Blogamania - Allow Commoncraft to explain

M.I.T Provides Free Classroom Resources

M.I.T (Massachusetts Institution of Technology) has created a new Web site which offers free online resources that aim to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction at the high school level. "Highlights for High School", which builds on M.I.T's OpenCourseWare (OCW) initiative, is designed to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists and to serve as a valuable tool for high school teachers.

Check out the site:
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/home/home/index.htm

Skype - You wont belive it.

Skype is almost too good to be true. This 2.0 tool allows you to communicate with anyone across the globe, via the internet - for free (as long as you are communicating pc to pc). A fee is charged if you want to skype to cell and/or home phones. But never-the-less, pc to pc communication is free. All you need to do is set up a free account and hook up a $5 microphone (on both ends). And, if you want to take it to the next level, just hook up a simple webcam, and you have free video conferencing. Just imagine what you could do with Skype in a language or science class (or any class for that fact).
Your students could interact with other students - anywhere.
A most useful tool.
http://www.skype.com/welcomeback/

TeacherTube v. YouTube

Afraid of unleashing YouTube in the classroom? Cant blame you one bit. That doesn't mean that YouTube shouldnt be used, it just means that you must be extrememly cautious when using it. But fear not cautious educators, there is a solution - TeacherTube. TeacherTube is almost identical to YouTube in every way. The only difference - all content is classroom appropriate and geared exclusively for educators and students.
Definately bookmark worthy.
http://www.teachertube.com/

Mash-Ups. Cyber-worlds collide.

In an attempt to keep you abreast of what's new and cool, I must discuss one of the hottest 2.0 tools out there - Mash-Ups. A mash-up, by definition, is a web application that combines data from more than one source into a single integrated tool. Mash-Ups were originally created by hip-hop artists. A good example - taking Led Zeppelin music and overlapping it with Ludacris lyrics - creating a "mash-up" or new song. In education, mash-ups are truly in their infancy -but rest assure, creative minds are turning their wheels as we speak.
Check out this article on on techLearning that explains how mash-ups are being used (in the classroom) with Google Maps
http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.php?articleID=187002846

Web 2.0??? I just mastered Web 1.0.....

Just when you thought you had a handle on the web, it went 2.0 on you. Well don't be discouraged, you already have an understanding of this new creature called Web 2.0 and probably just dont know it. Simply, Web 2.0 refers to a seemingly endless collection of new tools available on the web. These tools have been created to facilitate creativity, communication, and sharing between users. Allow me to provide concrete example: YouTube, Wikis, Blogging, Mashups, Facebook/MySpace and Skype. The term Web 2.0 was coined by Tim O'Reilly at the O'Reilly Media Conferenc in 2004.
Some of the 2.0 tools are more uselful and practical than others. In the classroom, you can easily bury yourself in 2.0 tomfoolery. The trick is to research what's out there, get to know what others are using and how they are using it, and ask yourself this simple question, "How can I use it to improve what I already do in class?"

Here is a remarkable site/directory that contains every current 2.0 tool out there.

http://www.go2web20.net/