TLED 430 Module 3

Collaborative Assignment
Web 2.0 Tools to Support Collaborative learning
Read the directions in Blackboard on how to complete this sheet.
Name of the tool
Where to access
this tool (web
address)
Brief instructions
of how to use the
tool
Ideas for how the
tool can be used
in PK-12

Micah Rose
WordPress
To access WordPress, you go to wordpress.com and sign up. It is free so
everyone can sign up.
WordPress allows you to have an interactive page online where students
can post their own questions, discussions, and papers. Students can
have their own page that they can design and comment on other
students pages. Students and teachers sign up then the websites talks
you trough how to set up a website and begin posting on the website.
This tool can be used in many ways. Students can create their own page
where they can post different essays and articles. There can also be a
class page where they can turn in assignments in and get feedback from
other students. Teacher can create a website for the whole class and
students can have their own websites and they can comment back and
fourth
I would really only use this tool for secondary students. I can only see
this tool working if it was for the parents at the elementary level. At the
elementary level, teachers can give this website out so parents can see
what students did at school that day/week and to be filled in on
everything else. It secondary schools, the tool could be used more in
learning. Students can post questions about a specific lesson and can
have discussions.

Positives and
challenges of
using the tool

Name of the tool

Where to access
this tool (web
address)
Brief instructions
of how to use the
tool

Positives about using this website is all of the work is on one page,
students can see other students perspectives, the website allows for a
lot of different looks, and it is nice and organized. Students can also be
creative when making their pages.
A negative is for this website is that this website is steered more toward
high school students, the website can be complicated so I dont think
middle school students or below would understand. Another negative for
this website is that there isnt as much supervision then other websites
like Edmodo. Students can comment and say things but teachers will be
able to see it. The website also is public which can be a negative
because random people can comment on their websites.
Kimberly Scott
epals
Web Address: www.epals.com
1) Sign-up for a free account
2) Customize by selecting an age range, grade level, subject, language
spoken, or by interests.
3) Save your profile and start connecting!
4) You can connect with individual teachers or with experiences. Just
click one of the two

TLED 430 Module 3

Collaborative Assignment

Ideas for how the

tool can be used
in PK-12

options at the top of the home page.

a) Find Connections- This option allows you to connect with other
teachers from around
the world, by adding them to your own global network. You can filter or
browse. Once you click connect on their profile, you may communicate
with them through a messaging board. You can also collaborate with
these teachers to create new experiences that meet your classrooms
objectives.
b) Explore Experiences- You may scroll through the experiences or filter
based on your
needs. You can also search by keyword. Most of the experiences offer a
detailed description of what the collaboration will entail. They even have
a step-by- step guide for teachers. One of the experiences that really
interested me was the Folktale Exchange I am interested in teaching
middle school English. This experience was geared towards children
ranging from nine to twelve years old. In this experience, students will
connect with children from another part of the world to discuss the
tradition of storytelling. They will compare/contrast folktales, share
folktales that are special to their country/culture, and even work with
their partner class to create their own folktales.
Example of use:
1) This tool could be helpful to a high school Biology class studying
organisms found in ponds. After connecting with a partner class from
another part of the world, each class would upload videos of a field trip
to a local pond. They could share date from samples of protozoa and
other microscopic animals, and then compare/contrast their findings.
They could also discuss what environmental factors may have
contributed to their results.
2) This tool could also be useful to a middle school history class studying
World War II.
Although the war was not fought on American soil...World War II greatly
impacted American society. Some of the positive outcomes were the end
of the Great Depression and the rise of women into the industrial
workforce. As a global event, students could study how other countries
were impacted by the war. Students could use epals to respectfully blog
about the topic. Share what their written history has taught them. One
interesting project might include uploads of interviews of grandparents
or other family members that may have been alive or were in some way
impacted by this global event in history.
3) Epals would also prove very useful for language students. Some
elementary schools are
exposing their students to second languages, like Spanish. The focus of
the curriculum is on
basic conversational Spanish, like hello, my name is, how are you,
etc. . Students could connect via Skype with students in Spanish
speaking countries to practice their conversational skills.

TLED 430 Module 3

Collaborative Assignment
Positives and
challenges of
using the tool

Name of the tool

Where to access
this tool (web
address)
Brief instructions
of how to use the
tool

Ideas for how the

tool can be used
in PK-12

One obvious challenge to connecting across the globe is the language

barrier. I found that many of the teachers listed English as a language
spoken, but I am curious if the same goes for the young students. You
will also need to keep in mind any school policies regarding posting
pictures of your school or your students. This may impact the array of
tools available to you. Another challenge may be the time commitment.
Although some tools are simply available for your viewing, others like
the projects may require that your class engage until completed. As far
as positives...I cant even begin to list all of the reasons why
collaborating with students and countries from around the world would
enhance your curriculum. There are over 86 countries represented at
this present time, with 659 successful collaborations. The navigation is
simple, and offers a variety of connect options. You can connect via email, Skype or videos. You also Dont need to worry about safety,
because all student emails/posts are moderated by epals and educators.
The monitored email server also offers instant translations, anti-spam
filters and virus protection. This is definitely a tool that I would use in my
own classroom!
Elizabeth Rasmussen
Edmodo
https://www.edmodo.com/
The teacher creates an account and then gives the students individual
access
codes for their accounts. After the students have registered their
accounts, the
parents can find a parent access code on their childs page. The parent
then
registers as a parent and can see what the teacher and students post.
With this
tool you can inform students and parents of homework, school functions,
or
anything that needs to be brought to their attention. The teacher can
also add other
teachers to a group so that they can see what is going on in other
classrooms and
share things between teachers (students and parents cannot see this).
There is an
option where only the students can view something or only colleagues
can view
something otherwise it is open to everyone the teacher is connected
with.
Elementary level students:
I would use the tool to keep in touch with the students and their parents
as
well. This is a way that they can all get in touch with the teacher and
each other
over the weekends. If the parent or child has a question, for example
regarding homework, it would be open to the other students and parents
to see. So if they have
the same question or need help they can see it too. This is a great tool
for the students too because the teacher can award certain students
badges depending on how they are doing in school (perfect attendance,

TLED 430 Module 3

Collaborative Assignment
student of the month). It gives the other students and
parents a chance to see how others are doing and may persuade the
child do try and do better! At the beginning of the school year I would
have the students create their profile with things about them so that the
other students could see it and learn more about their classmates. (In
lower levels, like Kindergarten and 1st grade, I would have them do it for
centers one day in the first week and sit down and help them do it)
Middle and high school students: I would again use this with these
groups of students to keep in touch with parents and students. Most
students would be familiar with Facebook and this tool is similar in
format to it. For this age level group projects are very appropriate. So I
would have
them work together using Edmodo because the students can be put into
groups on the page. It is also nice because the teacher gets to see what
is going on and how the assignment is going. This could be used for
when they come up with ideas or plans and need to jot it down, they can
just post it and return to it when need, that way the rest of the group can
see it too. At the beginning of the school year I would have the students
create their
profile with things about them so that the other students could see it and
learn more about their classmates. I would make this a graded
assignment so that they all will do it, hopefully. They will post about
them and comment on a certain amount of classmate posts (like
Discussion Boards in TLED 430 Module 3 Collaborative Assignment
college!). Instead of doing ice breakers the first day, because it makes
some very uncomfortable, they can check the Edmodo page and learn
more about their classmates.
All levels:

Positives and
challenges of
using the tool

The teacher can post about events in the school and class room as well
as provide forms (like field trip forms). The teacher can upload
assignments if students are out sick or school is cancelled they can post
information about what to prepare for when they
return. If students are out sick, the student or parent can just contact
them and the teacher can upload it into the library along with the
instructions for what to do. The student will then print it out, complete it,
and return it on the day they come back.
POSITIVES:
1. It is a great communication tool! It allows the students to collaborate
on a website that has a similar format that they may be used to
(Facebook).
2. It allows for group work that can be monitored by the teacher. This
allows
the teacher to see how the project/work is going and if they need to
address certain groups.
3. Edmodo is great for teacher and parent contact as well. Parents can
use their own Edmodo account that is connected through their students
to find out information about their student and the classroom.
4. It is a great communication tool between teachers where they can all
come
together and share ideas, lesson plans, school activities, etc. They can

TLED 430 Module 3

Collaborative Assignment
upload files and share them with the other teachers.
NEGATIVES:
1. The challenges are the younger grades because they will need some
adult help and some students may not have internet or computer access
at home to do this with.
2. Another challenge is getting everyone to use it and getting the
parents to
register for it so they can see what is going on too. This problem is not
just with this but in other areas of the classroom as well.
3. The last challenge could be that it may not be so easy for some
students to understand how to use it compared to others. For me it is
easily accessible but others may think it is complicated or is even
unnecessary when the teacher has an email address.