Top 10 Tools on the Web for Young Learners

 

 

1. WIKIS   ~  hawaiian for "fast"  

www.pbwiki.com   www.wikispaces.com   www.wetpaint.com

 

What is a wiki?

 

Need an easy web page to setup for your class?  Create a wiki!  They can be used for classrooms, PTA, Reach, professional study groups, and other group projects.  Check out my frontpage to learn more.  This page you are reading took me minutes to setup with www.pbwiki.com  Just make sure you select educational or academic when you register to get a free account.  Pricing Options

More wiki info from FETC09

Examples of wikis with different uses:

–https://monsterproject.wikispaces.com/Mrs.+Valentine%27s+2nd

–http://responsibilities.wikispaces.com/

–http://terrythetennisball.wikispaces.com/

–http://room2-wiki6.wikispaces.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. CREATE A GRAPH   http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/default.aspx

 

This tool makes data and graphing easy to demostrate and easy to create....encourages polling, graphing, and numbers all in one and it is reliable.  Teachers should use this and kids can use it too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. VOKI        www.voki.com

 

Create an avatar like the one I've embedded below so you can keep things interesting for your students.  You can type or record whatever you want your avatar to say.  You can even call a toll free number to record audio.  Having trouble keeping your children's attention.  Let Obama or the Taco Bell Chihuahua give your next spelling test. 

     
Get a Voki now!

       
Get a Voki now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Kerpoof        www.kerpoof.com

 

An interactive, creative tool you can use to create simple movies, scenes, stories, and

much more.  Learn the concept of setting up a timeline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  YackPack!  www.yackpack.com   

A voice-driven communication device - can be private or public - on a website for all.  This allows multiple users in the same wiki to talk to each as if they are using walkie-talkies.  You can leave messages for people in your pack or press the live button if they are on to chat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  Animoto   www.animoto.com or for the education version education.animoto.com

Why? The ease of use and the focus on the images and the order of images rather than on editing and STILL an interesting and wondrous product!

 

 

examples: http://simplyteaching.blogspot.com/2008/10/more-animoto-video-poems-based-on-red.html

 

 

7.  Skype  www.skype.com  

Video conference with other skype users for free.  Interview an author, go on a virtual field trip. COMMUNICATE and Connect with the REAL world!

Video window:

 

8.  Glogster    www.glogster.com/edu

Why? Interactive "posters" in a private or public world... GREAT way to share information, ideas, and thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.  Gale KidsInfobits   

Encourage the use of this excellent and free resource.  Best place to access all of the Gale Resources is the county library site.   http://www.cclib.org/resources.html

 

 

 

• new text to speech tool with every article posted
• coded for easy reading levels

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.  Common Sense Media http://www.commonsensemedia.org 

 

From cyberbullying to cell phones, this FREE parent media education program gives schools everything necessary to help parents raise smart, responsible kids.

• We must teach children appropriate etiquette for all this online stuff just as we would for anything offline.
• Find out how to keep up with the latest online social sites
• See what kids are experiencing online
• Movie Reviews and other Parent Advice
• check their handouts and advicepage