~ Implementation ~

Communication Platform ~ Diigo

Diigo is a great resource social bookmarking site. With Diigo, users can share sites and content, and access the bookmarks from any computer. It is great for research projects in the classroom. One of my favorite features of Diigo is that WebSlides can be created. As a teacher, I could bookmark sites for a unit on Butterflies, and then have my students visit each site on my list. Another cool thing about Diigo, is that text can be highlighted. This is great for a primary classroom, because a lot of reading can be overwhelming. I am able to highlight the main ideas and details that I want my students to read. Students could also use the highlighter to mark key vocabulary words or sentences that they want to know more about. Diigo is great because it doesn't require students to have their own email accounts. Student accounts can be set up through the teacher. The accounts are private, and students within the classroom are all considered "friends" with each other. This site does not require parental consent forms either. Diigo offers a Help Center that has video tutorials, step by step guides, and a site tour. It is very easy to follow for individuals that are new to social bookmarking.

Collaboration Platforms ~ Wikis

Wikispaces are collaborative websites that are wonderful for classroom use. There is an ad-free education version that is free for K-12 teachers. Wikispaces are easy to set up and can be set to public, private or protected. When private wikis are set up, only members can view or edit it. When the site is set to protected, anyone can view it, but only members may make changes. As public, anyone can view and edit the space. Wikispaces are great, because students can easily add content such as images, videos, audio, links, and HTML codes. There is also a discussion tab that enables conversations to take place. Wikispaces also offers a great tutorial and help guide for new users.
Teachers can use wikis to showcase student work, post student assignments, collaborate with students anywhere, and communicate with parents. I use my own classroom wiki to bridge the gap between the home and school. My wiki shares important information with parents, as well as student work. I also have a professional wiki that I use for professional development purposes. Students can use wikis to ask questions, receive homework assignments, or even share resources. Students who enjoy writing have a 'blank slate' to share ideas on with a bigger audience.
There aren't many specific requirements with these sites. Obviously, only appropriate content is to be published. Content that is published should also follow copyright policies.

Publishing Platforms~ Glogster

Glogster is a wonderful Web2.0 tool that enables students to create an interactive online poster. It is a great way for students to tap into their creative mind and introduces students to visual literacy skills essential for 21st Century learning. Glogster has a new education site that is great for classroom use. Teachers can create up to 200 student accounts, and do so without student email addresses. Glogster is a secure, safe platform that can be easily monitored by teachers. It can be integrated with all subject areas to engage students and make learning fun. Videos, audio, and images can be uploaded to Glogs. Glogster also has an option to add links from the page.
Glogster offers many tutorials. Here is one that I have created and presented at various workshops. (It is also located on the Glogster/edu homepage)
There are many ways that Glogster can be incorporated into the curriculum. Students can use Glogster to demonstrate knowledge of a topic, create study guides or interactive quizzes or webquests, and much more. The possibilities are endless.
I use Glogster to create pages for my classroom wiki and professional wiki. I feel that for this purpose, it adds a more visual element to my sites.
One thing that can be a problem with Glogster/edu is that many districts have this site blocked. It is blocked because of the content on the regular Glogster site, and most district filters can not open one without the other. However, if districts are shown the value of Glogster/edu, and teachers are only accessing the education version, then students are participating in a safe, secure site.