Wikis, Podcasts and Blogs Integrating Social Software into the Classroom

Wikis, Podcasts and BlogsWikis, Podcasts and Blogs

Integrating Social Software Integrating Social Software into the Classroominto the Classroom

Wikis, Podcasts and BlogsWikis, Podcasts and Blogs

Diane Watkins ([email protected])Diane Watkins ([email protected])

Taylor Kendal ([email protected])Taylor Kendal ([email protected])

Librarian Days 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner

Session OverviewSession Overview

• Introduction to new “cool Web tools”Introduction to new “cool Web tools”– BlogsBlogs– WikisWikis– PodcastsPodcasts

• Examples of how educatorsExamples of how educatorsare using these tools inare using these tools intheir classroomstheir classrooms

• Hands-on exercisesHands-on exercises


Web 1.0Web 1.0

• Internet began as a text-based Internet began as a text-based research toolresearch tool

• Invention of the browser changed Invention of the browser changed it into a graphical source of it into a graphical source of information for many peopleinformation for many people

• World Wide “Web” of linked World Wide “Web” of linked information grew rapidlyinformation grew rapidly

• People would “surf” the Web for People would “surf” the Web for information and entertainmentinformation and entertainment

• One-way communicationOne-way communication• Writing Web pages requiredWriting Web pages required

knowledge of HTML and FTPknowledge of HTML and FTP


Web 2.0Web 2.0

• Read / Write WebRead / Write Web• Knowledge of HTML Knowledge of HTML

and FTP not required and FTP not required to create and put to create and put content on the Webcontent on the Web

• People contribute and People contribute and share informationshare information

• Multiple-way Multiple-way communicationcommunication


Social Networking ToolsSocial Networking Tools

The invention of “social networking tools” (such as The invention of “social networking tools” (such as wikis, blogs and podcasts) make it easy for anyone wikis, blogs and podcasts) make it easy for anyone

with a computer and an Internet connection to with a computer and an Internet connection to communicate and collaborate via the Web.communicate and collaborate via the Web.

http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu/LibDayPres/Intro.html


Social Networking ToolsSocial Networking Tools

• BlogsBlogs• WikisWikis• PodcastsPodcasts• Photo sharingPhoto sharing• Video sharingVideo sharing• Cell phonesCell phones• iPodsiPods• Social bookmarkingSocial bookmarking


What Does This Mean to K-12 What Does This Mean to K-12 Educators?Educators?


What Does This Mean to K-12 What Does This Mean to K-12 Educators?Educators?

Students will soon become part of the workforce Students will soon become part of the workforce and will need these skills to be successful:and will need these skills to be successful:

• Thinking criticallyThinking critically• Analyzing and synthesizingAnalyzing and synthesizing• Communicating meaningfully and ethicallyCommunicating meaningfully and ethically• Collaborating with people virtuallyCollaborating with people virtually• Writing for a global audienceWriting for a global audience


What is a Wiki?What is a Wiki?

• A software tool that allows visitors to A software tool that allows visitors to become participants in the collaborative become participants in the collaborative effort of creating and editing a website.effort of creating and editing a website.

• The website that is created is also called The website that is created is also called a wiki.a wiki.

• Participants can easily add, remove, edit Participants can easily add, remove, edit and change the content of the site.and change the content of the site.

• Participation requires no special technical Participation requires no special technical knowledge or tools apart from a computer knowledge or tools apart from a computer with an Internet connection. with an Internet connection.


What Can You Do With a Wiki?What Can You Do With a Wiki?

• Ideal tool for collaborative authoringIdeal tool for collaborative authoring• It’s easy to include:It’s easy to include:

– links to other pages within the wikilinks to other pages within the wiki– external links to sites on the Internetexternal links to sites on the Internet– images, animations, audio and videoimages, animations, audio and video

• Possible uses in the classroom:Possible uses in the classroom:– communicating with parentscommunicating with parents– professional development collaborationprofessional development collaboration– student communication and collaborationstudent communication and collaboration


Wikis in the ClassroomWikis in the Classroom

Victoria Davis, a Victoria Davis, a computer science computer science teacher at Westwood teacher at Westwood Schools in Camilla, Schools in Camilla, Georgia created an Georgia created an informative video informative video presentation about using presentation about using wikis in the classroom.wikis in the classroom.

http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu/LibDayPres/LibDayPres.html


What is a Blog?What is a Blog?

• Frequently updated web page of short journal Frequently updated web page of short journal entries (called posts) about the author’s:entries (called posts) about the author’s:– opinions and thoughtsopinions and thoughts– current newscurrent news– links to interesting web siteslinks to interesting web sites

• Written in a relaxed, conversational styleWritten in a relaxed, conversational style• Readers of the blog make comments to the posts Readers of the blog make comments to the posts

allowing them to contribute to the conversation.allowing them to contribute to the conversation.• Entries are listed in reverse chronological order – Entries are listed in reverse chronological order –

the most recent entries are on top.the most recent entries are on top.


What Can You Do With A Blog?What Can You Do With A Blog?

• Teachers can use blogs to:Teachers can use blogs to:– communicate with their peerscommunicate with their peers– studentsstudents– students’ parentsstudents’ parents

• Some schools also provide individual Some schools also provide individual blogs for their students.blogs for their students.– This provides a way for students to post their This provides a way for students to post their

journal entries and for the teachers to journal entries and for the teachers to respond back with their comments. respond back with their comments.


Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for ClassroomsWeb Tools for Classrooms

• Will Richardson shares Will Richardson shares many more suggestions many more suggestions for using blogs in the for using blogs in the classroom in his book.classroom in his book.

• He also created a short He also created a short video about blogs.video about blogs.

http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu/LibDayPres/LibDayPres.html


What is a Podcast?What is a Podcast?

• A digital audio file, like a song, MP3 A digital audio file, like a song, MP3 file, or radio show, which can be file, or radio show, which can be downloaded to your computer and downloaded to your computer and played on a portable audio device.played on a portable audio device.

• Podcasts offer the ability to Podcasts offer the ability to subscribe to a feed and have audio subscribe to a feed and have audio automatically downloaded.automatically downloaded.

• Anyone can create, anyone can Anyone can create, anyone can listen, and topics are limitless…listen, and topics are limitless…


Podcasts in the ClassroomPodcasts in the Classroom

• Offers exciting new Offers exciting new opportunities for teachers opportunities for teachers to engage studentsto engage students

• Provides students with Provides students with new ways to access new ways to access contentcontent


Documents

Wikis, Podcasts and Blogs Integrating Social Software into the Classroom