Web 2.0 Apps with education

Web 2.0 is another way that the internet trys to itch it's way into daily living. The name doesn't give people any idea about what the term means. It is a catch all name to applications that live on the web. In most cases the applications that are Web 2.o can be used by anyone on the internet without regard to their computer's OS. This is sort of a revolution or holy grail of developers, they can develop software once and have it work on all stripes of machine. Many of the applications are available for free. Many have a free version and a pay version that has more function. I have only recently backed into using some applicaitions. I have been more into using add on applications for my web browser. Firefox is great for that. I have a few add-ons that I find a must.

• Update Scanner this FF add on will check to see is a website has been updated. It points out what has been updated by coloring it yellow.
• Xmarks has saved me so many headaches. After registering XMarks it will suck up all your bookmarks and save them to a remoter server. If you have more than one computer you can sync your bookmarks. They travel with you and can be added to on any computer.
• Evernote clipper works with Evernote. See Web 2.0 apps.

• Evernote www.evernote.com This free service/application is billed as a portable brain. If you have a web connection, a smart phone, a laptop, a desktop you can use evernote. It has a client software that can be installed on your device but it can also be accessed by a web browser. It can remember any note you type into it. It can remember websites for you and remember pictures. It can remember pictures you give it. In the demonstration the user takes a cell phone photo of a wine label of a bottle of wine he liked. Evernote scanned the photo and READ the label and deciphered the text. Now all he has to do is enter is a keyword from the label or name the location where he found the wine. I use it to remember web pages mostly but I have had it scan a photo to check out the search feature. Pretty neat.
• Chatzy a chat program that can be set up in 10 minutes. Found at www.chatzy.com. Set up the chat room and send out email invites and away you go. As a teacher you are the moderator for the room. I have used this to teach typing. The chat format appeals to kids. I have to put in limitations against web lingo. I had teachers use chatzy to discuss stories with their classmates.
• Snapgrades is an online gradebook for teachers. It is free and works with many SIS systems. I have used this for the past year because of my unique status in my school. I see many of the kids in the school and I see students from kindergarten to fifth grade. Kindergarten students don't have electronic grades so I found this and it has saved me a lot of headache and a lot of typing of names. It is web based so it is crossplatform. My experience has been better on a PC than a Mac for set up. Makes a decent report. No seating chart. Find it at http://www.snapgrades.net/

It seems there is an online application for every hobby or interest. For education the web 2.0 has some real uses. One part I have found on many of the sites is the need to register with a functioning email. Kerpoof is an online site I use with my younger students. I really like the fact that the site has a tab for teachers. It has a portion of the site for teachers to learn how to use Kerpoof with their class. Ultimately teachers invest in new technologies at a risk. Anytime a lesson is tried there is time when reflection comes in and improvements are considered. As a teacher I might ask 'Is this website even going to be here in a year?' Alas the web hasn't proven it's staying power. The question is for some teachers why should I invest my time and energy to something that may go away or become a pay site?