Free Resources from the Net for EVERY Learner » wiki

Embedit.in

Paul Hamilton — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:55:34 +0000

I believe there may be no Web 2.0 tool more versatile or valuable than the wiki. The range of potential wiki uses is limited only by the creative imagination of the user. Among the countless possibilities, I love the way a wiki can be used to store and showcase portfolios of student work, or teacher resources, or just about anything. Today I’m looking at an application that I think lends itself beautifully to this kind of wiki use.

embedit.in offers a convenient way of embedding web pages or uploaded documents that you wish to share on your own website, wiki, or blog. The service could not be easier to use. You upload a file or or enter the URL for a web page, and are then provided with the html embed code to paste wherever you wish. I have embedded a URL from CAST for the example below, but I could just as easily have embedded the pdf file itself.

Once a document or web page is embedded, there is a convenient slider bar to zoom in for a better look. Or, it can be viewed “full screen”. There is supposed to be a download button, but this does not seem to be avaiable at the moment. You can, however, print an embedded file. Most common file formats can be uploaded and embedded, and each file may be up to 20 Mb in size.

Although I haven’t yet had opportunity to try this, I love the idea of using embedit.in on a wiki to help create porfolios of student work.

Web 2.0: Cool Tools for Schools (Online Resource)

Paul Hamilton — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:50:33 +0000

Here’s another resource wiki that absolutely deserves to be highlighted and shared. Here again, we see the power and the potential of the wiki. This one came to my attention via Kate Ahern.

Web 2.0: Cool Tools for Schools is a wiki that links to an extensive and well organized collection of Web 2.0 tools that can be used to facilitate learning and teaching. Many of the tools linked here offer multiple alternative options for engaging learners. These tools also provide multiple options for learners to express themselves and to represent what they learn. These are tools that make it possible to effectively support many of the diverse learning needs in our classrooms. (See: Universal Design for Learning)

Web 2.0: Cool Tools for Schools is organized by the function of the learning tools it lists and links. The image below shows the buttons on the wiki’s home page that take you to the set of links. Each listing is accompanied by a concise description.

U Tech Tips Wiki (Online Resource)

Paul Hamilton — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:10:04 +0000

I’m convinced there is no online tool more versatile or more useful for educators and learners than the wiki. The range of possibilities is unlimited. Almost everyone is familiar with Wikipedia, which describes itself as, “The biggest multilingual free-content encyclopedia on the internet.” The success of this enormous collaborative resource speaks for itself.

I believe that learners everywhere should have access to Wikipedia and use it as a learning resource. There are, however, countless situations where relatively small-scale and purpose-specific wikis can be used to great effect. I’m writing today about one example that offers an invaluable resource for educators working at all levels. It also illustrates what a well designed wiki can look like.

U Tech Tips Wiki: A Wiki of Software for Educators by Educators. Jeff Utecht set up this wiki only a couple of weeks ago, and the framework is just starting to be fleshed out with content. This is a wiki that clearly has the potential to become an extensive repository of well organized digital educational resources. Anyone may contribute to the wiki, and it is extremely easy to do so.

Listings are organized according to operating system–Windows, Apple, and Linux. There is a fourth major heading for web-based applications and Firefox Add-ons. Some of the pages under each of the platform headings include: Office Suites; Photo; Video; Screen Capture Software; Educational. Some of these categories may prove to be too big, but one beautiful thing about a wiki is that the structure can be adapted as needed. Click on the image below for a larger view of how the home page is laid out.

Jeff Utecht has recently become an “Educator Ambassador” for Wetpaint Wikis, and this wiki nicely demonstrates the unique features of the Wetpaint Wiki platform. U Tech Tips Wiki is my first serious look at Wetpaint Wikis, and so far I’m favourably impressed. I like the look, the organization, the feature-set, and the ease of editing.

If you use software to support education, I encourage you to consider contributing to U Tech Tips Wiki. As James Hollis reminds us, “Sharing is Caring!”