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13 great web 2.0 and open source programs for your classroom

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Web 2.0 tools and Open Source Software

We are lucky enough to be in an age where people are taking technology into their own hands. No longer is programming limited to the big software super houses, but plenty of other people out there create free open source alternatives to some of the biggest giants out there like Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft or Apple. By doing a little research and networking, I found an alternative to Photoshop with GIMP, which did nearly the same exact things but was free. I wanted to edit film but couldn't purchase Apple's IMovie, so I discovered Jay Cut. I wanted my students to design video games, but not download programs, so I discovered Gamestar Mechanic.

Finally, I could invest more funds into other projects for my classroom. When I didn't use open source software, I tried to find as many web 2.0 tools as possible, which are even better for students so that they don't have to download anything. My goal was to make my students as more independent e-learners through the use of web 2.0 tools and open source software so that they could access these programs from home and independently dive deeper into what these programs for education could offer. To learn more about the tools, scroll down to the bottom of the page to read my articles that review web 2.0 tools and tutorials on open source software

Making tutorials is a breeze for Web 2.0 / Open Source Software

In order to get my e-learning students more independent, I try to post video tutorials on Edmodo for my students by using Jing and allow them to dive deeper into the web 2.0 sites and open source software. Check out the one below on Glogster! Students can make digital alternatives to poster boards but are also like web sites
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My best articles on Web 2.0 tools & open source software

Skim through the links below and you can learn more information about these great tools
How Your Students Can Make Their Own Video Game with Gamestar Mechanic
My review of the excellent web 2.0 tool- Gamestarmechanic.com along with teacher resources so that your students can make games as well in your class
Time Toast: Quick, Easy and Interactive Timeline Maker - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
I discuss how to make an interactive timeline using this web 2.0 tool. This site will allow you to create a sleek embedded timeline into your favorite site like Edmodo
How to Use Glogster so Students Can Create Interactive Websites - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
My review of the web 2.0 tool Glogster EDU, the differences between the Basic and Premium version and how students can utilize it and the internet to be creative. Think about it as making web sites as opposed instead of poster boards
How to Make a Greener Classroom Without Spending a Dime - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
I am an art teacher who uses technology that engages my students and doesn't waste my supplies nor deplete my art budget. By using some of these web 2.0 and open source software ideas, you can challenge students and have them use technology in their own lives.

Use Picasa to generate movies of student work

An excellent digital storytelling program

Granted, it isn't really "open source" but this is one of the easiest ways for me to get the work that my students created with web 2.0 / open source software, like GIMP and quickly showcase it as a video that can be uploaded to You Tube
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Digital Storytelling & Video Editing web 2.0 & open software

How to Teach with Posterous - an Excellent Social Networking Technology for Your Classroom - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
I discuss ways for you to use the excellent web site Posterous, which allows you to post pictures, videos, text and a lot more which will then automatically post to your other social networking platforms
Using Picasa in Your Classroom to Publish Student Work - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
My review of Picasa, with some ideas on how teachers can use it in the classroom. Picasa is a Google Tool, so it has some great interactions with You Tube, Google Earth and Blogger.
The Best Tools to Digitally Edit Movies with Your Students: Windows Movie Maker - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
My review of the video editing program Windows Movie Maker. Granted, not open source or web 2.0, but I discuss some comparisons with this program to other video editing programs, and the pros and cons of using Windows Movie Maker for your digital storytelling project.
Which of These Programs is a Great Digital Film Editing Tool? - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
My review of some digital video editing programs such as Quicktime Pro, Animoto, Flip Share but primarily the great use of the web 2.0 site Jay Cut
Creating Propaganda Videos Using the Ipod's Animoto App - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
My review for the Animoto app on the Ipod, which also works hand in hand with the web 2.0 site of the same name. IMHO, the Animoto page has more features and is easier to use. When finished, my students used this web 20 tool to create movies out of digitally edited photos that were also done on the Ipod
Creating Animation on an Ipod or Open Source Programs - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
I compare/contrast several ways for students to create animations, whether through open source programs such as Scratch, GIMP or Pencil but also for some of Apple's apps for Education with Flipboom Lite and Animation Creator
Can You Convert a Photo Story File to Powerpoint? | eHow.com
Can You Convert a Photo Story File to Powerpoint?. Microsoft Photo Story is a program that allows users to create a film from photographs. Microsoft PowerPoint is a program that allows users to create a slide show with photographs as well. Converting a Photo Story file into a PowerPoint file is prob

Use Edmodo as a Social Networking platform with your students

E-learning with the familiarity of Facebook

Click the photo to the Edmodo site

Edmodo is an excellent web 2.0 resource that I use with my students. It allows us to share information with each other, I can assess their work, create assignments and it provides them with a safe environment to share the work they created. Check out the links below on the articles and tutorials that I have written about this site.

Edmodo articles

How to Use Edmodo for Assessment - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com
Use Edmodo's quiz function or polls in order to get feedback in a flash
How to Teach with a Social Networking Site - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
My review of the web 2.0 tool: Edmodo which allows teachers to create an online community with their students and collaborate with other teachers.
Edmodo: The Facebook Tool for Teachers - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
I review one of the many aspects with the web 2.0 tool of Edmodo, the social networking site for teachers. On this review, I give tips and instructions on how to send information to your students.
How to Share Information with Your Students on Edmodo - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
A more in-depth look at Edmodo, the free web 2.0 tool and social networking site for students and teachers. I cover more specific features on the web site, but more importantly, how teachers can post information for their students.
How to Grade Assignments on Edmodo - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
I cover how to create and grade assignments through the tools on Edmodo. Edmodo is an excellent social networking web 2.0 tool to use with the students to share ideas and information with them, but this tutorial covers on how to assess your students

Edmodo Tutorial

I have a variety of Edmodo tutorials that I created for my staff development. You can view all of them on my posterous site technology tutorial
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What are other web 2.0 or open source programs that you have used?

  • lravidlearner Aug 21, 2011 @ 2:20 pm | delete
    Glogster and Animoto are great. I'll have to check out Time Toast.
  • jamesgorcesky Aug 22, 2011 @ 6:59 pm | delete
    yeah Time Toast works at its best when you can embed it somewhere
  • bames24 Aug 20, 2011 @ 12:31 pm | delete
    your lens is really very informative... thank you for sharing
  • jamesgorcesky Aug 21, 2011 @ 6:02 am | delete
    Thanks so much! I strive very hard to inform my peers and fellow educators. I hope you can use this information too
  • Eric Chan Aug 16, 2011 @ 8:42 pm | delete
    I'd suggest http://www.slidebombacademy.com - lets teachers have their own portal where their students can make simple online presentation mashups
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jamesgorcesky

I am a Middle School Art teacher who promotes what his students create with technology across Twitter, Fan of comics, Star Wars, metal, horror, animation... more »

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