This document provides an overview of Google Sites, blogs, and other Web 2.0 tools that can be used by students and teachers. It discusses how these tools help meet the needs of today's students by promoting skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and effective communication. Various examples are given of student and teacher websites created using Google Sites, Weebly, Pinterest, and other platforms that demonstrate innovative projects and class materials. Guidance is also offered on creating webquests, storybird books, and blogs for educational purposes. Contact information is included for the presenters who provided this information on using technology tools.

1. Google Sites, Blogs, and Web 2.0
Tools for Students
Presentation
National Social Science Association
Fall Professional Development Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana October 6-8, 2013

2. Why Technology?
Students
of today are not the same
students that we were when we were in
school. SeeStudent
of Today (You Tube) (8 min) Students of
today are tech savvy. Their world is
dynamic, socially interactive in ways far
beyond face- to- face class discussions.
Their reading is far more exciting than
the textbooks of yesterday, and even
those of today.

3. Meeting the needs of students today.
See
A Vision of Students Today (5 min.)
 Must have skills of the future: 1. Critical thinking
and problem-solving 2. Collaboration across
networks and leading by influence 3. Agility and
adaptability 4. Initiative and entrepreneurialism 5.
Effective oral and written communication 6.
Accessing and analyzing information 7. Curiosity
and imagination. See Dr. Tony Wagner, codirector of Harvard’s Change Leadership group
Dr. Tony Wagner You Tube (30 min)

4. Audiences for Site
Future
employers or an interview team:
include information about self, beliefs, values
and intentions as a teacher or future
teacher.
Future students: include innovative projects
using Web 2.0 technology – you become a
model, you have unique ideas for authentic
projects.
Colleagues and teachers: as a teacher
leader, master teacher: your teacher
thinking, planning, ideas, recommended
readings, books, etc.

5. Self-Disclosure and Privacy Issues
Many
teachers make their personal and
professional lives known to others – to their
students, parents, and administrators. Selfdisclosure, while it may be uncomfortable, is
usually very beneficial in teaching.
There are definitely instances in which
privacy is very necessary – witness
protection cases, abuse relationship issues,
victims of stalkers, juvenile justice careers,
police connections.

6. Johnston and DiBella Sites
Vickie Johnston (first E Portfolio)
Vickie Johnston Live Text Portfolio
Karen DiBella M. Ed. in Reading Portfolio
Karen DiBella - Interning Site
Karen DiBella - I Hope You Read Site

7. GOOGLE SITE MODELS
Undergraduate
Conservationist
Reduce Reuse Recycle Google Site
Fourth Grade Teacher
Become a Reader Google Site
Middle School Teacher
Mss Strahans Successes Google Site
Elementary Art Teacher
Language Arts Agler Google Site

8. More Student Models
 Middle
School Teacher
Language Arts DiBella Google Site(includes
video clip)
 Teacher Juvenile Detention Center
Language Arts Shields Google Site
 Third Grade Teacher
Discover Great Books Google SiteMom of next
student model
 Second Grade Beginning Teacher
The Sea of Learning Google SiteDaughter

9. More….
 Language
Arts Gifted Middle School
Kaminsky Kitsch Google Site/ About the Author – notice
she uses links to sites within her text. (something for those of you
who already have intro pages to try – in updating your
introduction. Note she has My Other Sites page in Navigatio
 Alternative
HS Teacher
Mello Y A Books Google Site
 Reading
Coach Middle School
Costello Pathway M. Ed Reading Google Site

10. WEEBLY SITES STUDENT
MODELS
AFCAAM Student Weebly An example of a site the
reading students from FGCU created for students at AFCAAM, a
north Fort Meyers After School Program. You can see the kind of
pages included on this site.
Teacher
of Virtual School M. Ed Reading Essay (Weebly

11. Google Sites with Web 2.0
Applications
Language Arts Methods Class Innovation
Examples
Elementary Professional Development Coor
Middle School Intensive Language Arts
High School Teacher Innovations

12. Pinterest
This
is an example of a Pinterest site an
Honor’s student at FGCU created using
the content area reading presentations of
classmates. You can see the kind of
pages included on this site.
http://www.pinterest.com/j0hnst0n/content-

13. LiveText
This
is an example of how to use LiveText to
create e-portfolios:
LiveText Faculty Portfolio:
https://www.livetext.com/doc/7065862/33365118?r

14. Individual Student Portfolios:
https://c1.livetext.com/doc/8758138#8758138
https://www.livetext.com/doc/8758132#8758132
https://c1.livetext.com/doc/8758122#8758122
Student Work:
https://c1.livetext.com/doc/8090646#page-37550906

15. PhotoShow:
PhotoShows can document student work
over time. The following is an example of
a PhotoShow of an undergraduate
education class:
PhotoShow:
http://www.photoshow.com/watch/xh8Ks2RD

16. Blogging:
Can
be used as a
form of professional
networking.
Site for independent
learning &
professional
development.
Promotes critical
thinking & quality
social interaction
Running
to Read Blog
Mrs aAyxis Classroom B
Miss Meagan's Rambunc
Readingis Frog-tastic Blo
/

17. Webquests
Interactive
learning site for students.
Students can work at individual pace.
Highly engaging.
See
a Guide to Creating Webquests
http://quickbase.intuit.com/articles/the-comp

18. Webquests
Content Area Reading Webquest
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=202775
Literary Devices Webquest
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=210144
Introduction to Botany Webquest
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=210128
The Scarlet Letter Webquest

19. Storybird
Online
storytelling community of shared work.
Improves language, cognitive, & social skills.
Engaging activity for students to work
collaboratively or independently
See a simple Guide for Teachers and Students
http://storybird.com/books/storybird-a-simpleguide-for-teachers-and-students/

20. Storybird
Karen DiBella
http://storybird.com/books/the-adventuresof-reading-4/
Think Alouds Storybird
http://storybird.com/books/think-aloudshelp-stories-come-to-life-learn-how-t/
Choral Reading Storybird
http://storybird.com/books/miss-laurenschoral-reading/

21. Presenters’ Information
Dr. Sue Slick, Dr. Dayle Upham, Dr. Vickie
Johnston
vjohnston@fgcu.edu
Florida Gulf Coast University
College of Education
10501 FGCU Blvd S
Fort Meyers, FL 33965-6565
Ms. Karen DiBella kdibella@utm.edu
Education Studies
The University of Tennessee at Martin
332C Gooch Hall
Martin, TN 38238