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Please view my comments on Larry Fox's Blog
http://larryfox.blogspot.com/2010/06/bp320100604web-20-t1-name-of-tool.html#comment-form

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View my comment on Ken Morris' blog http://sirromnek.blogspot.com/2010/06/bp52010061schoology.html#comment-form

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Schoology is a web 2.0 tool that allows an instructor to interact with their students using a unique style that closely resembles Facebook. This gives the students and the teacher a very familiar feel of communication. It is more than just another communication avenue. Schoology allows the teacher to post lessons, grades, tests, and instructional videos.

Students have the opportunity to post work, comments, questions and concerns. The connection is not limited just between student and teacher but also student and student. This ability will allow students to have access to more classmates and the teacher to answer basic questions. A discussion board can be created to meet such needs. Students will have the opportunity to view the discussion board at their leisure. Allowing those late night students an opportunity to have support by reviewing what was said on the discussion board.

Posting grades and individual comments related to a students work can be created within this tool. The grades are confidential and with the proper password parents can check up on their child’s grade. Tests can be generated within Schoology and students can also take the test on the Schoology site.

The site will be managed by whoever is creating it and can be customized to create a safe and secure learning environment. Though there are other tools similar to Schoology, none are as user friendly. Schoology provides a learning environment that is safe, friendly, productive and helpful. The sooner administration is convinced of it’s positive role in the classroom, the sooner approval can be given to use at the school. Then whole class will have new opportunities for a successful school year.

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Please view my comments on Scott Mixon's blog http://samixon.blogspot.com/2010/06/bp52010061web-20-t2-ichatskype.html showComment=1276396166371_AIe9_BErFETrHDsX3o6Dge1HOLaV_f6E1wfxz8vaHitjsCkNCcHuuJgwtGwxcSwV0A74fc6azjIDSz7yTM9PzbiVudWPMj61rAorr1hqEmZem4DSSWFicpJg3UJkBMkSRnvbAptm9sqw0LaqCRBUj5j4GUqV1f6tGc41yP9LPXNfsC_qIge4d6TJixOLuIZogcu_Lgvde96doXIXik4jNr7pmg5eqvAmtmjAXKIFAv-ZpfXNCrrJ57w#c837817761920144631

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Please see my comments at James Dickson's blog http://dicksonspleblog.blogspot.com/

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The web 2.o tool that I have been looking into this week is Eduslide. It is a tool that I would possibly use in my Action Research project. Eduslide offers a place to create a learning environment. Within this learning environment I would be able to customize my course with its many features.

One feature that I have been looking for is the ability to do everything I need with one program. Eduslide may not have everything but it is close. It offers the opportunity to do grades, upload lessons, upload videos to the lessons, incorporate power point presentations into the lessons, and create quizzes. The list continues but a special feature that is important to take note of is its security. It allows you to set up courses that can only be accessed by those that you want to give access to. I have been looking for a tool like this for my students and parents.

Using a tool like this in my Action Research project will definitely be action. I want my students and parents to be more interactive and this tool would definitely aide in this goal. Uploading my videos and lessons will allow my students to have access to help 24-7. Parents will know more about what is assigned in the class and they can become more involved with their child’s educational needs.

My previous review on Engrade was similar with the exception of the videos, quizzes and lessons. This sounds to me like a combination of Wimba and the current FSO program that is used for our lessons and grades. This would be ideal. I do not want to get my hopes up and it will take some time to actually explore what Eduslide has to offer and to find out if it is user friendly.

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Engrade

Please view this video on the use of Engrade a web 2.0 tool.

With so many different web 2.0 tools available to us where should we begin? I began by walking to the classroom next door and asked if she used any cool web 2.0 tools. She immediately said Engrade was a tool that she started using recently and that she was very pleased with it's performance and accessibility. It has always been a challenge to try and keep up with students’ grades and inform hundreds of parents of their child's progress. With Engrade as you enter the grades the parents are updated as long as they take the time to log in and view their child's grade. Also Engrade will allow the parents to view assignments and any comments that have been posted.

Engrade is only as good as the data that is entered into it. Like most grading programs, entering the data that will take the longest. Having the ability to give parents the option to follow along with their child's progress is powerful. Parents are a critical component in each student's education. Engrade is just the tool to help in that process. Grades are calculated instantly as they are entered. Assignments can be available to students who are absent. Communication is created in an environment that is focused on the academic success of the student. Colleagues can interact via Engrade and provide support for one another. Engrade is free and they provide support to aide you in the use of this great tool.

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	Chronicle	Rename		Add to a folder...
	http://chronicle.com/blog/ProfHacker/27/rss

The use of Chronicle will help me with my research relating to teacher centered classrooms vs. student centered classrooms.

	How to Design a Classroom That Promotes Learning: Creating a Place ...	Rename		Add to a folder...
	http://rss.suite101.com/TeacherTipsTraining.xml

I am looking for new ideas for designing my classroom.

	Teacher-Centered vs. Student-Centered Classrooms — Open Education	Rename		Add to a folder...
	http://www.openeducation.net/feed/

This will also help me with my research relating to teacher centered classrooms vs. student centered classrooms

	TED Blog: Designing the classroom of the future on the Open ...	Rename		Add to a folder...
	http://feeds.feedburner.com/tedblog

It's TED. It's good and inspiring.

	Videos - TeacherTube.com	Rename		Add to a folder...
	http://www.teachertube.com/rss/rssFeed.php?pg=recentlyAdded

I am trying to learn more about applying teacher tube in my classroom.

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The following is what I noticed about blogs and research relating to what I viewed on Internet. “Blogs” or “blogging” have been around for about a decade and the use of blogs can extend from children posting comments to each other, to businesses and professionals sharing ideas and keeping up with the latest improvements in their field of work or study. In the field of education the use of blogs have been useful for the purpose of interacting with students and parents, connecting with other classes across the world, research and sharing ideas with other professionals.

With this vast source of information, professionals can use blogs to help them to be at the top of their game, while also providing others with same information that will save them the time of having to reinvent the wheel when it comes to researching similar topics. Information that is shared via a blog relating to research and finding new sources should be taken at face value and should only be considered as reliable if the source is credible.

Blogs that allow comments keep an ongoing dialogue between those of similar interests. In research, those interests could reveal articles, books and other sites that would be helpful for the particular topic. The ability to see comments posted would also allow the critique of such resources and possibly pinpoint key ideas.

As I am new to blogging, all of this is very overwhelming. I am excited about the possibilities and it is my hope to grow in this area. Blogs can be a very helpful tool in the area of research as well as a tool that can be used for the classroom itself. Blogs can help me to grow professionally and will also aide in the way that I conduct research. As I was researching teacher-centered classrooms vs. student-centered classrooms, I came across the above blog post, which could help me with my research.

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