Pageflakes
I just wanted to share a very useful Web2.0 tool that I use with my students. Pageflakes is a simple way to have a classroom “homepage”. I have a podcast of their Social Studies text on it that way if a student has internet access at home they can listen to the text being read to them. There is also a bookmark flake where you can add the websites that you want your class to access on a regular basis. Other flakes that I have added are weather, word of the day, a metric conversion chart, calendar, and a “gradebook”. Because I decide who can view this page, I was able to post pictures of a trip that our class took. We also have a page that we share with kids in Australia where we can compare the weather, time of day, our dollar vs. their dollar, etc. I guess my favorite use of this tool is the bookmark flake where the kids know they can easily access the websites that we commonly use like my classroom blogs and their email login.
A colleague that I shared this with was able to use it with her 3rd/4th classroom. She found it useful becuase it eliminated the students having to type in all the website addresses. They only had to remember one address in order to access all websites she wanted them using.
The only drawback is the kids have to have an email account to use it. However, you can use any email account. So if you use epals email accounts that are monitored by the teacher, it elimnates the spam email being sent to students.
Because of the positive effect that this tool has had on my classroom and teaching, I am somewhat shocked to hear the negative comments that often come when you mention using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. As with any technology, it is important for us to teach them the proper way to use it; this includes our expectations as well as any safety issues that may arise.
October 13th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Brooks,
You are an inspiration. I have not played with Pageflakes yet but want to. I also need to explore epals in order to put the two together. Thanks for the wonderful suggestion.
Barb
October 18th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I read about a site on John Chow’s blog today called http://www.43marks.com – its like Pageflakes and iGoogle but better cuz you can add you all your bookmarks and the bookmarks can be websites not just gadgets and RSS feeds although you can upload your favorite RSS feeds too. Its free and totally customizable re-arranging categories and bookmarks in anyway you want. I really do like 43marks much better. It’s great for teachers! They give you a unique URL (43MARKS.com/username) where you can upload bookmarks that are of interest to the class your teaching so the the whole class can see the bookmarks
October 18th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Bobby, thank you for the insight. I will check out http://www.43marks.com to see if it fits my needs. As a response to RSS feeds and websites, my students and I have been able to add a “gadget” that allows RSS feeds and websites to open right on the pageflake. Another way I have used pageflakes with my students is to have them add a page for just research. On their research page I have them add websites and RSS feeds that have to do with what the students are researching.