3) Wiki’s
A wiki is a software that allows web users to create a website together and edit each other’s pages. Check out wetpaint.com which allows (and gives great examples) of how you can use wiki’s for class topics and group presentations. You are doing your students a service by teaching them these softwares. This is the future of business and learning, so the more they can learn how to use it, the better.
One of my readers has an awesome blog called Reflection 2.0. Teachers online has been experimenting with wiki’s in the classroom. Teachers and parents MUST check this site out.
4) Video Sharing Sites
Even if you are the most interesting person in the world, people are going to start to tune you out if they see you 5 days a week 6 hours per day. Give yourself and your students a break and let them watch some funny videos teaching some of the concepts you are going over. When we were able to watch a video in-class, even if it was about herpes, there was sheer jubilation! Teachertube is a great resource for educational videos.
5) Social Networking
Of course use social networks to meet other teachers, but you can also develop your own social network for your students, have them create profiles that are all academic where they can list their favorite subject, favorite classroom activity and ideas for your next project. Check out Classroom 2.0, which has a plethora of resources for teachers on this topic. Make your own free social network. Check out: Ning.com and Crowdvine.com
6) Modern Day Pen Pals
I have mentioned the movie 2millionminutes before about how kids in India spend their time versus kids in the US. This generation of kids are so connected and virtual that they are used to being able to play Chess with a kid in Uzbekistan. I had a penpal in third grade in Mexico and took three weeks to get the letter to him, but I loved hearing what he was learning in school. Use the power of the Internet and start a virtual pen pal project. This will give your students new perspective on everything from what they are learning to the amazing opportunities they are given here.
Try World Pen Pals.com or ePals.com.
7) Cool Online Applications (Cool Sites for Teachers)
Lastly, there are just a bunch of cool sites online teachers can use in demonstrations, for projects or even in the background. I remember I thought it was so cool in science class when we had to do a timed lab, the teacher pulled up the coolest timer with people instead of just using the regular clock (I looked I cannot find it!). This seems small, but we thought our teacher was really cool and shook things up a bit.
Google Sites is a really cool online application and actually has a classroom as one of its examples. Have Morse Code translated onto your computer. Love HowStuffWorks.com, search anything you are teaching in class and it will have some cool explanation/funny video. Twitter is starting a new site for teachers. Twitter is VERY popular with teens right now it allows users to follow each other and post smal; 140 character snippets of what they are doing. You can follow me on twitter: vvanpetten.
I hope this article was helpful, next I am going to address the issue of technology encroaching upon class time, texting, online games and IMing during school, please add any and all suggestions.
Vanessa Van Petten www.OnTeensToday.com
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