Web 2.0 Educational Resources
For module 7, we had to explore different forms of web 2.0 materials. As defined in our classes pre-readings, web 2.0 resources are "describe web technologies which allow users to create web content and collaborate on the web. The '2.0' refers to the notion that this is the second generation of the web" (EDU 210 Team, 2016). By using these tools, not only are we expanding our networks, but we are also expanding out understanding of accessibility and the resources that we have to accomodate others.
In the EBook that I made for this class (that I have linked below), I talk about three major web 2.0 technologies that I find extremely helpful in the educational context, as well as in the professional context. These tools discussed are Skype, Edmodo, and last but not least, iSpeech. These three tools are incredibly helpful when it comes to accomodating the needs of otheres. For example, Skype can be used to accomodate for having an in-person guest presenter. This way, rather than having someone fly in for the day, students are still able to hear the lecture and ask the person questions even if they are accross the world from eachother. Edmodo allows for more effective and diverse communication within a purely educational environment as well. On the other hand, a tool like iSpeech allows for a totally different type of accomodation! iSpeech allows students, who may not be able to see properly or read properly, to have the chance to engage with the material online in an auditory context, suiting their learning needs better.
Web 2.0 allows for the exploration of many different types of resources that can help to better accomodate the classroom to better suit the needs of your students. It has truly opened my eyes as a future educator to seeing how many options we have to accomodate the needs of our students! I truly encourage you to explore them, as I did for this course!
By creating the eBooks in class, we looked at just three ways of demonstrating the amount of opportunities that we as teachers have to make our classrooms more accomodating. After doing the pre-readings for this class, and taking the time to explore as amny of these resources as possible, it has shown me that we as teachers have minimal limits for making our classrooms more accessible! We have been given so many resources, both online and physically that allow us to use technology to our benefit! There is technology to help those students who have learning disabilites, there is technology that helps students with physical disabilities, visual disabilities, etc. There is technology that helps and has something for everyone; all you have to do is look and explore them. Below my eBook link, I have included a map of sources that shows how web 2.0 tools that were discussed in class and in the readings can help teachers and students navigate learning in ways that help better meet their needs!
I have embedded the site below. The title of my book is: "Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers" by Neesha. Please put this title into the search bar below and it should connect to my book. I have also included a snap shot of what my ebook pop-up should look like after you enter it into the search bar. If you cannot find it, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you! Please feel free to ask me any question by clicking the "contact" tab above. Thank you and have a great day!
References
- CAST (2015). About Universal Design for Learning. Retrieved from: http://www.cast.org/our-work/about-udl.html#.Vt8x8Vz1IdU
- EDU 210 Team. (2016) Class Notes from February 22. University of Alberta. Powerpoint. Class Notes.
-EduApps. (2016). My StudyBar. Retrieved from: http://eduapps.org/?page_id=7#What+is+MyStudyBar%3F
- Readability. (2016). Readability. Retrieved from: https://www.readability.com
- SpeakIt!. (2016). SpeakIt!. Retrieved from: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/speakit/pgeolalilifpodheeocdmbhehgnkkbak?hl=en
- TNW News. (2012). Transcribe: An awesome audio-transcription Web app for Chrome. Retrieved from: http://thenextweb.com/apps/2012/08/04/transcribe-an-awesome-audio-transcription-web-app-for-chrome/#gref
Learning Disabilities
Visual Disabilities
Physical Disabilities
No Disabilities
(All Students)
Web 2.0 Tools
Helping to Accomodate:
Readability helps all students, those with or without a disability, with clearing up what they need to read, and having the ability to zoom in and out at their own comfort. It allows for added comfort when reading material off of the internet. As stated on the website, Readability "turns any web page into a clean view for reading now or later on your computer, smartphone, or tablet" (Readability, 2016).
My StudyBar is a great tool, especially when it comes to teaching studenst about literacy. It offers a load of resources that will help students with learning better writing, reading and speaking techniques (EduApps, 2016). This application allows students who need help in the area of literacy access everything they need in one convenient location.
SpeakIt is a fantastic app for students with visual disabilities. This application " reads selected text using Text-to-Speech technology with language auto-detection" (SpeakIt, 2016). This will help students who are unable to read attain the information that is written on the internet in a more accomodating fashion that suits their learning needs better. Also, this app translates in 50 different languages (SpeakIt, 2016).
Transcribe is an excellent application that allows audio recording to get converted into text (TNW News, 2012). This application is extremely helpful for students who are unable to write quickly, unable to write at all, and/or take class notes, but allow them to still attain the text notes. This prevents hours of re-listening to audio recordings, and puts their notes into a document that is easily readable.
In this week's lecture, we talk a great deal about Universal Design for Learning or UDL. UDL is another very important factor that we, as teachers, should consider. UDL is "a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Watch the video below to get an overview of UDL" (CAST, 2015). By integrating UDL practices into our teaching, we are further setting our students, who have many different learning needs, up for success. UDL allows everyone to benefit, so looking at what is the best for all of your students, while still accomodating for the student who has individual needs is a great practice as a teacher. The image to the right is from the UDL handout provided to us on the EDU 210 eClass site.
A Quick Note on UDL...
The video to the left is a video that was provided in the pre-viewing resources on the EDU 210 eClass page. This video talks about the cohesiveness of the different elements of UDL and how they work together to achieve one holistic goal for all students! I encourage you to take a look!