During the 2008-09 school year, three schools, two in the US and one in Turkey, are participating in a collaborative project-based wiki. Creative Web Tools For and By Kids (http://weewebwonders.pbwiki.com/) is the workstation for exploring, interacting with, learning from, and creating with emerging technologies. Each student identifies a topic of interest. A Wiki page is created for that topic. This page is used to identify specific learning goals, to locate and post links to sites that support those interests, and to produce web-based projects that creatively demonstrate their learning experiences. Students collaborate by working on the same project and/or by assisting each other in learning about the variety of technologies.

The purpose of this poster session is:

• To demonstrate how upper elementary students can use emerging technologies to identify and showcase personalized learning experiences.

• To explore pedagogy for amplifying and modeling what is possible in terms of a student-centric learning, student creation of content, and educational networking and collaboration.

• To learn about the Web 2.0 tools utilized for this project including: PBWIki, Skype, Animoto, Tikatok, Moblying, Dipity, Doppel Me, Voki, Thinkfinity, Ithaki for Kids, Classroom Tools, Wordle, Google Tools, Glogster i.e., tools that engage upper elementary students.

• To discover strategies for differentiating instruction using free and open source Web 2.0 tools.

Outline

The poster session will demonstrate Creative Web Tools For and By kids through electronic and print media. The project developer will provide "tours" through the Creative Web Tools PB Wiki, share videos of student processes and content, and distribute bibliographies of resources. She will also address questions and provide recommendations to other educators and developers of "tween"-based technology programs.

Supporting Research

The foundation of Creative Web Tools For and By Kids was established using:

1) The report, "The Power of Pow! Wham!: Children, Digital Media and Our Nation's Future", published by Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Street. The Center's inaugural report, by Dr. Rima Shore of Bank Street College of Education, combines current research and interviews with over 50 literacy, educational media, industry and policy leaders. The report explores what children in elementary school need today and how digital media are an essential part of our nation's response. @ http://www.joanganzcooneycenter.org/publications/

2) The Flat Classroom Project - see http://flatclassroomproject2006.wikispaces.com/

Presenter Background

Jackie Gerstein, Ed.D., began this project for her gifted elementary students. She put out a call for additional schools, and now supervises/assists the three schools participating in the project.

This session was presented at the K12 Online 2008 Conference.

Dr. Gerstein also teaches online courses in two Masters of Education online programs. Her electronic portfolio can be viewed at http://jackiegerstein.weebly.com/.