2.0 may just be the solution you need. A number of free tools have started to appear which allow you to edit photos online much the way you used to have to do with a desktop app. You can import photos from your hard drive or from other sources such as Picassa or Flickr. The photo below was produced using the tool. While it worked well I was unable to save the file to my PC even though I should have been able to.

4. Mixbook - You can begin the tool without validating your e-mail. You can control who has access to the books you create and who has the right to edit. Pictures can be uploaded from your hard drive or imported from other services such as Picasa. The finished product is an online book which can also be printed. If you were doing several books as a class project you could perhaps purchase the best one.