Web 2.0 tools like Google Docs, Twitter, blogs, podcasts and Diigo can be incorporated into social studies classrooms. These tools allow students to collaborate, share information, and engage in discussions. Google Docs allows students to create and store documents online. Twitter can be used for polls, debates and reporting findings. Blogs and podcasts enable students to respond to events, review documents and create historical narratives. Diigo is a social bookmarking tool for group research and organizing information. Using these Web 2.0 tools can help teach students in new innovative ways.

1. Web 2.0 in the Social Studies Classroom Presented by Andrew Zemaitis “Dream” of the possibilities with Web 2.0!

2. Introduction This presentation will define what Web 2.0 is and how it can be incorporated into social studies classrooms in simple and practical ways. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. What would Confucius think of Web 2.0 in our classrooms?

3. Defining Web 2.0 Web 2.0 can be defined as: “ The use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to facilitate creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users. These concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, wikis, and blogs.” http://www.novelconceptstudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=100

4. Common Web 2.0 Tools Most of us use various Web 2.0 tools in our daily lives. How many of these tool do you recognize? How do you use them in your lives? How can you begin to use them in your classroom? Diigo Twitter Podcast Google WordPress

5. Google Google offers free applications like documents, calendar, sites, and groups. Use Google docs to create and store student documents, presentations and spreadsheets online. Calendar is a great application for students to organize their time and meet those deadlines!. Google sites allows teachers or students to create their very own websites online and for free! Create a Google group for your classes and hold web discussions on your subject of the day. Albert Einstein Scientist, Mathematician, and All-Around Genius

6. Twitter Students can conduct and report data from their own Twitter polls concerning current events. Students can tweet experts in social studies-based areas like government or academia. Students can take part in online scavenger hunts and report their findings on Twitter. Students can practice skills like paraphrasing because of Twitters 140 character limit. Students can play 20 questions with one another using Twitter. Can you guess which historical figure is being described? Students can hold Twitter debates on issues. Thomas Jefferson President and Author of the Declaration of Independence

7. Blogging Students may use a blog to do the following: respond to current events and political cartoons, review of historical documents, differentiating between fact and opinion, reflection of field trips, persuade audience on a social issue, response to literature, and create a historical fiction.

8. Podcasts Teacher podcast enrichment lectures. Teacher created StudyCasts for exam review. Students can create podcasts for the following: Historical re-enactments Public Service Announcements Political Campaigns Interviews Discuss Social Issues/Current Issues Marconi Radio Inventor

9. Diigo Diigo is a social bookmarking tool which means it is great for group collaboration! Students can collaborate with one another on group project research through use of Diigo’s sticky notes. Individual students can organize their research by highlighting passages and annotating through tags. Charles Darwin Survival of the Fittest

10. Conclusion In today’s world, educators must push themselves to teach their students in new and innovative new ways to achieve the results that the American public wants. Web 2.0 is the means to get us there. The results could be indescribable. “By any means necessary” - Malcolm X