Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms - Softcover

"This book deals with such a hot topic in a wonderfully practical way. We need a solid book explaining and illustrating and letting teachers know about these powerful tools. This book meets the need in an awesome way!" (Mike Muir, Director, Maine Center for Meaningful Engaged Learning 2005-11-21)

"This author is a gem! It startles me to be 'pulled' so happily through a text about these new Web tools in the context of good literacy instruction." (Gary Graves, Senior Research and Evaluation Advisor, Technology in Education 2005-11-21)

"Richardson shares first hand classroom experience of how the read / write web opens up new possibilities for students to learn from each other and from authors, scientists, and other professionals."

(EducationPR, wordpress.com 2006-03-22)

"Whether it’s blogs, or wikis, or RSS, all roads now point to a Web where little is done in isolation . . . That’s not to say that in this new world students don’t do their own work. But it does mean that responsibility for that work is in some way shared. Learning is a continuous conversation among many participants."

(techLearning 2006-03-15)

"Shows teachers how to integrate new Web tools into their instruction to both enhance their practice and foster student learning. Gives guidance on teaching students how to use the Internet responsibly."

(Education Week, April 26, 2006 2006-04-26)

"This comprehensive guide on how to incorporate podcasts, screen-casting, blogs and other multimedia features into today's journalism brings convergence to the classroom." (Melanie Lo Communicator 2006-07-05)

"Richardson understands digital tools and is able to translate that understanding to his readers. He writes about teens using the software in appropriate and innovative ways to illustrate what can and should be occurring in classrooms." (Teachers College Record, June 2006 2006-06-01)

"Very user-friendly. Gives a step-by-step method through which students can maximize their learning strengths and transform into engaging, successful learners." (Magdalena M. C. Mok 2006-07-26)

"An absolute must for anyone attempting to keep up-to-date with Web tools for the classroom. Preservice or practicing educators, teachers, administrators, parents, or interested parties can find all they want to know about the new tools of the Read/Write Web, including what they are, what they do, how teachers use them, and the first steps to take toward using them." (CHOICE, September 2006 2007-04-01)

"Clearly and persuasively written, the book is loaded with information about the cutting-edge Internet features that make up so-called Web 2.0. Richardson meticulously makes connections between these tools and the classroom. He is comfortable writing about both the pedagogical implications of the technologies and also the directions for using them." (Los Angeles Times, 6 March 2007 2007-09-11)

'We need a solid book explaining and illustrating and letting teachers know about these powerful tools. This book meets the need in an awesome way!' - Mike Muir, Director, Maine Center for Meaningful Engaged Learning

'This author is a gem! It startles me to be 'pulled' so happily through a text about these new Web tools in the context of good literacy instruction' - Gary Graves, Senior Research and Evaluation Advisor, Technology in Education, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

This book brings teachers a bold vision and on-the-ground Monday morning practicality. It will move educators to think differently about technology's potential for strengthening students' critical thinking, writing, reflection, and interactive learning. Will Richardson demystifies words like "blog," "wiki," and "aggregator" making classroom technology an easily accessible component of classroom research, writing, and learning.

This guide demonstrates how Web tools can generate exciting new learning formats, and explains how to apply these tools in the classroom to engage all students in a new world of synchronous information feeds and interactive learning. With detailed, simple explanations, definitions and how-tos, critical information on Internet safety, and helpful links, this exciting book opens an immense toolbox, with specific teaching applications for:

o Web logs, the most widely adopted tool of the read/write Web

o Wikis, a collaborative Webspace for sharing published content

o Rich Site Summary (RSS), feeding specific content into the classroom

o Aggregators, collecting content generated via the RSS feed

o Social bookmarking, archiving specific Web addresses

o Online photo galleries

This book makes it possible for anyone, no matter how inexperienced, to harness this amazing technology for the classroom today!