BP15_2009113_Web2.0_Yacapaca

YacaPaca! seems like a cool Web 2.0 tool to use in my classroom. It lets teachers create quizzes, surveys, tests, and more. I can set up something for my whole class and get it marked automatically. It also lets me analyze the information that I get. Plus, it is free.

The resource section is divided by country, and the UK seems to be the most prolific. However, there are some assignments for the US. Even without creating an account, it lets you preview the assignments. I think they would be very helpful for my tutoring in third grade. I am not sure how helpful they would be in Kindergarten because for the most part, they do not read yet. I can also see how the vocabulary section could be very helpful for not only the SAT, but also for the vocabulary sections of other standardized tests.

According to the FAQ, the authors intend to keep it free. They make their money by selling training and support. Any educator can sign up for a free account, but students have to be set up by a teacher. The teacher will give the students a code to set up their own account. The FAQ also includes several 5 minute screencasts to guide you through several different processes, including the question creatr and the whiteboard. It also lets you see how to set up your own quizzes for your students and how to use the quiz statistics page. Students can choose their own avatar to represent their account as well as see a list of their teachers.

(2009). Yacapaca wiki. Accessed November 15, 2009 from http://wiki.yacapaca.com/index.php/Main_Page

BP14_2009113_PeerReview_Babble

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2009

BP13_2009113_Web 2.0 Tool_Babbel

I, like most of you, have been in a situation where a little more knowledge of a foreign language would come in handy. Babbel is an online language-learning system that teaches conversation skills for different languages. The languages that users can gain knowledge of are Spanish, French, Italian, German and English. With Babbel, users can learn words and phrases in foreign languages and connect with people from all over the world. Students and teachers can practice on their own with the intuitive online lessons or find a study partner in the international Babbel community.

Babbel contains a bunch of vocabulary (around 150 Vocabulary Packages, 3000 words), grammar exercises and explains how to put it all into practice. Whether the user wants to learn the basics or they are looking for special exercises for travel or for work, Babbel’s extensive collection of learning material offers lots of interesting and high quality content.

I am actually going to be using this site to see if I can learn a little Spanish seeing as how that is the popular language down here in Florida.

Video was taken from Babbel home website: http://www.babbel.com

BP13_2009113_PeerReviewEduslide

Monday, November 2, 2009

BP4_2009111_web_2.0_tool

The Web 2.0 tool that interested me is Eduslide. With Eduslide I can create my own e-learning modules, tutorials, videos, etc. These multimedia assets can also be password protected allowing me to invite whoever I like. It allows anyone to create educational content and deliver it online for free. The content can be testing modules, wikis, chat, blogs, slideshows and more.

After completing some of the tutorials, I began to work on developing material on Digital Storytelling, which is part of ARP. I have developed a simple slide show for teachers to share with their students explaining Digital Storytelling and how they can use it to share and learn from other students across the globe.

If I want to share Digital Storytelling, or other media asset ideas with teachers, Eduslide will allow me to keep all of my material in one space, accessible to teachers, etc., without them having to store it on their computers or servers. I would not have to keep all my material on my laptop to take from school to school. All I have to do is log in to Eduslide.

Another great feature of Eduslide is that it is available in English, German, Spanish and French. This would allow for cross-cultural collaboration between students that might speak a different language.

In reviewing the courses that I could access on Eduslide, I was surprised to see that there were not only courses for adult learners but also that there were also some classes I could access for younger students, as well.

Another possible use for Eduslide would be to use it to make some of my onground classes more hybrid in nature. With ease I could create accompanying materials on my own without having to bother my institution for the storing of the information.

All in all, I am excited to use this tool in my existing courses as well as using it in my ARP.

For more information on Eduslide

http://www.eduslide.com

BP9_2009112_busuu

I enjoy learning languages, but I can never seem to find the time to enroll in an actual class. Before I taught in Memphis, I had students who spoke languages other than English. Now, though all I have is native English speakers. As of this year, my class has been the inclusion classroom for the multi-handicapped class next door. One of the students is a native Spanish speaker. The other teacher and I have been working on ways for the students to communicate, including teaching my class Spanish. I haven't had a formal Spanish class since college, and I am very rusty so I was excited to see this Web 2.0 tool that teaches different languages, Busuu.com.

You learn directly from native speakers around the world. The site also has free interactive learning materials, which are currently available in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. You have two options for your account: 1)Free or 2)Premium. The free account includes a picture based vocabulary, writing exercises, reading comprehension exercises, video chats, and interactive exams. The Premium account right now costs about $45 for a 3 month membership. The prices are given in Euros, but luckily, there is a personal currency assistant for you to use to change it into dollars. The premium account also lets you hear audio for more than 3,000 key phrases, listening comprehension exercises, printable pdf's for more than 150 units, access to more than 35 grammar units, audio podcasts for more than 150 units, video units, and no advertisement is shown.

Since I never know how much free time I will have, I am going to begin with a free account, but the pricing seems to be less than a continuing education classes that last about 3 months. The format seems pleasing and easily usable. I think that I can use this website to improve my Spanish. It seems like it would be a viable option for anyone wishing to improve their knowledge of a language.

BP8_2009112_e-learning

I was very excited to find this Web 2.0 site. The internet has lots of educational games, but sometimes kids get bored playing the same ones over and over so I like to find different ones as much as possible.

The people at the e-Learning for Kids site have met two of my requirements. It is pleasing to look at and play, and it is free. Since my school budget never goes far enough, free is very important.

I also like how the games are separated by subject and age level. There are games for children ages 4-12 as well as information for parents and teachers. The subjects include science, language arts, English language, math, health & life skills, and computer skills. The topics are relevant to the things that students should be able to do at each age level. The games are clear and easy to play. They are not too simple nor too difficult. They are easy to navigate and check to make sure that you didn't accidentally choose to quit the game. Additionally, it is available in 5 languages if you have a need for a different one.

In my classroom, I would differentiate the activities based upon need. For example, in the language arts courses, I could place my Tier III children on Learning Letters because they need to work on recognizing the alphabet. My Tier II children could work with the Word Recognition game to practice short and long vowel sounds. My Tier I students are pretty advanced this year so I could let them go to Putting Words Together first. When they get proficient at that game, I could move them up to Pronouns or Similar & Opposite Words.

In math, we have the option of reviewing counting, sorting and classifying or money. I would probably introduce these games as a form of review after I knew the students were fairly proficient.