The Web 2.

0 Lifestyle
presentation given by Nelba Quintana and
Jennifer Verschoor
at APIBA June 14, 2008

What is Web 2.0?

Recently the World Wide Web has been seen pretty much as a
publishing medium, and therefore a fairly one-sided affair in many
respects, it is now regarded more as a participatory platform.

That is what blogs are really all about: not merely another way in
which “ordinary” people can publish their views, but a means
whereby just about anyone can contribute to an ongoing
“conversation” in which knowledge is both discovered and constructed
as it goes on. Blogs improve communication with students, parents,
and colleagues.

The power of blogging

Perhaps the most powerful Internet tool is the Weblog, or blog, an
on line journal that is continuously updated by its author or authors.
Blogs are Web sites that facilitate instantaneous publication and allow
for feedback from readers. They’ve been used to form professional
development communities, both within one school and across
continents.
Blogging represents one of many tools that pioneering teachers are
using to empower students to take more responsibility of managing
their own work and adding value to the world.

Types of blogs used in language teaching

Aaron Campbell (2003) has outlined three types of blogs for use with
language classes:

• The Tutor Blog is run by the teacher of a class. The content of

this type of blog can be limited to syllabus, course information,
homework, assignments, etc. Or the teacher may choose to
write about his or her life, sharing reflections about the local
culture, target culture and language to stimulate online and in-
class discussion. In this type of blog, students are normally
restricted to being able to write comments to the teacher's
posts. A great example of this is Aaron Campbell's own 'The
New Tanuki' http://thenewtanuki.blogspot.com/
 • The Class Blog is a shared space, with teacher and students
being able to write to the main area. It is best used as a
collaborative discussion space, an extra-curricular extension of
the classroom. Students can be encouraged to reflect in more
depth, in writing, on themes touched upon in class. Students
are given a greater sense of freedom and involvement than
with the tutor blog. E.g: http://adults5.motime.com
http://jovenes4ma.motime.com

• The Learner Blog is the third type of blog and it requires more
time and effort from the teacher to both set up and moderate,
but is probably the most rewarding. It involves giving each
student an individual blog. The benefit of this is that this
becomes the student's own personal online space. Students can
be encouraged to write frequently about what interests them,
and can post comments on other students' blogs. For examples,
see the links to learner blogs from the class blog and tutor blog
examples above. www.vickylearningenglish.blogspot.com an
example of a 4 year old English language learner.

Slide presentation:

http://www.slideshare.net/jenverschoor/the-web-20-
lifestyle/
With this tool you can take a look once again at our presentation and
feel free to add any comments.

Websites we named during our

presentation:
Webquests: http://beewebhead.net/foodquest/index.html

Voicethread: http://voicethread.com/sitemap/view/108641/

http://dvmunca.blogspot.com/2008/04/check-on-our-
voicethreads.html
This is an ESL Class blog used for an American Culture Class in the
ESL Program at the University of Mississippi. All the postings, links
and PPP are related to what they have covered in class.
Wiki http://planeta.wikispaces.com/food

The Cartoon Slip Creator: http://www.toondoo.com/cartoon/259755

Mixbook: www.mixbook.com

Online Projects-IEARN: www.iearn.org

Rubistar-great tool to evaluate your students by creating rubrics:

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

Blogs: http://meetingpoint-gbrenan.blogspot.com/2008/02/ef-
podenglish-food.html
lessons for English learners created by EF & Englishtown.

How can you use some of

these tools in your
classroom?

How can I use a wiki

· Course Syllabus
· Graduation Exam and SAT objectives
· Pictures of your classroom - both with and without
students (let me show off their learning environment!)
· Handouts - especially for absent students or ones
students lose a lot
· Class Notes (use the class scribe system and have them
do this, not you!)
· Links and Resource page
· Calendar - classroom calendar, school calendar, etc.
· Parent's Page - notes, letters, pictures, announcements,
etc.
· Extended Lessons - webquests, further research
· Import a Blog (go to Help at top of page to learn how)
 · Real World ___ (name of your subject) - I'm starting this
on mine - have them answer how what they are learning can
be used in the real world
· Link to your blog
· A page about you - introduce yourself
· A page of your writing or your own work --pictures, short
story, drawing (scan it ), or something you've created

Source:
http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Classroom+uses+for+wiki
s

How can I use Voicethread

Take a look at the following wiki full of great idea on how teachers
are using Voicethread in their classrooms.

http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/

How can I use Web Quests

Below you will find a clear and simple articles explaining different
features of Web quests.
http://vsportal2007.googlepages.com/Perez_Torres_EuroCALL07.
pdf