Web 2.0 That You Can Use!

Last week my principal had a genius idea!  His idea was to take a professional development day to give us "time".  What that meant was we had to learn about a Web 2.0 tool, create an activity that we could use in class and be prepared to share it in 2 days with our colleagues.  Talk about pressure.  What we have to generate a lesson and then have an authentic audience of our peers?"  Awesome! Awesome? What it created was a space where we could see a tool, NOT a list, a tool in action that teachers in our building plan to use in their classrooms.  What it showed us were tools that the kids might become familiar with if we used them in multiple classrooms.  What it showed me, as a tech teacher, is I can focus on teaching computer technology because my colleagues are doing a great job of incorporating the use of technology in their curriculum so my classes can focus on tech and not tools, if that makes sense to anyone else.

Now, below is a list of tools I saw in action last week.  I'm hoping my colleagues will post links to other tools that were showcased I did not get to see in our limited time.  Many of these tools have free versions or are FREE tools.

EDpuzzle
100% FREE for teachers
An interactive video site that allows you to use videos on the Internet and customize them into lessons or quizzes.

MobyMax
Common Core Curriculum that allows you to differentiate lessons to individual students.  There are free features and affordable district subscriptions for districts wanting to use more features.

QR code generator
100% FREE Create QR codes to direct students to websites, to attach to books to lead students to information about the author, to create a scavenger hunt or to make a fun way for students to share a review.  Students can create QR codes or scan QR codes with this site.

Geogebra

100% FREE Is a multi-platform mathematics software that gives everyone the chance to experience the extraordinary insights that math makes possible.

The Molecular Workbench (MW) software

100% FREE  

• Is a modeling tool for designing and conducting computational experiments across science.
• Provides an authoring system for instructional designers to create and publish model and simulation-based curriculum materials.
• Delivers an interactive learning environment that supports science inquiry.

BuiLD YouR WiLD SeLF

100% FREE 

This site allows students to create a creature and put that creature in an environment.  Then they can discuss adaptations.  What I liked about this tool is the teacher had students save their finished picture, upload it to a discussion in Schoology and then there was a discussion and opportunity to share their WiLD SeLF. Love incorporating the Web 2.0 tools back into the LMS!

Kahoot!

FREE

Create and play quizzes, discussions or even surveys using any device with a web browser… including a laptop, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Android, Chromebook, Windows Phone or PC and more. Through a simple 'drag & drop' creator tool (using any device), build quizzes with embedded imagery and video, based on educational content.

ThingLink

FREE basic account

ThingLink is an interactive media platform that empowers publishers, educators, brands, and bloggers to create more engaging content by adding rich media links to photos and videos.