Web2.0

Web2.0 The Web Application Index is an interesting experiences. With a members and a blog tab accompanying the directory, you know there's more to this site than meets the eye. After a minute you discover to many tags you can use to filter the many websites to your preferences.

On Web2.0 I immediately filtered the sites with tag of 'kids' and one of the first sites was Farmville. Farmville is a fun game but it is real time so you get sucked into going to your 'crops' before they wither so you can harvest them. I wouldn't have this in my classroom but I do play it myself on Facebook (level 81). I have found, however, that the crops look accurate. Never would I have realized pineapples grow from the ground like artichokes if I hadn't of grown them on my virtual farm.

GameClassroom caught my eye immediately after Farmville. This site didn't ask for a log in and password (thank God) but I did have to download a new version of the Adobe Flashplayer. The first game I chose at random was one that I played for a little while. It's a simple addition game but when you consider this game on the grade level specific Kindergrarten page, it might be difficult. You shoot the bullet ball with a number on it at another ball with a different number on it to make a different number. You focus on one sum the whole time with the ability to chose from the numbers 4-15. The fourth grade page had exciting categories like technology and problem solving. The Magic Library is a typing game featuring falling letters of varying speeds which causes the typist to react quickly thus honing their typing skills.
I am really surprised with this website. The next time my nephew comes over I am going to direct him to these games instead of some of the other ones he likes playing. I think this particular website is designed for teachers and parents to use as a teaching tool. I can see myself using this as a special activity for students who have earned the time to play on it therefore making it more desirable. Overall it is fun and exciting with many options for every student be entertained while learning.

TogetherVille an Online Neighborhoods for Kids was a site I found under the tag 'community'. It's a social networking community that parents establish for the kids where their neighborhood consists of real life, already established friends and family.... Or so that what it says. After trying to go to the page to investigate further, it apparently is no longer in service but it offers alternative safe sites that are all Disney brand.

Freezly.com is the website for all those coupon clipping, free sample hunting people out there. It list by category all the free stuff on the Internet. As a couponer, I love this. I often check Target.com samples and Shop4freebies.com to scoop up any free sample I can and this website directs me to all the other sites out there as well and lines them up neatly. I could use this to collect free items for my future classroom and students.

Overall Web2.0 is pretty cool but not necessarily reasonable when Google is already my preferred browser and does pretty much the same thing with a different sort of accuracy.