Head of the Class with Web 2.0 (Part 1)

Definition

Web 2.0 is a term often applied to a collection of web-sites perceived to replace desktop computing applications. In fact, many believe that the ultimate manifestation of Web 2.0 is to completely supplant locally installed programs by turning the Web into a gigantic application server.

Impact

Web 2.0 apps could have significant impact on the type of computers schools purchase, use, and deploy to their students. Instead of technology departments focusing on application servers, databases, backups, special installs, third party apps - all locked into one platform using mono-cultural hardware, schools could focus their limited resources on faster Internet connections, better network infrastructure, a simple firewall, a proxy, and some form of virus protection.
With web as the platform little else is necessary.

Keep IT Simple Silly

Web 2.0 is a people-oriented technology movement. Ease of use, social features, collaboration, fast-loading applications, interactivity, quick development times and real-time updates are all major trends. Instead of a million and one features packed into one expensive software program, you get smaller, sleeker online applications that aim to do just a few things very well. Additional features rarely result in better programs. It often makes them harder to use, and it can leave them sluggish, insecure, and unreliable. By limiting features developers will give their users a better online experience.

Well designed web applications make users feel instantly at home - no complex directions necessary. In-services, itinerant trainers, instructional technologists, printed manuals, expensive training aids all become obsolete when using well designed software. If you do not immediately know where to go, what to do, or how to do it, don't blame the end user - the software is poorly designed.

Creating a high quality product is a way to pay respect and responsibility to the customer and the user of the product.

Key principals of Web 2.0

The following summary defines why web 2.0 applications are gaining ground while overcoming technical issues:

• The web as a platform.
• Data as the driving force.
• Innovation distributed by independent developers through a kind of "open source" mentality.
• Lightweight, fresh content, syndication.
• Always in perpetual beta.
• Software that adheres to "standards" for compatibility with many devices.
• Adopted technologies that allow a rich-Internet experience such as Ajax, Adobe Flash, Flex, and Open Laszlo.
• Hurdles

There is still a ways to go in overcoming issues with slow networks and technical hiccups - especially here in Alaska where satellite is the predominant form of connectivity. But look for online offerings to grow more sophisticated and reliable as users are increasingly pulled onto the web to access everyday business applications. Entrepreneurial companies are innovating at an impressive pace, and businesses of all types will reap the benefits of web 2.0 applications. There is no reason educational institutions cannot begin doing the same.

Web 2.0 for educators

The growing interest for web-based learning is truly amazing. As an educator and developer of web 2.0 apps, I've compiled a list of helpful online products and services that can help students, teachers and administrators alike. The following is a compilation of Web 2.0 products that I've personally researched and tested.

These apps do not try to be an imitation of desktop products, but do take advantage of the huge power of the web: collaboration, instant feedback, mash-ups, live data from the web, contextual search and more.

Part 1

Exams, Tests, and Quizzes

Exam Professor: Online test tool where you can quickly create tests, quizzes, exams, or drill and practice and send them to candidates to take from your own web-site or theirs (think YouTube embedded video, only as a test). Information is sent to Exam Professor's server where scores, statistics, and student answers are stored and reports can be generated.

iGiveTest: A comprehensive solution for creating, administering, and providing thorough analysis of tests on the Internet and Intranet. It is a quick and professional way to create and organize tests for employees, students, and people in training. Note: requires your own server.

Quia: Quia is pronounced key-ah, and is short for Quintessential Instructional Archive. Quia is a subscription service that provides a wide variety of tools, such as online testing tools, online activities and quizzes, a classroom management system, class Web page creator, and online surveys for gathering student and teacher feedback.

QuizStar: Instructors can create and assign quizzes while QuizStar manages student quiz results. Students can find classes and take quizzes then revuew the results for further learning. QuizStar is a Free Web-based program for K-12 educators only.

Gradebooks

Engrade: Engrade is a free online gradebook that allows teachers to manage their classes online as well as post grades, assignments, attendance, and upcoming homework for students and parents to see. Engrade is free and easy to use.

Chalksite: Chalksite is the quickest, simplest route to expanding your classroom onto the internet. Teachers, students and parents have a central point to access grading, assignments, discussions and messaging.

Gradefix: Intelligent homework management system for students. Let Gradefix do the organizing for you. Simply add your homework tasks and Gradefix will work them into your schedule.

To dos, Organizers, and Note Taking

Stu.dicio.us: A new service designed for students that helps with organization and notetaking. Claimed to be a social notetaking service, Stu.dicio.us allows students to publicly save organized notes, manage a class schedule, and keep up to date with tasks using a time sensitive to do list.

NoteTango: Is a free collaborative note sharing website for students. Students can take notes and share their notes, and collaborate on notes. It's all about sharing your notes, and making it easier for students to collaborate on what is important.

Backpack: Is a simple web-based service that allows you to make pages with to-do lists, notes, files, and images. Backpack also features a Calendar and Reminders that can be sent via email or to your cell phone at predefined times.

Zoho Planner: A free service that allows you to manage to do lists, set reminders, upload files and images, and make notes to keep track of your daily activities.

NoteMesh: NoteMesh is a different way of thinking about your notes. Collaborate with your classmates to create a unified set of notes for your class. It's like Wikipedia for your notes.

mynoteIT: A notetaking tool for students. Store all your notes and papers, search for them again instantly, store teacher's contact information, keep track of all your class grades, and more.

Notecentric: A web based note taking application. Notecentric keeps your notes organized and readily available online. Your notes are always in one place, so you don't have to worry about synchronizing them.

Word Processing, Spread Sheets, Presentation

Google Docs & Spreadsheets: A free web-based word processing and spreadsheet program that keeps documents current and lets the people you choose update files from their own computers. You can, for example, coordinate your student group's homework assignments, access your family to-do list from work or home, or collaborate with remote colleagues on a new business plan.

Zoho Office Suite: Zoho is a multi-faceted company that offers a variety of online services including: Zoho Writer (word processing),

Zoho Sheet (spread sheets), Zoho Show (presentation), Zoho Wiki, Zoho Projects (project management), and more.

gOffice: gOffice offeres sophisticated formatting options, and is easy to print documents as PDFs. Their Office suite includes word processing, desktop publishing, presentations, and spread sheets.

ThinkFree: Is a free online alternative to Microsoft Office. ThinkFree comes with 1 GB of space, online document collaboration, document viewer, and a place to exchange documents and templates with other users.