The world of Web 2.0 has already transformed the EdTech landscape and it continues to do so daily. Every day dozens of new web based applications are released, many which fit the needs of savvy teachers. There are four basic factors teachers need to consider when incorporating cutting edge technologies: 1) The pertinence of the tool to the educational environment, 2) The potential longevity of the application 3) The potential risks for students, 4) The degree to which it can enhance or detract from educational experiences in the classroom.

This presentation will present the 10 most significant Web 2.0 sites for educators at the time of the conference. Participants will learn why they are significant, how they can be used in an educational setting, how they integrate into other Web 2.0 technologies and what the potential risks (if any) are for using them with students. The 10 sites to be presented are chosen using two methods. First, I survey the edtech community at large to find what sites the general community at large feels are imperative for educators to know about. Along with that feedback, I draw upon my own experiences to pick a combination of sites that will allow us to explore Web 2.0 principles that are important for educators to understand.

Despite the simplicity of the title and format, the presentation truly goes into depth regarding the significance of Web 2.0 applications and how they relate to the educational community. The overarching theme of the presentation is how we as educators can leverage new technologies in safe and appropriate ways without being distracted by the flash and new. While the theme focuses on ten specific sites, it will continually be emphasized that these sites are only to be thought of as examples, representative of new categories of tools that are available to educators. For example, if Delicious is shared as an example of social bookmarking, it will also be emphasized that Furl, Diigo, and Google Bookmarks all provide similar functionality and have their own strengths and merits. More important than the actual site is understanding why social bookmarking is significant to education and how teachers can leverage it both personally and professionally.

While participants will take with them ten new tools that they can use with their students next year, they will also leave with the knowledge they need to leverage these tools individually as well as in mashups to create new innovative learning opportunities of their own.

Outline

Introduction (definition of Web 2.0) – 5 minutes

First three sites – 8 minutes each (more focus on theory and principals of Web 2.0)

Last 7 sites – 4 minutes each (more emphasis on how they fit together in innovative ways)

Wrap up – 3 minutes

Supporting Research

Specific sites in the past have included: Twitter, Del.icio.us, Flickr, Google Maps, Jumpcut, Picnik, Wikispaces/PBWiki, GCast, Bloglines, Vyew, Google Docs and Spreadsheets, Meebo and others.

Supporting Research = Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms - Will Richardson, 2006

Classroom Blogging: A Teacher's Guide to the Blogosphere - David Warlick, 2005

NSBA Creating and Connecting report http://files.nsba.org/creatingandconnecting.pdf

Presenter Background

I have been at the forefront of the Web 2.0 revolution in education since the very beginning. I was one of the first to begin podcasting and served as the influence for many of the most popular educational podcasts today. I review Web 2.0 sites both personally and professionally for several blogs and have been featured as an expert in Web 2.0 at numerous conferences. As a teacher, technology coordinator and online community manager, I review hundreds of Web 2.0 applications and provide insight into how they could be used in educational settings. As a recent participant shared, "He is one of those unique individuals with the ability to recognize, decode, and utilize emerging technologies, and also talk about them. He is a master teacher, emerging humorist, and great guy.”