Web 2.0 Tools

Monica Gonzalez

EDU 2043: Educational Technology

04/01/2014

 Web 2.0 Tools

Magic Pen
This tool is a game. The objective is to get the red ball to the flag through the obstacles given. In order to do this, you must draw shapes using the Magic Pen to get through the obstacles, using the least amount of shapes as possible. This tool could be used in a classroom to enhance critical thinking. Teachers can use this to challenge students and integrate "physics" in the classroom.

Eyeballing
This game is exactly what it sounds like, eyeballing. You are given certain shapes or angles and you have to "eyeball" it to either complete the shape or bisect the angle or make a right angle. The catch is to get as close to possible to the actual answer and to do it in the least amount of time possible. This tool could be used to test the knowledge of shapes and angles. Children should be taught related things at a young age to be able to understand it well.

StoryJumper
This is a story making tool. You have pages and you can pick pictures and animations to put in the book. You can also add words. This would be very useful in an elementary classroom, children would be able to express their creativity and crazy stories. Kids always come up with wild exaggerated stories, why not make them into a book?

Mapskip
This is a mapping tool. Students can look through an online globe and learn about places by clicking on the hand above the desired area. Once clicking on the hand, students will learn history and interesting facts as well as viewing pictures of events in that area. This tool is a history and geography lesson in one. Students will learn their geography and also learn facts and history of the places they are studying about. 

National Anthems 
This tool lets you hear the different national anthems of different countries. One clicks on a continent on the map and a list of the countries in that continent comes up. You may click on the name of your desired country and the national anthem will begin playing. This is a geography lesson incorporated with a music lesson. Students will be able to compare other countries with our own.

Arkive
This tool shows the user the vast majority of animal species and places on Earth. It is easy to handle, just click on one of the drop down lists on the top of the screen and different species groups and continents will be there. Just click on the desired link and enjoy! This is a science and geography lesson, students can learn about different species and the places they come from. They may also learn about the different continents and what is known for their area.

ArtPad 
This tool is a drawing tool. You may draw whatever you want with whatever color and you can also put text in it. It is very easy to use. This tool helps keep crayons and other clutter off of desks, it helps express their creativity! With technology advancing in the classrooms, students may now draw on iPads instead of paper!

Pixton
This tool is a comic strip making tool. It is very easy to use and you can create one from scratch or using a template. You can use your own photos or photos given. This is an English lesson with some art incorporated into it, students will not even know they are writing a story! Students could write a short plot or story and make it "come to life" using this comic strip tool.

Fotopedia
This tool is a photo encyclopedia. It has many photos ranging from animals to places. It is very easy to figure out. Students always hear about places and animals, but they are never really able to visualize them. This tool satisfies the visual aspects of a lesson for a student.

School Clip Art 
This tool is another photo tool. You simply click on the category for which you would like to search under and images will soon follow. Very easy to figure out. Although this is not very educational, it is still very useful in order to get clip art for presentations and things alike. It can be used for teacher presentations and students presentations, whichever.

The Effects of Social Media

I don't know about you but social media is a big part of my life. I am constantly on Facebook and Twitter at all times of the day. Sometimes, I am on Twitter as I am studying, it helps me remember the things I study! I am one of many. Kids are constantly on social media. Not just kids however, there are many older adults who are also on social networks and use it as a way to reconnect with old friends and family members.

Did you know, according to the 5 Effects of Social Networks Have On You, social media is another form of expressed narcissism. "Facebook is a mirror and Twitter is a megaphone". Many people who over valuate the importance of their own opinion opt for Twitter and people who wish to "brag" about their life choices are more likely to choose Facebook. Is this not very true? Personally, I like to use Twitter to tweet bible quotes and share God's Word. I feel as if my opinion is very important and I enjoy Twitter! You may even say that I am a Twitter-holic!

However, these can also be very harmful. Teenagers who are on Facebook more are prone to depression, lower grades, psychological disorders, and future health problems. Facebook isn't looking so good now, is it? I think social media can be healthy, if used in moderation and properly. According to The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families, social media has been shown to enhance communication, social connection, and even technical skills in teenagers and children. Despite that, cyber bullying, privacy issues, Internet addiction, sleep deprivation, and sexting have become problems. With every good things, there is always a downside. 

Reading both the blog and the article have both given me some insight on how social media affects us. I know I have been affected by it. Sometimes I stay up late at night scrolling through Twitter and Facebook. Sometimes, there is nothing new but I still have to check just in case. The fact of just being on Twitter is satisfying in itself. Like I previously said, these things are good to some extent! We must know what to and what not to put on the Internet!

About Me!

Hello! My name is Monica Gonzalez and I am a second semester freshman at Henderson State University. I am 18 years old and am from Arkansas. I do my best to center my life around God! All things are possible through Christ, (Philippians 4:13). My favorite Bible verse is 1 Timothy 4:12 (NAB), "Let no one have contempt on your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity." I was a Early Childhood Education major, but I decided that the education field was not for me. Thus, I decided to change my major to Psychology. I hope to graduate from Henderson State in 2017 with a bachelors degree in Psychology and then go to graduate school to pursue my masters degree.

I am a small town girl with hopes of making something of herself in life. I come from a very loving Catholic-Mexican family.They are the reason I do what I do.! Being a first generation high school graduate and a first generation college student, things can be very stressful at times! Having no one in my family that has attended college, I do not know what to expect or what to do when it comes to college. That being said, or typed, I have been able to handle the stresses of college along with the support of my peers and family. I hope to serve as an example for other future first generation students.
My first year of college has been worthwhile! Almost being done with my first year of college, I have had many adventures worthy to write about. I have made many lifelong friends and met some of the most amazing people in just a few short months. I hope to continue to have as many and more exciting experiences and I will begin to write about them in this blog. Go Reddies! God Bless!