Web 2.0 Tools

        Since there is very little in Google Classroom that fully supports math curriculum at the moment I plan to use Google Classroom as a communication piece. Google Classroom will allow me to communicate with my students about when there are large assignments such as projects due as well post when the next test will be. It will also allow me to put copies of my notes and assignments online. This will allow students who are absent to catch up as well as students who may have missed a piece of the notes to go back and fill in the blanks when needed. Also attached to that I would like to try to use Google Keep with my students. This is a tool from Google that is like a post-it note. Students can download an app to their phones in some cases so that they can keep notes and other important things right at the touch of a button. Students can add notes about school assignments and add reminders. For example, if students are working on a project that is due in a week students can set-up Keep to remind them on a daily basis to work on the project. This will help students stay on track with long term assignments. Part of our job as teachers is teaching students organizational skills and both Google Classroom and Google Keep allow students to stay organized without undue stress added into the students' lives. There are other tools out there that students can use as well. 
          One of the tools that I personally enjoy using is Diigo. Although it does not have substantial math applications in the gran scheme of a classroom Diigo is very useful. For instane, students are working together on a project where they have to find information online and then create a presentation. Diigo allows the students to work individually and then to collaborate fairly easily. Diigo is a tool that allows students to bookmark webpages and add highlights as well as notes to the page. Students can then share their library with classmates in a group and then collaborate from that group to create a presentation in another tool like Google Slides or Prezi. There are really too many tools to account for in the classroom. The important thing is that teachers allow students to bring in their experience and try out the different tools before passing a judgement on the tool. Students may have some great resources beyond what we know. Between what teachers know and what our students bring to the table, we can create an engaging and meaningful education for all our students.