Web+2.0

Web 2.0

The Web 2.0 is an exciting and revolutionary device that allows communication in internet between the users and the sites. These sites are interactive and have an abundant allowance of meaningful resources. It can benefit not only the web provider, but now also the user. Web 2.0 allows interactive forums, discussions, chat room, the ability to create a blogs for communication, and other interactive settings for the users. In teaching there are many resources that are available to help not only the teachers but also the parents of the children, and the children themselves. There are five valuable resources I have found that will be beneficial to my teaching;

Engrade or Engrade.com is a Web 2.0 tool that is an interactive web site that allows the teacher to communicate with the parents and students. Engrade has the capability to have an online gradebook; with the Web 2.0 capability this gradebook is accessible by the teacher, the parents and the students. It allows the parents and students to maintain a line of communication with how the student is doing on all assignments. Another function that Engrade has is an online calendar. With this calendar a student or their parent is able to see what assignments are due, what is coming in the future and the ability to see if they have missed something. Along with the gradebook, Engrade has a progress report section; this section gives the students, parents and teachers the access to the student’s performance at any time, not just during report card time or conference times. Another capability this Web 2.0 tool has is the ability to maintain a class wiki; allowing the class to communicate with each other even during times when school is not in session. They may communicate about class assignments or other course materials.

Backpackit or Backpackit.com is a great organizer for any student, teacher or professional. All students and teachers who want to succeed need to be organized, this Web 2.0 tool/ resource helps students and teachers organized notes, class discussions and any curriculum necessary. Along with the ability to take notes, Backpackit can help organize to do list and coordinate them with a calendar on upcoming events.

Mathematics is a hands on learning subject; therefore I have selected three other resources from the Web 2.0 tools that will benefit my students as well as myself in my teaching. The First is “Create a Graph” orhttp://nces.ed.gov/createagraph.com. This Web 2.0 tool gives students help in seeing functions of mathematics and allows them to understand them by better using visual learning. It can help create charts, pies, and other visual devices that may help students further their understanding by visual acceptance. This Web 2.0 is a vital resource especially when the teacher is not available and it is also a great resource for a teacher when trying to explain a function. These graphs and charts can be colored, sizes may be adjusted, and overall effects may be altered to reach the needs of all students and teachers.

Edublogs or Edublogs.com is a Web 2.0 tool that incorporates blogs into learning. These blogs may contain pertinent information about course material, upcoming assignments, or even questions students or teachers may have for one another. Edublogs may help students and teachers build forums that require post and responses from students and teachers, this in turn creates a community learning environment and maintains student interactions. On these blogs students may post frequently asked questions in hope that another student may be able to help or even the teacher. Teachers may use these blogs to discuss course material, expand on a given reading assignment through interaction of student responses and also deliver a assignment with the expectation of students responses. These communication lines are a very good way to inhabit class interaction and group unity.

Scientific calculators are very expensive devices that not all students can afford. Even now in high school students are required to have a scientific calculator that has graphing capabilities. Web2.0calc.com is a tool that gives students the opportunity to use a scientific calculator at any time. It also explains how to use the calculator in layman terms when a student may not know how. The use of this Web 2.0 tool along with “create a graph” tool will definitely help students succeed in mathematics, especially in advanced math classes.

In researching the Web 2.0 tools, I have found that there are too many other resources to keep listing. It has become a great resource for anyone to use. The capabilities are endless and the learning that can be achieved from it will definitely benefit the users. Unlike the typical Web 1.0, were only information was given, the interaction abilities that the Web 2.0 has, along with the information, has given it the upper edge. I have enjoyed researching the tools that I will use in my teacher profession and look forward to putting them to use. It should make my job a lot easier and will also make learning for my students more enjoyable.