I am a Teacher on Special Assignment working in a k-6 district. I have been working with 2.0 and trying to help teachers integrate some of the elements of 2.0 into their work and kinder has been a tough group to integrate. Podcasting has been really easy to work with and share with the community, but as far as other, more true 2.0 applications, there haven't been any really.
Some of the coming successes will be the use of wikis to strengthen parent communication, as well as blogging with parent participation to prompt discussion on different curricular areas. I think these would be great starts and I think that blogging to discuss podcasts or other projects with parent participation would really help to create knowledgeable and responsible internet users. I figure little bites are great to start with and build on.
Does anyone have any suggestions for k-6 that have proven useful?
Almost every Kindergarten class creates class books. They could create digital interactive books on a wiki. There is also a website where you can create a digital picture book that you turn the pages. I am looking for that website now and will post it soon.
Some of our primary teachers have become interested in making short videos to feature special events, first week of school, etc. and posting it on their teacher website. My favorite is One True Media which allows you to upload pictures and video. You choose styles which suggest music and add special features. All this for free! Here is an example of movie created with One True Media. http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=62e2d76d0afd3dfc61de80&ski...
We have also used ANIMOTO and Rock You to create and then embed/post on websites.
You might take a look at Voice Threads too. You make these private or public. It incorporates audio and pictures. I think young kids would love this. Check out Gaggle.net. It is used mainly as an email provide for students but they have can create blogs too.
Hope this helps!
I have used voice thread as well and my problem is trying to really create lessons and integrate the curricular goals into this tool. How does VoiceThread help to measurably increase achievement? I can see the heavy writing portion of blogging and the possible critical thinking needed for VoiceT., but I have trouble helping teachers to see this tool as anything less than a tool - and a fun one at that, which makes it seem even less academic.