The Best of the Web: 2016 Edition

I love reading Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day blog. If you haven't seen it before, you really should check it out. Larry is an English, Social Studies and ESL teacher in California, and he has an uncanny eye for new and exciting web 2.0 tools for the classroom. Recently, he posted a blog post with his 50 Best Web 2.0 Applications for Education in 2016. It's a great read. Here are some of my favorites from the list of tools he highlighted.

1. WebReel

Content curation is an increasingly important skill for both teachers and students. We already have lots of great options on this front like Diigo, Flipboard, Symbaloo and more. WebReel follows in the same vein but has a great visual appeal. Take a look at this example WebReel and watch the video below for more information.

2. Pindex

Larry describes Pindex as a Pinterest for Education. It is the brainchild of Stephen Fry, (yes, that Stephen Fry), and it lets teachers create boards that they can assign to students. You can even add quizzes to check for understanding. You can also use boards that other teachers have already created and assign those to your students. The video below has a somewhat unique overview :)

Pindex. Engaging material, addictive rewards. from Clarity on Vimeo.

3. Genially

This was one of my favorites. Genial.ly is a free website for creating images, infographics, presentations, micro websites and more. It includes a variety of engaging visual effects and animations that you can use to make your content come to life. It is a fantastic way to present content. Check out this example infographic and watch the video below for more information. Did I mention it's free? :)

4. The History Project

Backed by the New York Times, The History Project is an intriguing site that lets you curate and organize a variety of content on a specific subject and present it as an interactive timeline. You can add images, audio, video and social media posts. It could be a great way to build some ideas and content around current events or historical events, especially when you can collaborate on projects with others. Learn more at https://www.thehistoryproject.com/

5. NotebookCast

I like NotebookCast because it is free and multi-platform. It is a collaborative online whiteboard tool that can be used in just about any modern browser, regardless of your device. It has a line and shape tool, as well as the ability to draw freehand. You can also upload images and take advantage of the built-in chat tool.

Even More...

These are just five of fifty tools that Larry discusses in his 50 Best Web 2.0 Applications for Education in 2016 so be sure to head over to his blog to read about the other 45 that you are missing out on!

Jonathan Wylie, Digital Learning Consultant, Grant Wood AEA - @jonathanwylie

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