Collaborative Reflection from Across the World

(photo taken at Sal de Uyuni, Bolivia)

This post has taken some twists and turns from the first draft.  At first, the purpose of it was to highlight our top useful web 2.0 tools of 2010, thinking of the new and eye catching.  After a few exchanges of emails half way across the world from each other (Kacey was on winter break in Oregon and Cheridy was vacationing in Bolivia), we agreed that some of the most useful tech tools are ones that we´ve tried and found to be true over time.  Some initially seemed too simple to put in a post, but in part due to Cherídy´s recent travels to some remote places, we realize they really should be cherished for the multiple purposes they serve.

OLD WITH NEW TWISTS

Email:  You are communication. We both remember a time before you existed.  With syncing capacities to  smart phones, etc. you make communication possible on-the-go in multiple locations. 

Blogging: You speak for yourself in your capacity to offer a place for reflective thinking, a platform to share ideas, etc.  When put into the hands of students, you spark creativity and possibilities. We will be highlighting various blog platforms in upcoming posts.

Jing:  We are so very fond of you!  We will continue to look at other screensharing tools, but for now you are the one for us.  Thanks for helping Cheridy provide feedback to her online students.

RSS Feed:  Thank you for aggregating all of our favorites into one place.  We feel like we get a daily dose of professional development while reading posts from our favorite educational blogs in one place.  You simplify life.  We highly recommend you to others.

Skype:  We hear some of the young ones saying you are old school, but we read many new, promising ways of using you in education, particularly with the beta Skype in the Classroom.    Rod Luicer talks about Skype in the Classroom on his Clever Sheep blog.  The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators, a free download accessible here, contains a chapter about you written by Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano.

NEW TO US

Dropbox:  We have mentioned you before.  You have saved the day and made access to important documents available in multiple locations.

Diigo:  You make marking and sharing favorite sites so very simple.

Smart Phones: We love your versatility and potential uses in education.  You create a mobile classroom for Kacey as she listens to educational podcasts during her daily commute to work.  Student access to you is growing, so we are looking for ways of incorporating you into the class.  Kacey had a positive experience with your use reported by one of her students using you to read.  Cheridy´s kiddo enjoys using Story Robe and Story Kit free apps on her smart phone. Cheridy used Posterous on her travels. We will be highlighting more of your uses! 

FUTURE EXPLORATION

iPad:  Kacey enjoys having her own baby, and Cheridy is admittedly a tad envious.  Cheridy has noticed a marked increase in your appearance in her adult ESOL classes.  You hold promise.

Google Voice:  Kacey currently uses you and is exploring your educational possibilities.

Twitter: We see potential in you and hope to step up our experience and knowledge about your uses in education.

This list of tools reinforces the purpose of this blog-- exploring technology as a tool for educational and professional development.  The first draft was hand written because Cheridy didn´t have access to tech.  The pencil and paper tools served her purposes at that moment.  As teachers, we have many tools at our disposal, sometimes high tech and others times not so much.  A variety of these tools will meet the needs of our students as well as our own.  With that in mind, we hope to add to our repertoire of tech tools to choose from in 2011!

Happy exploration!