Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Useful Web 2.0 Tools

AmCharts
AmCharts has a large selection of different graphs, charts, and study tools that can be posted on web pages. The charts are very easy to customize into exactly what you need. They make pages look more professional.
I would use the charts on my class web site.  The call could use this tool to track weather patterns or I could post study cards for the next test.
DOGO News
Dogo News is a kid friendly news site that informs about discoveries, funny videos, and good books. The articles are colorful were interesting enough to distract me for a couple hours.
I would definitely use this site in my class as a starter. I would give them one of the articles and have them answer questions about it or create a journal recording their thoughts over the year.
Teachers.TV
This is a video sharing site that contains education content collected by the Department for Education. The videos are easily found and I played one to see how it ran and it was very smooth and did not need to buffer.
I would use one of the video to show an example of an experiment. If I was talking about iron turning to rust, I could find a video of it and show the kids.
Speachable
This site allows you to take photos and add text and speech bubbles. It also helps you share your new comic with friends through email or social media sites.
I love comic projects and this one does not require drawing skills! I would let the kids use the class iPads / camera/ whatever we have to take pictures then they could use this site to create a cartoon about the lesson.
Grammar Girl
Grammar Girl is a site of articles and pod casts that teach about grammar and different styles of writing. It is a resource on could use to check themselves.
I would use these videos for examples of good essays. This site has an excellent podcast about writing a developing a theory that can be used as an example.
Confusing Words
Confusing Words is a collection of often misspelled or misused words. The site also has a translator.
I would print of some of the posters for my classroom.  I could also use the site to look up tricks for learning complicated words.

Big Huge Thesaurus
Big Huge Thesaurus is, well, a thesaurus, but it is also a story plot generator.  It is a tool to help writer’s block.
I would use it to help my kids with essays. I might even assign them to write a historical fiction about one of the fathers of science.
Classic Cat
Classic Cat is site dedicated to sharing classical music. You can download over 6000 different songs to your iPod of mp3.
Classical music helps me focus, so I could play it while students are working on projects. I could also play it while I’m grading papers.
Quizlet
Quizlet is a site made to be used as the ultimate study tool. It has notes on thousands of subjects and you can add your own to make flashcards or play study games.
I would let kids who are finished early in class use the computer to play study games for the next test. I would also use it to print out large flash cards of the skeletal system for study in class.
The Lure of the Labyrinth
This helps students learn pre-algebra with a narrative game that contains puzzles and math obstacles to overcome. The site also has lesson plans to be paired with the game.

 I could assign the game as homework once a week. I like the idea of giving bonus point to those who finish the game. 

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