BP5_Gaggle

Gaggle.net

The web 2.0 tool that I selected to use and write about is called Gaggle. Gaggle is a Web 2.0 tool that can be used in any educator's environment of students from grades 4th - 12th grade. Personally, I would probably not use it for students any younger. I have given access to one of my classes and I cannot keep the students off of it. Currently each day, my students come into class and must make a post on their social wall for all students in the class to view and comment for their bell ringer. I must tell you that I have not problem getting the even most shy student to use the tool and comment. My students look forward to using it now each day in class. They are even on Gaggle at night before going to bed talking about things like basketball tryouts and being nervous. While other students are encouraging them.

Gaggle is a social networking tool that can be set up for your school allowing all teachers and students as powerful, yet strictly monitored means of communicating using chat, blogs, a social wall, message boards, and email. Gaggle allows its users to set up a home page wall similar to iGoogle with a Social Networking Wall gadget added to post comments and create friendships similar to that of Facebook.
With Gaggle, students can send each other and teachers email. I have chosen to limit incoming email to teachers and students at our school only and not the general public. Teachers can email students their assignments for students to work on before coming to class.Within Gaggle, students have access to the Web 2.0 tool Zoho Document which allows them the ability to create text, word processing, spreadsheet documents and presentations. They can store the files in a digital locker for the student to save and/or edit at a later time. The files created can be emailed to their teachers for grading or shared with other students to work on especially in completing a group project. Thus reducing the need for printed paper, especially at a time when schools are going green.

Students have the capability to create blog, respond to message their class and or school message board and participate in Chat. Gaggle also offers GaggleTube which is school friend YouTube for students to view videos as necessary. Students can add widgets to their home page such as mail, digital locker, chat, message boards, blogs social wall calendar and weather of their town. They can also add third party widgets to include news, and educational widgets really having to ability to personalize their homepage to make it work for them. Also, within Gaggle, there are multiple training videos for teachers and students to learn more about how to set up settings, personal and student preferences for each application. All activity on Gaggle is also strictly monitored by Gaggle support as well as the school administrator. Therefore, Gaggle, is a Web 2.0 tool that every educator can take advantage of with the ease of knowing their students have access to 21st century tools to help to engage students in the learning process. To find out more about Gaggle,  just click the link. Gaggle Website address