Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms
ISBN:9781412959728 read summary

Richardson creates an easy to understand resource for any teacher who would like to promote 21st Century skills in the classroom. It includes step by step instructions for setting up blogs, wikis, and podcasts as well as using Facebook, Flickr,Twitter, and RSS search feeds with students. It provides real examples for K-12 teachers to integrate more technology in the classroom.

I primarily taught higher education students and I thought that this might be aimed at a lower age group - but it's applicable to adults in many cases. I really appreciated the theoretical side of the book - which wasn't inaccesible - and the many practical examples.

As a member of the "authorship society", my feedback of this book is a relieving "YES, I enjoyed the read!" My first reaction was that this book was going to be over my head techie-geek jargon that I was going to affect my self-efficacy. However, I immediately connected with some of the opening statements addressing the digital generation gap and how we are constantly `plugged in'. I tried to keep up with each URL mentioned by the author Will Richardson, but I have to skip a few or I wouldn't be able finish the book (the tinyurl's weren't working for me). Richardson's approach to inform the reader of the difference between teachers and students at first is frightening. Admitting that our approach to teaching needs to change drastically to accommodate children is overwhelming. He also poses some good questions to think about while reading: What are your passions? Who are you as a teacher? Before reading the book I knew that I was considered by my peers to be `tech savvy', but knowing how much technology changes, I feel that no one will ever finish learning about the topic. It is a perpetual learning cycle. Not surprisingly, I currently use all forms of media he lists in the "Toolbox". I personally don't know what I would do without my Blog, Google Reader, Flickr or Facebook. Thanks to Richardson's advice, I have now added Diigo to my toolbox! - What a great bookmarking solution! As an art teacher I don't care so much for podcasting. My classroom is all about the visual, so instead I have used Jing to record online lesson, animoto to present samples of student work and Vimeo for video tutorials. This is a great book that can persuade any educator to "plug in".

This book clarified the difference between a blog and a wiki page. I am someone who loves using the internet to do research, but who doesn't use chat rooms, or other social networking sites besides Facebook. After reading this book and the authors breakdown of what a blog is compared to a wiki space, I have a new understand of how useful these tools can be for education and what they are capable of in general.
The book discusses blogs and wiki's and their uses within the classrooms. The author also stresses safe practices for students and teachers when using public internet spaces. He points out how many of today's students are using technology and pages like this, not for intellectual engagement as he would like, but for social networking, with little regards to the true implications this technology can have on their lives and on learning. These students are already interested in the technology, so as teachers we can use this to generate interest in learning that has real world implications. He shows that the blog is important because the students can have feedback on topics outside of the classroom walls and then reply. The author has a list at the end of the blog section that clarifies the difference between simply posting all the way to true blogging, really helped to clarify and define the process.
When Will wrote about wikis, it really stressed how as a collective whole, society is very good at trying to provide accurate up to the moment information. I enjoyed the part where he mentioned a professor purposely putting up false information just to see how quickly it would be changed by other "editors" of the page. I have used Wikispaces several times for my homework assignments. I love how useful they are for exchanging information and creating a group projects. This section of the book was my favorite, just because it was the least foreign to me in the subject matter.
In my readings I had read about RSS feeds, but once again, did not realize how awesome they are. I knew that they used aggregators to collect new information from specific sites, but I did not know that they could search the whole internet for specific key word. I also did not know that you could share with others what you find by a click of a button to a home page. The author goes on to talk about different sites that you can use and ways that you meet others and share information on common interests, such as with the [...] and Diigo.
Will Richardson's excitement about technology and its uses comes across very strongly in his book. I enjoyed the moments in the book where he left his personal comments, because it gave the book some personality and helped to show his enthusiasm. This book is great for anyone who is new to the social aspect of the internet. He provides lots of details, examples and links within the book for educators in the classroom and ways to link to others in the world. This is not meant to be an in depth book but provides more than enough step by step coverage for educators to practice using these tools in the classroom.
Just a side note, make sure you have your computer on so that you can check out the links as he mentions them. I did find a few that were broken, like the one on page 88, but lots of good information.

Will Richardson's book, "Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Web Tools for Classrooms", is a must-read for educators, technology specialists, and others interested in increasing teacher technology use and integration in the classroom. The world of Web 2.0 is rapidly changing every day. Trying to keep up with the wide array of available technology tools can be overwhelming for those new to and unfamiliar with Web 2.0. Richardson's book acts as a quick and easy-to-read road map for Web 2.0 beginners and reluctant technology users to understanding, implementing, and using Web 2.0 in the classroom.

Richardson divides and categorizes Web 2.0 technologies into manageable sections, based on those that publish, manage information, and share content in collaborative ways: blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, aggregators, social bookmarking, online photo galleries, and audio/video-casting. By breaking Web 2.0 down into its various functions, it becomes easier for teachers to identify which tools they will need to use as a vehicle for their learning objectives. Understanding how different Web 2.0 tools work and how it can aid and supplement the curriculum helps teachers to create a basic "toolbox" that they can refer to and use.

What sets Richardson's book apart from other how-to Web 2.0 books is that it is tailored specifically to educators who are curious to find out why and how they can specifically use the portrayed Web 2.0 tools in their content areas and classroom. The information from this book provides teachers with strategies and teaching applications so that they can hit the ground running. This, I think, is the key to encouraging more teachers to increase their technology use and integration.

Most reluctant teachers are afraid of changing what already works for them. It is important for decision-makers in school districts to realize that if they want to move their teachers forward in the technology sector, teachers shouldn't be asked to change what they do. Instead, they should focus more on finding technology solutions that fit in and work with the way the teachers and their system works. Richardson's book does that--it explains Web 2.0 in a way that helps great teachers become even more effective in their work with the help of technology.

As a content teacher and technology specialist, this is the first book I recommend to peers and colleagues who are interested in learning more about Web 2.0 and upgrading their technology skills and repertoire.