WelcomePage

Welcome to Web 2.0: 23 Things Newington Teachers Need to Know. Over a period of 10 weeks, you will complete 23 Things to become familiar with a variety of Web 2.0 tools. Everything you need is available here so that you can work on your own time, at your own pace. Newington's 23 Things is based on The Learning 2.0 program originally designed by Helene Blowers, Technology Director, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, and has been modified for use by Newington. We have included elements from 23 Things Teachers Need to Know About Web 2.0 by the Wayne County Educational Services Agency and Classroom Learning 2.0 by the California School Library Association. The original program is loosely based upon Stephen Abram’s article, 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year (Information Outlook - Feb 2006) and the website 43Things.This online program was built using freely available Web 2.0 technologies that include: Blogger, Flickr, YouTube, Wikispaces, Delicious and Bloglines.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN the program, create a Google account (if you do not already have one). This account will be used throughout the program.
To create your account :
1. Go to http://google.com/
2. Click on sign in on the upper right of the page
3. Click on create an account now and complete the form to set up your account.

Send an email from this account to your program facilitators at newington23@gmail.com . Be sure to include your name in the body of the email so we know who you are.

Using the links on the right, read through the FAQs and Tips for Success to better understand the expectations of the program. Remember, there is no face-to-face meeting -- everything takes place online. Then, when you're ready, begin working through the list of 23 Things (go in order).

We will be monitoring your progress and encouraging you on your journey. Remember, help is just an email away at our email address. There are 23 "Things" for you to complete. Each Thing will show you one more web tool. There are many places for you to explore, experiment with, and think about creative ways to use 2.0 tools in your classroom.

Each week begins with a brief explanation of a new web 2.0 topic, followed by activities to complete. After each Thing, you will write about the experience on the blog you will create. In other words, you will comment or "post" to your online log (Blog). You will learn how to set up a blog, which is a tool to communicate your thoughts, new found skills, ideas, questions, and favorite websites.

You'll receive feedback and encouragement from other participants. In turn, you will provide feedback and encouragement to others.

The 23 Things

Following are the 23 Things to complete in the order listed. Use the links on the right to go to each Thing. You may complete the Things at your own pace, but we suggest trying to finish one topic area per week. Have fun!

What is Web 2.0?
1. Learn about Web 2.0 and why it's important to 21st century teaching and learning

Blogging
2. Learn about blogs and create your own, including an avatar
3. Explore how educators are using blogs to support teaching and learning

Personalize the Web
4. Create a custom home page to organize your online world

Photos and Images
5. Learn about online photosharing and explore Flickr
6. Share photos of your own and have some fun with mash-ups and online image generators

Online Video
7. Explore online video sharing sites such as YouTube
8. Learn how to embed videos from video sharing sites

Explore
9. Learn about copyright, Creative Commons and what's next
10.Explore Twitter and take a look at the best of the web
11. Add a widget to your blog

Social Bookmarking and Networking
12. Learn about tagging & social bookmarking
13. Set up an account and experience Delicious or Diigo
14. Learn about social networking and join an online community

Online Productivity
15. Work in the cloud with Google docs
16. Explore some educational possibilities in cloud computing
17. Discover what Slideshare and Zoho can do for online presentations

Podcasting & Screencasting
18. Learn about podcasting
19. What's a screencast?

But what about books?
20. We're happy to report that books are alive and well on the Internet! See how in this Thing

Wikis & Wrap-up
21. Learn about wikis and discover ways they're being used
22. Edit our learning community wiki
23. Reflect on this experience

Note: If you are not part of the Newington School District community, you are welcome to participate in the activities, but we ask that you do not comment on this blog or email us. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.