20 Web 2.0 Tools for Student Literacy Projects
Using tools of Web 2.0, also referred to as “read/write web,” is a way to take project-based learning into the 21st Century. By putting technology into
the hands of learners, instructors give students engaging opportunities to learn hands-on yet a another “language,” interact with the instructor and
their classmates, express themselves creatively, and publish to a world-wide audience – all online and for free.
An electronic version of this list is available online at http://kreyes.mcc.googlepages.com/20web2.0tools or http://snipurl.com/3w4ep
#
Site
What it is /
What it does
How to
Example(s)
Similar Sites
1
Blogger
Blog -- a web log –
online journal,
photosharing,
posting videos,
commenting
Download directions at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
Teacher Training Videos
trainingvideos.hscs.wmin.a
c.uk/blogger/index.html
classblogmeister.com/
edublogs.org/
eslblogs.org/
wordpress.com/
www.blog.com
www.blogsome.com www.livejournal.com
www.feedburner.com
www.free-esl-blogs.com/default.asp
www.myblog.com
www.typepad.com
www.xanga.com
Podcast -- An online
audio cast or
webcast (video from
webcam), with or
without visuals
Download directions at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
Teacher Training Videos
www.teachertrainingvideos
.com/podomatic/index.html
Beth Bogage, SDCCD ecc6.blogspot.com/ and
Eli Clarke, MiraCosta College
elidinamarca.blogspot.com/ (with list of student
blogs)
Barry Bakin, Pacoima Skills Center
tech4esl.blogspot.com/
Kristi Reyes, VESL and ESL Digital Storytelling,
MiraCosta College
mccvesl.blogspot.com/ (with list of sudent
blogs)
mccdigitalstory.blogspot.com/
Readable Blog: For English Learners
www.readableblog.com/
Steve Gwynn’s VESL class at SDCCD
veslclass.podomatic.com/
Beth Bogage, SDCCD
bethbogage.podomatic.com/,
esl6.mypodcast.com/
Kristi Reyes’ VESL class at MiraCosta College
(student podcasts)
kreyes.podomatic.com/
Other ESL-specific podcast sites
www.elllo.org/
www.eslpodcards.com/
a4esl.org/podcasts/
www.ingilish.com/esl_podcasts.htm
www.china232.com/
www.manythings.org/e/podcasts.html
grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/default.aspx
www.englishcaster.com/idioms/
See Teacher Training Videos for recommended
ELT podcasts
trainingvideos.hscs.wmin.ac.uk/eltPods/index.h
tml
www.blogger.com
2
Podomatic
www.podomatic.com
1 Kristi Reyes, kreyes@miracosta.edu
mypodcast.com/
www.feedburner.com
San Diego Regional CATESOL Conference 2008
20 Web 2.0 Tools for Student Literacy Projects
3
PBWiki
pbwiki.com/
Wiki -- A shared /
collaborative
website – users can
contribute, edit
content
PBWiki User Manual
pbwiki.com/content/support
center
Teacher Training Videos
www.teachertrainingvideos
.com/wikis/index.html
YouTube video
www.youtube.com/watch?v
=A204JcGQiY0&eurl=http:/
/www.appappeal.com/wikihosting/pbwiki/
Join the Educators Wiki
educators.pbwiki.com/
4
AuthorStream
Site for sharing
PowerPoint slides
online; PowerPoint
files converted
documents to Flash
presentations,
keeping audio and
animation;
comments can be
added. New
feature: sharing
presentations live
with contacts (web
meeting); watch and
discuss the same
presentation; chat
Tool for making
online book using
photos from Flickr.
Search Flickr photos
or create an account
and upload your
own photos.
AuthorStream Frequently
Asked Questions
www.authorstream.com/fa
q
For information on Present
Live see
www.authorstream.com/pr
ess-release/present-live/
www.authorstream.com
5
Bookr
www.pimpampum
.net/ bookr/
2 Kristi Reyes, kreyes@miracosta.edu
Download information at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
Barry Bakin, Pacoima Skills Center
mrbakinsesl.pbwiki.com/
Kristi Reyes, MiraCosta College
mccesl.pbwiki.com/
Blair Roy’s Wiki for Students and Teachers
ggae-esl.wikidot.com/
ESL Wiki for Teachers
esl.wikia.com/wiki/Mainpage
Links to ESL Wikis
educators.pbwiki.com/ESL+wikis
Adult Education Literacy Wiki
wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Main_Page
Wiki listing examples of several educational
wikis
educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of
+educational+wikis
Beth Bogage, SDCCD
www.authorstream.com/PresentationSearch/Tag/beth+bogage
Kristi Reyes, MiraCosta College
www.authorstream.com/PresentationSearch/Tag/kristi+reyes
jottit.com/
www.wetpaint.com/
www.wikia.com/wiki/
www.wikispaces.com/
scribblewiki.com/main.php
www.wikidot.com
www.seedwiki.com
For list of many wiki hosting sites and
comparisons of features, see
http://www.wikimatrix.org/
Bookr Example
www.pimpampum.net/bookr/index.php?id=819
www.readwritethink.org/materials/flipbook/
www.magicstudio.com/
piclits.com/compose_dragdrop.aspx
www.flip.com/
www.scribd.com/ (see # 12)
www.slideboom.com/ (audio)
www.slideshare.net/ (no audio)
San Diego Regional CATESOL Conference 2008
20 Web 2.0 Tools for Student Literacy Projects
6
VoiceThread
www.voicethread.com
Upload several
types of media
(images, documents
and videos), narrate
the media and
permit others to
comment or
collaborate in the
following ways:
verbal recorded
comments (with
microphone or
telephone), text
comments, audio file
comments, video
comments
(webcam). Other
features: The
Doodler -- create a
drawing and
comment
synchronously on it
with a voice
recording or textual
notes; Video
Doodling -- users
upload a video;
comments can be
added via
microphone or
webcam on
particular video
segments.
3 Kristi Reyes, kreyes@miracosta.edu
Download directions at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
See Teacher Training
Videos
trainingvideos.hscs.wmin.a
c.uk/voiceThread/index.ht
ml
Listen to other educators’
suggestions and contribute
your own ideas for using
VoiceThread at “100 Ways
to Use VoiceThread in
Education”
voicethread.com/share/262
24/.
“Digitally Speaking” wiki:
digitallyspeaking.pbwiki.co
m/Voicethread, which
contains collection of
VoiceThreads, steps for
planning VoiceThreads,
commenting tips, useful
handouts.
VoiceThread 4 Education
Wiki
voicethread4education.wiki
spaces.com/ samples of
uses of VoiceThread in
ESL/EFL
voicethread4education.wiki
spaces.com/EFL+%26+ES
L
Life Changes, Student presentation
sonyahermosa.blogspot.com/2008/04/lifechanges.html
Biography of a famous person / famous people
voicethread.com/share/9384/.
voicethread.com/share/71019/
Book Reports and Digital Stories
voicethread.com/share/16999/
Defining “Honor”
voicethread.com/share/1264/
Cultural/Family/Holiday Traditions
voicethread.com/#u6284.b9891.i68331
ed.voicethread.com/#q.b6151
voicethread.com/share/1468/.
Grammar Practice in ESL Content-Based
Instruction voicethread.com/share/61467/
Poetry
thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2008/03/voicethread
-examples.html.
Pronunciation and Vocabulary Practice
voicethread.com/share/9458/
voicethread.com/share/36403/
Verb Tenses voicethread.com/share/34182/
and voicethread.com/share/29282/
Speaking and Writing Prompts
voicethread.com/share/54904/
www.showbeyond.com
(but no audio comments)
www.myplick.com/ (sync slides with audio)
San Diego Regional CATESOL Conference 2008
20 Web 2.0 Tools for Student Literacy Projects
7
Slide.com
www.slide.com
8
Glogster
9
Dipity
Online slideshow
with images, text,
music, special
effects
Online scrapbook
www.glogster.com page with text,
design elements,
images, audio,
video, hyperlinks.
Comments can be
left on glogs.
www.dipity.com
Download directions at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
Instructor samples kristireyes.slide.com/
Student project, Me in the Future
www.slide.com/mscd?pxcid=iQRUxJssslVW5q
kYpK6PQpfQJeC23Z0t_7Rj6KU3DBOBhcIuiNesmcZCN3IsF3k&notifyfans=1&
nc=1&bnc=bnc
And several others
See CogDogRoo Wiki: 50 Tools to Tell a
Story
cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools
Download directions at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
“Create Yours” glog lets
you practice without
registering
www.glogster.com/edit/glo
g/?action=glogs_create
“Artificial Intelligence” movie poster
ivana24.glogster.com/AI/
“My Favorite Places”
candie.glogster.com/glog-191-739/
PSA on stopping child abuse
gigglemonster.glogster.com/STOP/
King Tut report
strangee.glogster.com/TUTANCHAMON/
Information about a class
kreyes.glogster.com/ESL-Digital-Storytelling-atMCC/
Biography of singer Billy Joel
http://www.dipity.com/legacyrecordings/Billy_Jo
el_Timeline/
History of Technology
http://www.dipity.com/heathermcc/History_of_T
echnology/
Student created timelines:
http://www.dipity.com/amirhooshang/personal/
http://www.dipity.com/igarcia/personal/
http://www.dipity.com/keyna/personal/
www.scrapblog.com/
Sample Voki (instructor)
mccesl5.blogspot.com/
Sample Voki (students)
wakavesl.blogspot.com/2008/03/welcome-tomy-blog-from-waka.html
mccvesl.blogspot.com/2007/08/heidys-avatarsays-hi.html
Sample Mow-Tor Mail:
www.mowtormail.com/?mid=25990065
Sample Gamespot:
www.gamespot.com/promos/2006/TestDriveUn
limited/?mid=25989897
Badge Maker bighugelabs.com/flickr/badge.php
Billboard bighugelabs.com/flickr/billboard.php
Calendar bighugelabs.com/flickr/calendar.php
Captioner bighugelabs.com/flickr/captioner.php
CD Cover bighugelabs.com/flickr/cd.php
Magazine Cover
bighugelabs.com/flickr/magazine.php
Motivator bighugelabs.com/flickr/motivator.php
sendables.jibjab.com/category/starring_yo
u#
www.mowtormail.com/
www.gamespot.com/promos/2006/TestDri
veUnlimited/
host-d.oddcast.com/
www.blabberize.com/ (animates uploaded
photos, making them appear to talk)
Yahoo Avatars (only image, no messages)
uk.avatars.yahoo.com/
Online timeline with
text, images, video.
Comments can be
addes to any event
on a timeline.
Download directions at
http://www.otan.us/images/
internetclassroom/DipityIns
tructions.pdf
10
Voki
www.voki.com
Make a talking
avatar
Download directions at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
11
Big Huge Labs
Many projects with
Flickr or
Photobucket images
or your own digital
photos or by
Download information at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
bighugelabs.com/
Movie poster:
4 Kristi Reyes, kreyes@miracosta.edu
Warholizer:
See also ReadWriteThink biocube tool
readwritethink.org/materials/bio_cube/
www.dandelife.com/
www.timetoast.com/
www.teachnology.com/web_tools/materials/timeline/
www.martianchildproject.com/
www.jigsawplanet.com/
See also many resources for student
projects at
www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index
.asp
San Diego Regional CATESOL Conference 2008
20 Web 2.0 Tools for Student Literacy Projects
Movie Poster bighugelabs.com/flickr/poster.php
Slideshow
bighugelabs.com/flickr/slideshow.php
Trading Card Maker
bighugelabs.com/flickr/deck.php
and others
entering the URLfor
an online image.
Calendar:
12
Scribd
www.scribd.com
13
Add callouts
Bubbleply
www.bubbleply.c (speech and thought
bubbles) and/or
om
Upload documents
(.pdf, .doc, .ppt, .xls,
.txt, .odt, .odp) to
share online. Testto-speech
conversion.
captions to online
5 Kristi Reyes, kreyes@miracosta.edu
See Using Scribd.com at
www.scribd.com/
Site Sample
http://www.scribd.com/doc/208580/Welcome
Student Sample
http://www.scribd.com/doc/276082/MyExperiences-and-Transformations
vuzit.com/
Download directions at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
See video demo at
www.bubbleply.com/demo.
aspx
Captioned video of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I
Have a Dream” speech:
www.bubbleply.com/player.aspx?pid=17c8bc85
-056e-4ea0-9972-f315e46f59c5
Dialog or thought bubbles on a clip with no
dialog:
YouTube video annotations/captions:
video tutorial at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrgDMuhvUh
M and
help.youtube.com/support/youtube/bin/ans
wer.py?answer=100077 and
San Diego Regional CATESOL Conference 2008
20 Web 2.0 Tools for Student Literacy Projects
www.bubbleply.com/player.aspx?pid=6c7e150
8-80fb-4895-8f2e-358e431523da and
www.bubbleply.com/player.aspx?pid=18331ea
8-1ef9-417b-a562-0669076744a2
Captions to a “how to” video (demonstration of
child CPR)
www.bubbleply.com/player.aspx?pid=32f4618b
-6dee-4b54-aa7c-0d765979c12c
demonstration of Child CPR
www.youtube.com/t/annotations_about
Google Video captions: video tutorial at
video.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?
hl=en&answer=26577
www.blinkbox.com/Blinks (registered
users create a “blink” – short message at
the beginning of a movie or TV program
scene)
www.overstream.net/
www.smashmash.tv/ (upload video from a
YouTube URL or from your hard drive,
add titles, special effects, and audio. See
demos at
www.smashmash.tv/showdemo.php?ix=-1
and
www.smashmash.tv/showdemo.php?ix=2
Jumpcut Quick Guide
jumpcut.com/quickGuide/q
uickGuide_upload
Short instructor’s sample
www.jumpcut.com/view?id=B57990528C0F11D
D859B000423CEF5F6
www.muveemix.com/
eyespot.com/#
Also similar to video editing programs:
Windows Movie Maker
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads
/updates/moviemaker2.mspx and
Photostory
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digit
alphotography/photostory/default.mspx
(free with Windows), imovie (standard on
Macs), and commercial software such as
Adobe Premiere, etc.
Teacher Training Video
www.teachertrainingvideos
.com/volver/index.html
Instructor sample
mccvesl.blogspot.com/2007/10/sample-careerresearch-movie-made-on_24.html
Student project
www.dfilm.com/mm2s/mm_route.php?id=32094
05
Digitalfilms digitalfilms.com/
Grapheine Bombay TV
www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index_uk.p
hp
video (YouTube or
the site’s videos, or
your own videos
uploaded to a video
sharing site);
“bubbles” can be
hyperlinks (e.g., a
Web site or email
address); add
multimedia (images
uploaded from a
computer or video
from a wecam) and
built-in animated clip
art.
14
15
Video editor -- Make
www.jumpcut.com and edit video online
with video clips,
photos, and audio
right from your
computer or digital
camera or use
media from Jumput
Editor. Use webbased editor to
rearrange clips and
photos, add titles,
effects.
Make animated
Dvolver
www.dvolver.com digital movie
Jumpcut
6 Kristi Reyes, kreyes@miracosta.edu
San Diego Regional CATESOL Conference 2008
20 Web 2.0 Tools for Student Literacy Projects
16
Zentation
www.zentation.com
17
Phrasr
www.pimpampum
.net/phrasr/
18
Merge online video
with PowerPoint
slides
Download directions at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
Site sample
www.zentation.com/viewer/index.php?passcod
e=692291
Student project
www.zentation.com/viewer/index.php?passcod
e=3Uy3cqYGtTE
Student project
www.zentation.com/viewer/index.php?passcod
e=USzKbNrGbVc
Instructor’s sample
www.zentation.com/viewer/index.php?passcod
e=VDcfhqbkpqW
http://www.omnisio.com/ (recently
acquired by Google, can also
caption/annotate video similar to
BubblePly, #13)
Create a visual slide
show for a poem or
any sentence using
Flickr photos (like a
pictogram)
Download information at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
Phrasr
/www.pimpampum.net/phrasr/?id=4660
Fridge magnet poetry (good for practicing
parts of speech)
www.shockedpoetry.com/
Word art sites
wordle.net/ typogenerator.net/index.php
Download information at
kreyes.mcc.googlepages.c
om/usingtheweb
Bubblr student project
www.pimpampum.net/bubblr/?id=10780
Bubbleshare student project
www.bubbleshare.com/album/153471.7e45395
636f/overview
Makebeliefscomix instructor sample
www.makebeliefscomix.com/comix.php?comix_
id=159577208
comiqs.com/
pixton.com/home
toonlet.com/
www.bitstrips.com/
www.comeeko.com/
www.quicktoons.com/create
www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic/
www.stripcreator.com/
www.toondoo.com
Teacher Training Video on ToonDoo
www.teachertrainingvideos.com/toon/inde
x.html
“The Appreciated Tutor”
storymash.com/u/mybeautifuldaydream/hadefig
e/
www.readwritethink.org/materials/fairytale
s/
www.eduplace.com/tales/
madlibs.org/
www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/Re
adingBrain.html
www.gamequarium.com/madlibs.html
myths.e2bn.org/create/
Make cartoon strips
www.pimpampum.net / comics
Bubblr
/bubblr/
Bubbleshare Help and
FAQs
www.bubbleshare.com/hel
p/
Bubbleshare
www.bubbleshare.com
MakeBeliefsComix How to
www.makebeliefscomix.co
m/How-to-Play/
MakeBeliefsCo
mix
www.makebeliefscomix
.com
19
Storymash
storymash.com/
Collaborative online
ficition writing. Start
a story online, invite
others to
collaborate, and
7 Kristi Reyes, kreyes@miracosta.edu
See About StoryMash
storymash.com/about/
San Diego Regional CATESOL Conference 2008
20 Web 2.0 Tools for Student Literacy Projects
writewith.com/
thestorystarter.com/ (get random
sentences)
read the story as it
develops or
contribute a followup chapter.
20
A.notate
a.nnotate.com/
Annotate documents
(PDF, Word, Web
pages. Excel
spreadsheets)
online by
highlighting text to
add a note. Request
feedback on a
document by
emailing a link;
recipient can add
replies to notes and
add own comments.
8 Kristi Reyes, kreyes@miracosta.edu
See features at
a.nnotate.com/features.ht
ml
See demos and
screenshots at
a.nnotate.com/
Practice page
a.nnotate.com/php/pdfnotate.php?d=2008-0123&c=3ryhsi#page1
Google Documents: see tour at
www.google.com/google-ds/intl/en/tour1.html
www.skrbl.com/
www.writeboard.com/
bookgoo.com/
www.zoho.com/
San Diego Regional CATESOL Conference 2008