Top 10 FREE Web 2.0 Sites for Educators (and a few honorable mentions)
A couple of months ago now, I asked people to share with me their top 3 Web 2.0 resources for educators. I was in the process of putting together a presentation and wanted to get some feedback from the general public, and also trying to find some new ones that I hadn’t played around with before that might be worth including.
There were 19 comments left and twice that many votes through the DabbleDB submission form. Some people couldn’t seem to stop at three, and others couldn’t resist including applications like Google Earth, but all in all I’m thrilled with how many people took the time to participate. I tabulated the votes and then visited each and every site that was submitted. After quite a bit of fun, but time consuming research, I came up with what I consider to be the Top 10 FREE Web 2.0 Sites for Educators (and a few honorable mentions).
Enjoy!
1) Del.icio.us – This social bookmarking engine was by far the overall winner. It got the most votes by a landslide. I do understand why though. Not only does it serve a very basic function (online bookmarking), but it connects people to troves of websites that are tagged, described and organized by freshness. While there are ample features built into the site, and more being added regularly, the open API has allowed for the creation of numerous community built hacks and extensions. An RSS feed on every page is just the icing on the cake.
2) Bloglines – This is my aggregator of choice still, despite trying many others. While Google Reader may be newer and shinier, it’s still missing one feature that I deem to be important in the world of Web 2.0, and that’s the ability to connect people together. With Bloglines, you can see who else has subscribed to a blog you are a fan of, and follow the trail along to see what they read as well. I find it invaluable to be able to see what people like Will Richardson and Bernie Dodge are reading, which really sets Bloglines apart.
3) Flickr – Flickr is clearly the premiere social photo sharing site of the Web 2.0 world. It is packed with 2.0 features like RSS throughout, contacts, comments, groups, geotagging, and of course an Open API. There are few sites with more hacks and extensions available to them. My personal favorites are Spell with Flickr, Memry, and the entire Flickr Toys collection. Additionally, the ability to do search for Creative Commons images that students actually have the rights to use in their presentations and digital stories is invaluable.
4) Picnik – There are a plethora of image editing sites in the world of Web 2.0, but Picnik stands out for a few reasons. For one thing, it’s pretty. The site is well laid out, easy to navigate, and incredibly intuitive. You can use the website without even registering, making it incredibly education-friendly. It may not have every feature that Photoshop has, but it does allow you to crop, resize, eliminate red-eye, adjust color and brightness levels, and save in a variety of formats. Throw in the ability to import directly from Flickr, and export to a variety of services including Flickr, Photobucket and Kodak Easyshare, and you have an app that integrates well into the rest of the 2.0 world.
5) Jumpcut – With free video editing solutions like iMovie and Movie Maker readily available, you might wonder why I’m including an online video editing service in this list. I can answer that with one question. When was the last time you told your students, “Finish editing your video at home so we can show them in class tomorrow”? Jumpcut allows students to work on their digital stories from any computer in any browser. It is surprisingly robust, with features you might not expect in an online video editor, like titles, effects, and the ability to overlay audio files. While I wouldn’t recommend you have students explore Jumpcut for video content to include in their stories (there are clearly mature videos that are not marked as such yet), it can certainly be a powerful tool to use in a classroom setting. Just stick to the editor.
6) GCast – With Audioblogger gone, GCast is recognized as the most popular platform for MobCasts (podcasts created via cell phone). However, it is also a powerful solution for podcasters who don’t quite understand how the RSS piece works. Anybody can upload audio files to GCast, organize them into a single or multiple podcast feeds, and then generate a flash player that is incredibly easy to embed into a blog or web site. The flash player includes subscription links, allowing listeners to subscribe via iTunes or email. While the site doesn’t look or feel like a typical Web 2.0 site (no Ajax, no drag and drop, no bubbly letters), it is such a simple and elegant solution to the most challenging part of the podcasting process, and rightfully deserves a slot in the list.
7) Google Docs and Spreadsheets – I’m sure that there are 100’s of features missing from Google’s version of Word and Excel, but I can’t seem to figure out what they are. Docs and Spreadsheets also has one clear advantage over the desktop version: it’s collaborative. While editing a document, you can invite other people to work on it with you. Windows or Mac, Firefox or Explorer, Docs and Spreadsheets has everything you’d expect in a word processor and spreadsheet program. Throw in the ability to import and export in a variety of formats, including Office, OpenOffice, and PDF, and you have a full featured replacement for zero cost.
Vyew – This is a pretty specialized application that really has more application for tech coordinators and trainers than it does for teachers in general. This is essentially a free webinar solution, similar to WebEx and Elluminate. It does have features that you’d normally pay tens of thousands for, such as the ability to share PowerPoints, whiteboarding and the holy grail of webinars, desktop sharing. It also provides you with a phone number that you can use to host an audio conference with up to 100 people. Personally, I like doing the audio by the phone lines because it conserves bandwidth. Your presentation room can hang around, even when you aren’t there, so people who couldn’t attend can still pop in to see the slides, notes and chat. Perfect for distance learning and live demonstrations at a moments notice. Vyew is quite possibly the best value on the list (compared to the cost of similar solutions).
9) & 10) pbWiki & WikiSpaces – It quickly became clear that wikis would have to be included in this list, but the votes were evenly split between these two websites. After reviewing both, I decided that they both deserved roster spots on this list. pbWiki is a little shinier, with it’s new point and click editor and template that’s easy on the eyes. You can also save your wikis as a PDF or create a slide show from it, unusual amongst wiki engines. Wikispaces is firmly committed to education and is in the process of giving away 100,000 ad-free wikis to educators. It has a simple WYSIWYG editor that does support embedable media (like from YouTube or Google Video). Wikispaces looks more like a typical wiki engine, and has a discussion tab like you’d find on Wikipedia.
Honorable Mentions – These are sites that didn’t quite make the Top 10, but are notable for one reason or another.
Stikkit – This site looks amazing, and could be great for group projects and collaborative note taking. Looking forward to exploring it more in the future.
Ning – As I wrote recently, I think this is definitely one to watch. Launched too recently to include right now.
Skype and Google Earth – Lots of votes, but they’re desktop applications.
Remember the Milk – I just love the name!
That’s my list and I’m sticking to it. If you disagree or care to make the case for some site that was left off the list, feel free to share!
- Picnik Premium
- Google Maps keeps getting cooler
- 21 Classes: New blog engine for teachers and students
- What’s your favorite Web 2.0 site?
- SlideCasting – Another ‘cast, another virtual presentation
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[...] Teach42.com shares the list of Top 10 FREE Web 2.0 Sites for Educators [...]
audio » Blog Archive » Top 10 FREE Web 2.0 Sites for Educators (and a few honorable mentions)
3/7/2007
[...] Original post by Steve [...]
Patrick
3/10/2007
I can’t tell you how great this list is going to be for me this week. I am teaching a class in my district called “Welcome to Web 2.0″ and I was looking for a short list of very general, not esoteric, Web 2.0 sites to show them and let them play with. This will work just fine. I will link in from the wiki (https://workshoponestop.wikispaces.com/Welcome+to+Web+2.0).
[...] Top 10 FREE Web 2.0 Sites for Educators (and a few honorable mentions). Steve Dembo publishes his short-list of 15 free Web 2.0 sites for Educators (top 10 plus 5 honorable mentions) at Teach42. [...]
Charlene
3/11/2007
Howdy Steve!
Add to your list for online video editing… http://photobucket.com
a site that provides “free video and photo sharing”
Powered by Adobe’s “Remix”
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/pdfs/200702/022107Photobucket.pdf
Cheers!
james
3/11/2007
Take a look at web 2.0 educational site for quiz creation:
http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/
Bing Miller
3/11/2007
Steve: Thanks for the information. As a Web 2.0 newbie, I love wikispaces (I am working on four spaces) and I use bloglines to monitor the work my students are posting on the class wiki. And Google consistently provides great tools, especially the calendar. Thanks again, and I enjoy reading your thoughts…
Joseph Pisno
3/18/2007
Steve,
Great list. I did a top 5 list back in Sept. of 2006 found here: http://www.mustech.net/2006/09/top-5-web-20-applications/
I haven’t seen some of the ones you listed, and now it is time for me to revist some of them.
Thanks,
Joe Pisano MUSicTECHnology.net
http://www.mustech.net
HotChalkScott
3/19/2007
And who could forget HotChalk, a 100% free curriculum management, content sharing, professional development, and social networking service with a simple mission: to make teachers’ lives better. HotChalk offers a full suite of organizational tools that allow teachers to bring their classes fully online and automate the labor-intensive tasks, allowing them more free time to spend on whatever needs to get done. HotChalk is a strong advocate for personal empowerment, as educators are dedicated leaders with often thankless jobs. We’re trying to change the world, one teacher at a time.
Check us out at http://www.hotchalk.com, drop me a line, and tell me what you think!
scorpio
3/22/2007
Husac
6/2/2008
Hi!
You can use my photos for free at http://freeartisticphotos.com – all of them are taken by me and made Public Domain
Cheers, Husac!
I hope that you found it interesting!
Husac’s most recent blog post.. Misc free photos
web designer Kathaperumal
10/4/2008
Thanks for this collection and share with us. But please update this review please
kurt
10/8/2008
thanks for sharing, those are really popular ones, i guess technorati should also be added.
kurt’s most recent blog post.. Tips for finding the Best Website Design Companies in Los Angeles.
web standards developer
10/17/2008
I have developed some web 2.0 porjecets but i find it very complex and difficult to just install a tool on a web server and get it running. Every project need to be planned and structured individually and thats where is comes to complexity and not really easy to use withour a lot of re development and styling. I am for the web 2.0 standards and website development in order to offer participation from the users and have them involved in the development and commenting on articles, it gives a value more than anything else.
As long as it is web standards development and validated for usability and accessibility i really enjoy the future of the web as web 2.0 version…
Michael Persson
web standard developer
Polymathea
11/1/2008
Can someone let me know a free ppx to flash convertor – and which is SCORM compliant.
free mp3 music download
12/2/2008
free mp3 music download…
pay per lead for all those who sign up, adware traffics are acceptable…
download games
12/16/2008
download games…
ebay stalkers, just thought every webmaster should be aware…
shellym1614
4/16/2009
Currently reading – Top 10 FREE Web 2.0 Sites for Educators (and a few honorable mentions) – by @teach42 http://tinyurl.com/2qkyhm
Quiz
8/3/2009
I think Proprofs (http://www.proprofs.com) is also a good web 2.0 tool for teachers to create online test, and it is totally free.
For creating online test, such free online quiz makers are good web 2.0 tools.
Sarena
8/4/2009
Nice post. I also find a useful tool for educators, QuizCreator(http://www.quiz-creator.com/#110) enable educators to create multimedia Flash quizzes with ease, and now is free for users.
Delicious Over 50
8/15/2009
RSS Feed http://bit.ly/J9cB4 edu web2.0
web meeting josh
9/1/2009
Those are very good tools, however, in many cases those platforms are used just to allow the team to review the same document together in real-time and “be on the same page”.
The recently launched free site http://www.showdocument.com does exactly that, quickly show documents to friends and colleagues.
It allows web meeting and co-browsing on any document, user uploads a document and invites friends to view it with him live
All the participants in the session see each others’ drawing, highlights, etc.
Josh
Chris
9/8/2009
All of these sites are GREAT backlink and traffic generation sites. I think the best thing is that Remember the milk is a classic!
Chris´s last blog ..Organic SEO Myths 
Dennis
9/11/2009
Loved the site. I am starting to get into the whole social networking myself but on the other side of it. I am having a great time learning about how to run and maintain all kinds of different social networking sites. I run several right now mostly they are bookmark sharing and micro bloggers. If you want to check them out the sites are: http://rapichat.com ; http://cydonia.rapichat.com ; http://cuyo.rapichat.com ; http://share.rapichat.com
Bonnie Faust
10/13/2009
more web 2.0 sites!
http://bit.ly/1yiwr1
John Wesley
1/22/2010
They’re not really the top ten.. Anyway, thanks for sharing dude
John Wesley´s last blog ..Hello world!
Anita Close
2/13/2010
Top 10 Web 2.0 Sites for Educators http://www.teach42.com/2007/03/06/top-10-free-web-20-sites-for-educators-and-a-few-honorable-mentions/
Andy Losik
3/12/2010
"Top 10 FREE Web 2.0 Sites for Educators (and a few honorable mentions)" – @teach42 #macul10 http://bit.ly/dnj1l8
Melanie Gray
3/12/2010
RT @mrlosik: "Top 10 FREE Web 2.0 Sites for Educators (and a few honorable mentions)" – @teach42 #macul10 http://bit.ly/dnj1l8 –>amazing!!!
Steven Barber
3/12/2010
RT @sassysunflwr: RT @mrlosik: "Top 10 FREE Web 2.0 Sites for Educators (and a few honorable mentions)" – @teach42 #macul10 http://bit.ly/dnj1l8 –>amazing!!!
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