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.

Kathy Mendenhall
Name of the tool Collaborize Classroom
Where to access http://library.collaborizeclassroom.com/
this tool (web
address)
Brief instructions Collaborize Classroom is a free site where teachers can create an
of how to use the account, and then send students an invitation to join. It is private and
tool secure and web-based (no software to install). Once signed in, the
teachers have many options to create a collaborative environment for
students to have private online discussions. Teachers can be set up for
discussions to carry on from the classroom and continue online, or begin
online and then continue in the classroom. There are many options for
online activities, assignments, videos, and discussions.
Ideas for how the Engaging students in discussion creates an environment where the
tool can be used students become equal participants in learning by asking and answering
in PK-12 questions, coming up with their own ideas and participating and voting
on various topics.
High school students can be asked for their views, and if they
think that the hurricanes are a direct result of global warming.
Then they can be in groups and ask what they think can be done
to help the victims of the hurricanes and then discuss what can
be done at the local level to contribute to the recovery. After the
online activity and discussion is complete, the discussion can be
opened up for the whole class to discuss.
Middle school students could be surveyed about bullying and
if they have encountered it directly or indirectly. Ask them if they
think that there are certain areas of the school, or times of the
day, etc. when they think these situations occur. Then have a
discussion on what they think should be done to deal with the
problems.
Elementary school students enjoy any opportunity to be on
the computer or iPad, so opportunities to complete assignments
such as those that would have them going on a scavenger hunt
around the home for items that are shaped like a rectangle,
triangle, and a circle, for example, then comparing the items with
classmates would give them the opportunity to be creative and
compare their answers.
PK would also benefit from the use of the computer, etc. and it
would also give parents an opportunity to work with their
children, communicate with teachers, and each other.
Positives and Positives
challenges of 1. Collaborize Classroom gives teachers to start lessons in the
using the tool classroom and then the students can continue them at home.
2. Students who are normally shy in the classroom or who need
more time to form their thoughts than the classroom environment
may offer, have the time and a place of comfort to open up and
explore their contribution to class discussions.
3. Students can see other students contributions and get validation
for their ideas or open them up to new ideas that they may not
have considered as well as the opportunity to brainstorm
TLED 430 Module 3 Collaborative
Assignment
together and build on each others ideas.
4. It also gives the teachers an invaluable opportunity to see and
then assist students that may need some extra help or feedback,
and this can be done on an individual basis.
Negatives
1. Using this site assumes that all children have access to a
computer and the internet.
2. While the site can be set up for assignments, it appears that its
greatest value is to give students the opportunity to have private
open discussions and this would be of limited use for younger
children who have not yet developed those skills.
3. Besides creating a private place for discussions there may be
limited use for a range of assignments that may need to be more
specific.
Kendal Meadows
Name of the tool Simple VLE (Virtual Learning Environment)
Where to access http://simplevle.com
this tool (web
address)
Brief instructions Go to website, register, and create!
of how to use the
tool
Ideas for how the Design online tests, create assignments, record students grades
tool can be used Testing Test answers represented with a graph/stats highlighting the
in PK-12 areas that need improvement
Student grades Test grades automatically calculated while homework
and class assignments are entered helps those teachers that are not as
good with math (like myself)
Positives and Positives
challenges of Efficient (grading, creating HW, administering tests, and study material
using the tool is made quick and easy)
Simple (website is not complicated and has no complicated features)
Easy support (Step-by-step tutorials)
Comprehensive (has basic features that are needed to administer a class
online or in a traditional setting and it is free
Negatives-
Takes time to create and if you want to upgrade, you have to pay

Tarin McCoy
Name of the tool Wikispaces Classroom
Where to access http://www.wikispaces.com/content/classroom
this tool (web
address)
Brief instructions First, the teacher creates an account by entering their name, country,
of how to use the school, and subject that they are teaching. After the account is created,
tool the teacher will request a join code and give it to their students so that
they can join the wiki. Once the students join the wiki, the teacher can
create a safe, private network to communicate with their students,
collaboratively edit pages with their students using the visual editor,
create individual or group projects, and monitor student engagement in
real time, as they type.

Ideas for how the PK-5

tool can be used Teachers can provide students different links to activities such as
in PK-12 centers for younger students (PK-2) so that they are not surfing
TLED 430 Module 3 Collaborative
Assignment
the web. These activities can include matching games, online site
words, and online books/stories to read along with and listen
through their headphones.
In grades 3-5 students can start working collaboratively using
Wikispaces Classroom. For example, in Language Arts, students
can write a collaborative story. The teacher can start with one
sentence and from there, students can add and edit the text to
create a story.
6-8
In grades 6-8 teachers can assign students group projects to
complete on Wikispaces Classroom. For example, a history
teacher can assign groups different historical figures to create a
wiki page on. Students can work collaboratively by adding and
editing together and making comments on each others work.
Students can also use Wikispaces Classroom for the peer editing
process.
9-12
In grades 9-12 teachers can start assigning students college level
activities such as discussion boards. Teachers can post a question
in Wikispaces Classroom for students to answer and also have the
students leave comments under other students posts stating
whether they agree or disagree and explain.

Positives and Positives

challenges of Teachers can monitor the progress of group assignments and
using the tool projects. This can make grading a lot easier because Wikispaces
Classroom shows how much each student has contributed to the
group assignment. It also shows when a student is actively
working on the assignment in real time, as they type.
Teachers can communicate with their students outside of the
classroom. The newsfeed feature on Wikispaces Classroom allows
students to ask their teachers questions about assignments and
lessons. If the teacher \ cannot reply in a timely manner, other
students can reply to students with questions that may know the
answer. This is also great for students who may have been absent
from school so that they can catch up on all of their work.
Parents are able to join Wikispaces Classroom to view the
progress of their child and communicate with their teachers.
Teachers can embed content from around the web, including
videos, images, polls, documents, and more so that students are
not surfing the web during school hours.
Challenges
Wikispaces Classroom may pose a challenge for younger children
in grades PK-2. The teacher may have to devote extra class time
to help their students so that they are using the tool effectively.
Students may not have access to the internet or a computer at
home and may not be able to work on the group assignment
outside of school
Getting parents to join the Wikispaces Classroom may also pose
a challenge because they may not have the time.