Into the Driver's Seat

One can easily become overwhelmed by the variety of Web 2.0 tools that are available online today. In order to effectively choose the appropriate tool, being aware of your intended instructional outcomes is key. To assist you in this search, educationally relevant Web 2.0 tools have been grouped into categories below, which are reflective of 21st century skills.

From the University of Houston College of Education

By Sherry Amorocho

"Today I want to share my favorite five Web 2.0 tools to record oral communication in the classroom.The biggest shift in oral assessment for my class occurred because of the variety of web 2.0 tools that can be used to record students. I still believe the best way to practice the language is in person, with a partner or in small groups, but the best way to formally assess a large group of students (at the same time) or gauge their progress is by using the following tools. Each one will fulfill a different need."

Although written for the Spanish language classroom, the strategies described by Amorocho can be applied in many other settings as well. -JL

By Med Kharbach

Mashable calls it a second brain, Evernote is a powerful productivity app that, I believe, every teacher should be using. I know you probably have heard and read a lot about it but that elephant logo is still sitting there lonely and unused. It is about time to tap into to and discover its marvels.

Evernote is definitely one of the apps I use everyday. It helps me stay organized and scales up my productivity. However, the app has even more to offer when used with other partner apps. These apps  are particularly useful in expanding Evernote functionality  and in providing you with a richer and organized experience.

Here is a round-up of the apps I curated for you and which you can use with your Evernote to tap into its education potential.