Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

When it comes to technology, I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer (not to mention being sort of a Luddite). I need things very, very simple.

I thought it would be helpful to share a list of the sites that I’ve found most helpful and accessible in explaining how to use key Web 2.0 tools like blogs, wikis, Flickr, social bookmarking, RSS readers, etc.

You can also find links to the sites I list here, and many more, on the Teachers’ Page on my website.

There are three sites that I think stand above all the others. They all provide very understandable step-by-step explanations for a variety of key tools. And I think all three are equally good.

One is Sue Waters’ Mobile Technology In TAFE Wiki. Another is Vicki Davis’ Cool Cat Teacher Wiki. And the third great site on my list is Russell Stannard’s Teacher Training Videos.

It would probably be okay to stop reading right here, since these three sites more than likely can provide you with all the information you need.

However, there are a few more excellent resources you might want to check-out if you have the time.

There are two other places that offer exceptional information on a number of Web 2.0 tools. One is Common Craft, which makes simple explanatory videos. The other is Tim Davies’ blog, where you can print-out a series of one-page guides he wrote about Web 2.0 resources.

Other sites have good resources for specific tools.

Teachers First, which offers a huge amount of free resources to educators, has particularly good tutorials on blogs and wikis.

Jeff Utecht has a nice screencast on how to use Flickr. Some of the information might be a little out-of-date now, however. Webware has a newer, though a little less accessible, Flickr guide. Webware also has a good continuing series called Newbie’s Guides which gives nice explanations on how to use a number of different Web 2.0 tools.

Finally, I’d like to mention an exceptional slideshow developed by Vicki Davis and many others that explains how to use Google Doc’s new Presentations tool.

The best explanation I’ve seen about what a wiki is and how it works has been posted by the Ask Auntie Web blog.

Feel free to make suggestions of other sites you’ve found useful.

(Editor’s Note: Since this list was originally posted, I’ve found and decided to add Liz Davis excellent screencasts called 21st Century Tools)

(I’m also adding John Pearce’s Tutorials)

Webware has posted online videos and links to more that give tutorials on how to use Google Reader.Even though all the videos focus on only one tool, I’m still adding the post to this list.  Using RSS is probably one of the first things new to Web 2.0 will want to learn, and the videos incorporate some of the recent changes to Google Reader.

Sue Waters has created a wiki called PLN Yourself that’s designed to help people create their own Personal Learning Networks.  She basically provides how-to guides that people can follow to start their own blogs, subscribe to others, use social bookmarking, join a “Ning” community, and use Twitter. I personally use the first four, but just can’t find the time to Twitter.

Tom Barrett has created a bunch of great presentations on “Interesting Ways” to use various Web 2.0 applications with students.

Here are some of them:

Interesting Ways to use Voicethread, Wordle and the Nintendo DS

Interesting Ways* to use your Pocket Video Camera in the Classroom

Interesting Ways to use Google Docs in the Classroom

Interesting Ways to use Google Earth in the Classroom

Interesting Ways to use your Interactive Whiteboard in the Classroom

All of my recent lists can be found at Websites Of The Year.

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