English

=**English 2.0**= Which tools can enhance my English instruction? image by [lauren nelson]

Blogs, short for weblogs, are the natural choice for those looking to update class journals. There are a number of options for creating class blogs.
 * Blogs**

RSS can be used in journalism to keep abreast of the most recent changes in a news story. Subscribing to newspaper's stories that mention specific keywords can cut research time in half.
 * RSS**

Nings are online social communities (think closed Facebook networks) that combine a number of tools. Students can not only create personal profiles, but also blog, share videos and digital images, subscribe to RSS feeds, respond to forums and plan events. These can be used in a traditional way to offer online content and discussion in a class or to present knowledge creatively. For instance, Ning profiles can be created for writers involved in the Harlem Renaissance. Students would be asked to research the person's life and writing style, so that their representation and interactions would feel authentic. Creating profiles for characters in a piece of literature is also a possibility. Homework could involve blogging about the plot's development from their character's point of view.
 * NING**

Google Lit Trips can be used in studying works of literature or authors or they can be created to show a physical journey or highlight locations mentioned in a book.
 * Google Earth**

Voicethread Poetry Slideshows

Flickr Writing prompts

Google Docs

Twitter

Podcasting

Skype Replacing author visits with virtual visits from authors is an easy way to cut back on your budget and still provide students with contact to writers. Because of the lowered cost, it is possible to expose students to more authors or pinpoint class needs. Imaging book club members being able to ask Gennifer Chodenko about __Al Capone Does My Shirts__ at their meeting.