Web 2.0 Tools – a quick reference

So you’ve been instructed to “tech up” your assignments and you don’t know where to start? You say you have projects and lessons that you’ve perfected and don’t want to give them up? So what’s a teacher to do? Here are some Web 2.0 tools that can help you renovate your existing plans and update your lessons easily.

A poster project? Try Glogster EDU. Glogster allows you to create multimedia posters, quickly and easily. Glogster EDU is easy to use, fun and creative. It is also designed for use in schools – so no ads and student work is easy to monitor.

A slide show? Try Animoto.   Animoto turns your video and photos into a great video set to music. In their words: “Free, fast and shockingly easy.”

A time line? Try TimeToast or Dipity. Both of these timeline builders are easy to use and visually attractive.

A screen capture or demonstration? Try Jing.  I use Jing all the time to take quick screen captures of my work and of class notes. They are easy to save as different types of image files and easy to use. Jing also has a video capability that will allow you to narrate a tutorial of what you are doing on your desktop.

A presentation? Try VoiceThread. VoiceThread allows you to create your own multimedia presentation and record a narration.  Viewers can leave written, audio, and video comments in 5 different ways. VoiceThread is really easy to use, appropriate for all age levels, and adaptable to any sort of presentation or conversation around media.

Do students need to work together on a written project? presentation? Try GoogleDocs for collaborative documents, presentations (similar to PowerPoint), spreadsheets and forms.

Do you need to create a survey or questionnaire?Try SurveyMonkey for a free, easy form maker.

Are you looking for more sources and ideas? Several people have shared resources with me. From @Web20Classroom via Twitter, check out WebTools4U2Use .

From Richard Byrne of Free Technology for Teachers check out his Twelve Essentials for Technology Integration.

N.B. Each of the tools I’m recommending are tools that I’ve used and have a free component. Note that some of these sites may have increased features for a fee.