Technology+Toolbox

Here I have evaluated ten different web tools that are available to use in the classroom to support and enhance my own teaching, as well as for my students to access and use. These tools are evaluated in terms of 'Ease of use' and 'Universal Design'. This will be in the form of a critique and serves the purpose of allowing me to build a bank of resources to refer to on my teaching practise. Check out the star rating for a quick overview: 5* Very good AND 1* Poor.

Reccommend to 10+ || Here you can modify the design layout, you can add images/audio/video/photographs, and you can upload word docs. It can be accessed by anyone so communication is open and multiple forms of engagement and representaion can be used. Examples of use: effective to keep an electronic journal. One thing I dont like about Blogger is that you cant edit your blogs, so once it it posted, its set in stone. Stars: * * * * * [|www.blogger.com] || Stars: * * * || Stars: * * * * www.wikispaces.com || Stars: * * * || Stars: * * * * * || Ages 6+ || I love this software becasue its free, even young children could navigate it, and you can record your own voice onto the clip. For children it is very satisfying to hear their own voice on an audio clip! I would definitely use this in my classroom...and I would encourage childrento explore with it too! Many uses for those with EAL...in linking sounds, vocabulary, revision or assessments together. Stars: * * * * * [] || Ages 6+ || This software is fun and expressive. i love art and the freedom of expression. Here you can manipulate and modify your own photographs or chosen images with the help of a wizard. I think children would enjoy using this and I could use it to make displays and worksheets more fun and interesting. Stars: * * * * [] || Ages 7+ || This software is good when using MP3, WAV and Ogg files but you have to download the software and it is usually linked to an Ipod. Fortunately if you have an MP3 player it is has a good bank of audio files (you will be charged to use it) and you can link it to Audacity to record files for your MP3. As for in schools, I cannot see a good use for it and it is likely you will be charged for any downloads. Stars: * * [] || (techtreckers) || Confusing || This site is similare to [|www.primaryresources.com] in that it provides a lot of lilnks to other sites, games and resources. Unfortunately, every link I clicked on sent me to an invlaid sit/link. So I would not reccommend using it on this basis. Stars: * [] || Ages 8+ || This site allows you to create a page for a 'search tool'. You can write a review or some information, upload it on to the website, and people can begina accessing it. There are many topics and many ways to express your information/view/give advice. You could use this in relation to a Geography topic where children are encouraged to research and visit a place, then write a review or tourist guide for that place. Stars: * * * ||
 * **Name** || **Ease of use** || **Evaluation of Universal Design** ||
 * Blogger || Very Easy.
 * Hot Potatoes || Relatively Easy. But not much too use on the free version. || You can create a range of different quizzes online for students to access and you can add images and sound files which would be especially useful for children learning English as an Additional Language. I would use it as an assessment at the end of a unit, children can self-assess as the computer gives you an overall score at the end.
 * Wikispaces || Relatively easy to navigate. Recommended for 11+ || You can modify the web layout. You can open as many sites as you want. You can use different forms of media to express and represent yourself/information. You can hold online discussions and have an 'online presence'. You can also follow other wiki's.
 * Glypho || (Not used) Fun to do as a whole class project. 11 + || Collaborative Writing: We would write the first chapter and then publish it online for otheer people to modify and add to. You would have to be very careful to regulate/sensor the story to make it appropriate...but it would be interesting to see what other writers can bring to the slate.
 * Youtube || Very Easy to use. || I like Youtube because you can access an array of video clips and soundtracks to suit your needs. These can then be downloaded to you PC or uploaded onto a project or something. You can even upload your own video's online Eg. See link of Fran: []
 * Audacity || Very Easy to use.
 * Picasa || Very easy to use.
 * Itunes || Very easy to use.
 * Webquests
 * Squidoo || Relatively easy.

One major problem that arose whilst carrying out this task was that most (if not all) of the resources need to be downloaded or you have to sign up for them. This may take up a lot of memory on you rocmputer, so I would sieve through the ones you would definitely use and apply them to your planning accordingly.