Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools

There is a wealth of free resources available online which can be used in the classroom. Below is a selection of my favourites. 

1. Animoto

If you have never used Animoto in the classroom to create online slideshows, then now is the time to start. With just a few clicks you can quickly turn your photos and videos into an animated, show stopping, musical masterpiece for free!

There are numerous ways in which Animoto can be used in the classroom. Biographies, field trips, digital storytelling, science projects and more can all be captured with this quick and easy slideshow tool.

For examples of how Animoto can be used in the classroom visit: http://animoto.com/education/case_studies.

For more information or to sign up for a free education account visit: http://animoto.com/education

Above: Students create a video slideshow of American history using Animoto and images taken from the web

Below: Students use Animoto to create an anti-bullying video

An interactive presentation on Ancient Greece.

2. Prezi.com

Prezi - www.prezi.com - is a Flash-based online app that lets you break away from the slide-by-slide approach of most presentation software. Instead, it allows you to create non-linear presentations where you can zoom in and out of a visual map containing words, links, images, videos, and more.

To see the true power of Prezi, take a look at some online examples at:

http://prezi.com/explore

3. Xtranormal

Xtranormal - xtranormal.com - is a text-to-movie website which allows you and your students to create short films with your own scripts using very clever text-to- speech technology. This means your students write scripts and then feed them into Xtranormal to produce films with characters enacting them.
Embed your finished CrazyTalk or Xtranormal movie into your very own blog or wiki.

Using Text-to-speech in the classroom

As well as motivating students, text-to-speech software can be used to build communication skills. Students can create scripts for their movies and practice their writing, reading, and speaking skills.
Students brush up on their Spanish skills using Xtranormal.

4. Voki

A Voki is a free service that allows you to create personalised speaking avatars and use them on your blog, website, and in email messages.

To get started, visit: http://www.voki.com/create.php

5. Weebly

Websites and Blogs are increasingly being used in education by teachers and students. Having a classroom website or blog can benefit everyone involved including the students, the teacher, and the parents. 
 
Classroom websites are great places to post news, pictures, homework instructions and teaching resources. Blogs can provide a communication tool that teachers can use with students to develop writing, share ideas and reflect on work being undertaken in the classroom. Free online tools such as 'Weebly' (www.weebly.com) allow teachers to create secure student blogs, or classroom websites, with little or no prior technical knowledge! 

For instructions on how to create a website or blog using weebly, click on the links below:

how to create a blog
how to create a website

6. Glogster

Glogster EDU - edu.glogster.com - is a fantastic, free, education website for teachers to use with their students. It allows you to create interactive posters that include text, video, hyperlinks, and im-ages.

Glogster is a great technology tool to use in the classroom because it is so flexible. You can use it for biographies, time lines, math formulas, instructional writing and experiment results. You can also use Glogster to create resources to support your teaching e.g. Starter or plenary activities.

For examples of how Glogster can be used in the classroom visit: http://edu.glogster.com/categories/

7. Wikispaces Classroom

Wikis are a great places for students to collaborate on projects. Each student could have their own page on which they can be an 'expert' on a subject. You could have a page where students write book reviews, create a classroom newsletter, create an online dictionary of key words, list ingredients / apparatus for the next lesson or just create a place to collect links and resources for a particular topic or lesson. 

Wikispaces Classroom builds on the collaborative editing features of a wiki but includes some additional functionality to support classroom use, features such as social interaction and formative assessment.

How to get started

Wikis are really easy to setup however, you will first need to create a free account. Visit: http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers to get started.

For instructions on how to create a wiki using wikispaces, click on the link below:

how to create a wiki
Geography students work together to create a Wiki about India

8. Edmodo

Edmodo is a FREE 'Social Networking' environment for students, partents and teachers. It provides a safe and easy way for your class to connect and collaborate, share content, and access homework, grades and school notices. In fact, many schools are ditching their VLE's in preference to edmodo.

Teachers and students can post messages, discuss topics, assign and grade work. Edmodo also allows you to share digital content such as links, pictures, videos, documents etc.

Edmodo is very similar, in layout and functionality, to Facebook. This makes it immediately appealing to students. 

Edmodo is accessible online and from any mobile device via free smart phone applications.

To get started visit: http://www.edmodo.com/

9. Infogr.am

What are Infographics?

According to Wikipedia: “Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge.” Infographics are great for presenting data in captivating way!

What is Infogr.am?

Infogr.am is an online tool which enables you to easily create and share infographics. Infogr.am allows you to choose from a set of pre-defined templates which you are able to edit online. Once you have created your infographic, Infogr.am allows you to share it with others or embed it into your own website or VLE. Infogr.am also offer a PRO version which allows you to download your infographic as a high quality .PDF or .PNG file. Infogr.am also allows you to import your data directly from MS Excel or via .CSV file.

Click here for a guide to creating inforgraphics using Infogr.am.
Infographic showing the demographics of Twitter users.

10. Zondle

Zondle - zondle.com - enables teachers and students to create games to support their learning.

Teachers create and set topics on the zondle website for their students to play in games of their choosing.

Students can also use the zondle website to create their own topics to match exactly what they want to learn, or to view their personal progress.

Teachers can also use the zondle website to manage their zondle classes and view progress (with the zondle Gradebook).