BP2_2009121_Web 2.0 in the Classroom

Before I began this program I didn’t even know what Web 2.0 was. I have looked at the following website for many different Web 2.0 tools and have found many different applications I can use in my Kindergarten classroom: http://www.go2web20.net/
I have chosen to focus on the program, Game Classroom. On this site students can access many different high-quality educational games in grade levels k-6th grade. I have chosen to focus on Kindergarten. These games are very easy for kindergarteners to navigate through. I could leave the students to do the games by themselves without me having to always come and tell them what to do next. They have good prompts if the students get lost. These games are very simple. I would definitely use them at the beginning of the year to get the students familiar with how to use the mouse, keyboard, and listen to directions. It is a great intro to computer skills while teaching them simple math and language subjects.
I was mesmerized by the language arts program they had. It keeps the kids interactive as they read together stories and nursery rhymes. It teaches reading comprehension skills, phonics, and phonemic awareness. They also have a lot of books to listen to. I am always looking for books on tape. I can now access books on computer and not worry about always getting more and more books! Then the students can for sure go at their own pace cause they click to go to the next page. The issue I had with books on tape is they still couldn’t follow along with the book and tape cause they would turn the pages sometimes too early or too late.
These games don’t really record the progress the students are making. The games might get boring for the students as well. My only concern that I need to do now is learn how to have a couple of games readily accessible for students so that if they do get bored with one, they can easily move onto a new game without having to get me to change the game for them.
I was amazed at how many applications there are out there. This assignment was a lot of fun and I didn’t want to stop exploring. Now the only thing I would like to learn how to do is to create my own games.