Carolyn Baker presents on various internet tools she has used in her classroom. She found Kidblog.org to be very useful for student journal writing and Wikispaces to share useful websites with parents and colleagues. She created an iGoogle page to stay updated on special education news but found it time-consuming. Portaportal allows students to access curated educational websites at school and home. Overall, she utilizes these tools for writing, sharing resources, and providing structured online learning activities.
3. Why I liked it:Why I liked it:
Utilizing a blog in my classroom wasUtilizing a blog in my classroom was
super easy and a great way to get mysuper easy and a great way to get my
students to enjoy journal writing.students to enjoy journal writing.
Using kidblog.org I have total controlUsing kidblog.org I have total control
over what is posted.over what is posted.
Kidblog.org allows only those in myKidblog.org allows only those in my
“class” to see what is written (great“class” to see what is written (great
way to be online but still be safe whenway to be online but still be safe when
students are writing!)students are writing!)
4. www.kidblog.org/mrsbakersclawww.kidblog.org/mrsbakerscla
Successes:Successes:
Easy for young students, evenEasy for young students, even
those with multiple disabilities.those with multiple disabilities.
The kids LOVE journal timeThe kids LOVE journal time
now… everything is better onnow… everything is better on
the computer!the computer!
Super easy for anyone to setSuper easy for anyone to set
up (even those with littleup (even those with little
computer skills) and manage.computer skills) and manage.
Challenges:Challenges:
Getting parental consent fromGetting parental consent from
everyone in order to allow theeveryone in order to allow the
entire class to work online.entire class to work online.
Finding time in a busy scheduleFinding time in a busy schedule
to get students online .to get students online .
Student with motor skill issuesStudent with motor skill issues
have a difficult time typing andhave a difficult time typing and
require 1-1 help to blog.require 1-1 help to blog.
Some students thought theSome students thought the
blog was like a messenger andblog was like a messenger and
expected to chat with theirexpected to chat with their
classmates.classmates.
5. Other Web Tools I used:Other Web Tools I used:
http://spedfaves.wikispaceshttp://spedfaves.wikispaces
.com.com
Successes:Successes:
Great way to share myGreat way to share my
favorite websites withfavorite websites with
parents and colleagues.parents and colleagues.
All of my “most used”All of my “most used”
websites are now in one,websites are now in one,
easy to locate place.easy to locate place.
Challenges:Challenges:
The free version ofThe free version of
wikispaces doesn’t havewikispaces doesn’t have
many design options.many design options.
Time consuming to addTime consuming to add
websites and categorizewebsites and categorize
them.them.
Keeping up with websiteKeeping up with website
links that no longer work.links that no longer work.
6. RSS Feed: igoogleRSS Feed: igoogle
Successes:Successes:
Good way to stay up to dateGood way to stay up to date
with news topicswith news topics
Once you found the sites/blogsOnce you found the sites/blogs
that you like they get sent tothat you like they get sent to
you automatically.you automatically.
Challenges:Challenges:
Very time consuming to findVery time consuming to find
the sites/blogs you like to read.the sites/blogs you like to read.
I am not a big blog reader…I am not a big blog reader…
may not actually use this verymay not actually use this very
often and I don’t share the siteoften and I don’t share the site
with any parents or colleagues.with any parents or colleagues.
Some sites were more difficultSome sites were more difficult
to find the RSS feed icon.to find the RSS feed icon.
For the time spent making myFor the time spent making my
igoogle I have spent the leastigoogle I have spent the least
amount of time using this tool.amount of time using this tool.
7. www.portaportal.comwww.portaportal.com
Password: cbakerclassPassword: cbakerclass
Successes:Successes:
Easy way to ensureEasy way to ensure
students are on safestudents are on safe
websites.websites.
Includes fun, learningIncludes fun, learning
websites where thewebsites where the
students don’t even knowstudents don’t even know
they are learning!!!they are learning!!!
It’s free and the kids canIt’s free and the kids can
use it at home or in school.use it at home or in school.
Very easy to add andVery easy to add and
manage website links.manage website links.
Very user friendly with aVery user friendly with a
clear layout for websiteclear layout for website
categories.categories.
Challenges:Challenges:
Can be time consuming toCan be time consuming to
find appropriate websitesfind appropriate websites
and paste them intoand paste them into
portaportal.portaportal.
Managing website links toManaging website links to
ensure they are all working.ensure they are all working.
8. What will I use each siteWhat will I use each site
for?for?
Kidblog.orgKidblog.org-- I am utilizing this site as a journal writing tool for my students.I am utilizing this site as a journal writing tool for my students.
Each week, they can respond to my posted question/prompt or they can write aboutEach week, they can respond to my posted question/prompt or they can write about
their own topics. I hope to have students blog at least twice a week.their own topics. I hope to have students blog at least twice a week.
WikispaceWikispace-- I intend on using this webpage to share websites with parents andI intend on using this webpage to share websites with parents and
colleagues. I have posted links to sites for reading, math, children’s authors, andcolleagues. I have posted links to sites for reading, math, children’s authors, and
teacher resource pages. These are sites that I use very frequently in my classroom.teacher resource pages. These are sites that I use very frequently in my classroom.
Igoogle-Igoogle- This RSS feed will be used for my personal enjoyment. I have addedThis RSS feed will be used for my personal enjoyment. I have added
feeds to a few special education blogs that I came across. Some are teachers venting,feeds to a few special education blogs that I came across. Some are teachers venting,
others include more teacher resources, and some will simply keep me up to date onothers include more teacher resources, and some will simply keep me up to date on
special education news.special education news.
Portaportal-Portaportal- This website was created for my students to use both in theThis website was created for my students to use both in the
classroom and at home. It has website links, by academic category, posted. Each link willclassroom and at home. It has website links, by academic category, posted. Each link will
bring you to a fun game to play in order to practice learned skills. I have my portaportalbring you to a fun game to play in order to practice learned skills. I have my portaportal
page set as the home page on each student computer in my room. This way, every time apage set as the home page on each student computer in my room. This way, every time a
student goes onto the internet they are immediately given webpage options!student goes onto the internet they are immediately given webpage options!
9. To Moodle or NotTo Moodle or Not
Moodle… That is theMoodle… That is the
QuestionQuestion This is my second online class that has utilizedThis is my second online class that has utilized
Moodle and I love it! I find it very easy to use and itMoodle and I love it! I find it very easy to use and it
provides everything I need to learn.provides everything I need to learn.
It is easy to post my information, see what othersIt is easy to post my information, see what others
have done, and chat (if need be)have done, and chat (if need be)
It is also easy to get in touch with the courseIt is also easy to get in touch with the course
instructor if need be.instructor if need be.
My favorite thing about online learning is that I canMy favorite thing about online learning is that I can
complete the work at my own pace, in the comfortcomplete the work at my own pace, in the comfort
of my own home, and still learn the same material.of my own home, and still learn the same material.
I will definitely take another online course,I will definitely take another online course,
especially one that uses Moodle!especially one that uses Moodle!
10. To Moodle or NotTo Moodle or Not
Moodle… That is theMoodle… That is the
QuestionQuestion This is my second online class that has utilizedThis is my second online class that has utilized
Moodle and I love it! I find it very easy to use and itMoodle and I love it! I find it very easy to use and it
provides everything I need to learn.provides everything I need to learn.
It is easy to post my information, see what othersIt is easy to post my information, see what others
have done, and chat (if need be)have done, and chat (if need be)
It is also easy to get in touch with the courseIt is also easy to get in touch with the course
instructor if need be.instructor if need be.
My favorite thing about online learning is that I canMy favorite thing about online learning is that I can
complete the work at my own pace, in the comfortcomplete the work at my own pace, in the comfort
of my own home, and still learn the same material.of my own home, and still learn the same material.
I will definitely take another online course,I will definitely take another online course,
especially one that uses Moodle!especially one that uses Moodle!
