'Web 2.0 paljastaa' photo (c) 2011, Janne Ansaharju - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

In yet another attempt to get at the enormous backlog I have of sites worth blogging about, I’ve recently begun a regular feature called “The Week In Web 2.0.” (you might also be interested in The Best Web 2.0 Applications For Education In 2016 – So Far). I also sometimes include tech tools or articles about them that might not exactly fit the definition of Web 2.0:

WebReel lets you create a “reel” – a slideshow – of links to web addresses. You can also write a description of each site in the presentation. It would be an easy tool to use if teachers or students were creating webquests or internet scavenger hunts, which is why I’m adding it to The Best Places To Create (And Find) Internet Scavenger Hunts & Webquests.  It’s still in beta, so you need to request an invitation.  However, I don’t think you’ll need to wait that long to receive one.

OpenStax provides free online textbooks and the ability for teachers to create virtual classrooms and have student annotate the text (along with other features). It’s limited to college instructors now. However, it appears they are expanding to K-12, starting with an AP pilot and you can apply to participate. I first heard about it by an announcement of research they were beginning to analyze student online highlighting of text and try to identify how to enhance that strategy for learning. I’m adding it to The Best Sites That Students Can Use Independently And Let Teachers Check On Progress.

Hangouts On Air moving from Google+ to YouTube Live on September 12 is the headline of a TechCrunch post. Richard Byrne has written about the same topic.

Map Channels lets you create animated driving directions of Google Street View that you can embed. I’m not sure how generally useful it will be, but this feature will be helpful in my favorite lesson of each year – A Lesson Highlighting Community Assets — Not Deficits. In that lesson, students compare our local school neighborhood with the wealthiest community in Sacramento. Often, we can visit both neighborhoods on field trips. Some years, however, we “visit” the wealthier one via Street View, and a tool like this makes it easier. Thanks to Google Maps Mania for the tip.

Vizia lets you integrate quizzes and polls into videos. You can read more about it at Richard Byrne’s blog. I’m adding it to A Potpourri Of The Best & Most Useful Video Sites.

How to Place an Image-based Quiz in Your Blog is by Richard Byrne. I’m adding it to The Best Ways To Create Online Tests.