BP10 Comment to Kevin

Follow the following LINK to see my comments to Kevin about the web 2.0 tool Soundation.

BP9 Comments to Elizabeth

Taking the opportunity to post some of my paintings!

Click on the LINK to see my discussion with Elizabeth about the web 2.0 tool Quizlet found at this LINK.  Great tool for any educator!

BP3 Web 2.0 Tool- GroupTable

Group Table

This is essentially a great place to have students work together on group assignments or study groups.  You can upload and share documents, collaborate, etc.  Group Table gives you a tab called Binder to organize this portion. As a teacher you can create several different classes and groups and then organize the students’ work all in one place.  This allows students to come together in one place to discuss and collaborate on a given topic or assignment.  The ‘classes’ portion of this tool refers to the school that you write in when you register, so if this is a tool you would be using for your school, you would probably want to register your school so that the students could easily access your classes and/or groups. As a teacher, you can create surveys or tests and quizzes, which you can post to the group.

As with most of these tools, you enter in your profile information, which is shared with your groups and classes.  You then have the ability to track and follow several groups, which you are a part of.  There is also an agenda feature, which allows you to plan together and create a working agenda so that each member can be responsible and accountable.

I can definitely see myself using this, as I will be putting more emphasis on group work and collaboration in the upcoming year and was concerned with how to organize and promote good team-work skills.  

BP_DiigoGroup

So, with all the tools out there, it takes me some time and some practice before I really get a hold of what some of these tools are used for.  Diigo is a good example of this.  I was asked to join Diigo, join a preexisting group within Diigo, and then create a group to help with my ARP.  Well, I did all this quick and painlessly like a band-aid, before I realized that I still had no idea what exactly Diigo was, and even after the reading on FSO I still did not truly understand what a “social bookmarking” site was. 

Well..., like entering a party where you don’t really know those that you are surrounded by, I had to stand around a bit, visit the hours devours table, and warm up and mingle a bit.  Finally, I got a sense of what and why a site like this is used.  Once again, it all comes down to organization, and organization equals productivity.  Since my ARP is based on that principal, it made me realize that I was going to have to plan for some “mingle time” when I introduce new tools to my students.

Needless to say, I had to go back and adjust a few things in my Diigo Group- Helping Students to Help Themselves.  When I first heard the term “group” I automatically assumed that the intent would be to “discuss” the topic of my ARP.  The idea was eye opening that the intent is to share tools and sites that would be helpful for my ARP.  So I am excited to share with those that join my group and to share with other groups that I have visited.  Most of us will depend on in part if not heavily, the web 2.0 tools and other tools out there to facilitate in their project.  So join me, help me, and lets share some of the time and energy consuming research we have done!