Sharing,+Collaborating,+Communicating

The topics we discussed this unit were Web 2.0 technologies, image editing, PowerPoint and data merge with Microsoft Word.

Web 2.0 technologies include wikis, blogs, podcasts. Wikis are sites allow for collaboration by many individuals. They can be edited by all the members of group and can include such things as: assignments, surveys, RSS feeds, or anything else that the group wants to put on it. Blogs are sort of the same thing, but they are more of an individual effort. Things such as assignments and surveys can still be posted on a blog. A podcast is an easily accessible audio file. These are all useful tools for enhancing education in the classroom.

We also learned how to edit images for the use in a classroom. We can make posters, handouts or worksheets by finding an image and changing it. PowerPoint can be used as a shell for a presentation. This is useful in creating an affective presentation that is easy to follow. Data merge is a tool that makes the life a teacher easier. It takes the concept of making a personalized letter home, which could take a very long time, and simplifies it.