WELSTech » Blog Archive » Episode 030

Our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz, is back with Martin and Sallie to continue the discussion of Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. This week we focus on wiki and blog tools for education enhancement.

Listen now or download Episode 030 (50:15)

The discussion:

Wikis and Blogs in the Classroom - Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator at Emanual in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to share her experience and ideas for bringing Web 2.0 tools into the classroom. As we continue our discussion of this topic with Gail (previous installments during Episode 021 and Episode 025), we zero in on uses for wiki and blog tools, both for teachers and for students.
- Wikis
  - Gail’s sample Wikispaces.com page
  - Sample 8th grade History wiki
  - Create your own wiki
    - Wikispaces.com
    - PBwiki.com
- Blogs
  - Video of a 1st grade teacher’s blog usage in the classroom
  - Video of a paperless high school classroom
  - Create your own blog
    - Edublog.org
    - WordPress.com

The tidbits:

Picks of the week (25:40)
- Create an avatar - www.voki.com
  - Sample Voki avatars used for a Spanish assignment - Link 1 | Link 2
- Wacky Wonderful Web sites (WWWs) - www.stjohnsse.com/wwws
- Manage multiple computers with one keyboard and mouse using Synergy
WELS.net feature (37:29)
- Monthly prayer calendar - www.wels.net/jump/prayer-calendar
  - August 2008 prayer calendar (PDF)
Of interest (39:30)
- Planning is under way for WELS International Youth Rally 2009
  - www.welsyouthrally.net
  - Iowa State University - Ames, IA - July 8-11, 2009
  - Rally Commercial Contest
  - WELS Got Talent Contest
  - Subscribe to rally updates
Community feedback (42:11)
- David Scharrer of Hemlock, MI shared an idea for involving youth in loading MP3 players for shuts-ins to listen to Streams devotional podcasts
- Cindy Krueger, member of Shepherd of the Hills in Lansing, MI, shared links to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) online training from EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) easi.cc and an ADA training listserve
- Julie Duran, WELS.net webmaster, shared a link to a Lynx browser add-on that will allow users to view text versions of their links and check for accessibility