Web 2.0 Tools

Lately, we have used many new web 2.0 tools in class including Inspiration, Picasa, Picnik, Animoto, Prezi, Smilebox, Google Forms, and Voice Thread. I found the one I will most likely use in my classroom is Google Forms, because it is very organized and quick, and has many uses in the Math classroom such as a Math quiz, a survey about the students' interests, or surveys to gather raw data when teaching probability. I liked the tools Picasa, Picnik, and Animoto, but I can't think of many instances when I would use these in my high school classroom. I would use these tools personally, however, even if I cannot use them in my classroom. I thought the Voice Thread tool was interesting, especially the math example we were shown in class. However, I feel this is more of a tool I could introduce to my students and have them use at home with one another to help each other on math problems, but not something I would use with them. Smilebox had many creative ways to display information, but I felt it was too artsy for my liking and more geared towards younger students. I did not like the Prezi tool, particularly that it was an infinite presentation board. I wouldn't know where to start and where to go without boundaries! The latest tool we used is Inspiration. The tool is great because allows you to create many creative graphic organizers, which present the material to students in a new way. The down side to this tool for Math teachers is that it is not formula friendly! It would be easier to use for topics in Math that don't include any formulas or math notation, such as some geometry lessons.
Using these tools in class has helped me understand them better than just talking about them and allowed me to figure out how these can tools can enhance my teaching.