We are going back to school and it is time to start fresh with eLearning. This school year you can start trying eLearning and Web 2.0 tools slowly and with efficiency. I have created an eLearning 2.0 Back to School Guide sure to get everyone moving further into the 21Century.

1. Thinkfinity: Thinkfinity.org makes it easy for educators to enhance their classroom instruction with lesson plans, interactive activities and other online resources. Thinkfinity.org also provides a wealth of literacy resources for students, parents and after-school programs. All of Thinkfinity.org's 55,000 standards-based K-12 lesson plans, student materials, interactive tools and reference materials are reviewed by the nation's leading education organizations to ensure that content is accurate, up-to-date, unbiased and appropriate for students.
2. Ustream TV: Experience live video. In just minutes, you can broadcast and chat online with a global audience. Completely free. All it takes is a camera and Internet connection.
3. eBooks: Planet eBook provides a long list of FREE eBooks ranging from 1984 to Ulysses. All of the literature is entirely free to download. You can also get notified automatically each time they publish new eBooks by subscribing to their eBooks newsletter or eBooks blog.
4. Digication: Digication is a Web site that allows for easy creation of ePortfolios. e-Portfolios are platforms for students, teachers, alumni, and professionals to showcase their work and ideas. They are archives of learning, discovery, progress, achievement and reflection. A few uses of e-Portfolios include assessment, admissions, interactive resumes, student galleries, teacher resource sites, collaborative project portfolios, and research presentations.
5. WiZiQ: WiZiQ is a place where you can teach and learn using an easy-to-use virtual classroom. You are welcome to give private and public live online sessions, and teach for free utilizing a white board system that supports video and voice capabilities as well as record for playback.
6. edufire: edufire allows you to choose a tutor online and learn through a webcam to speak a new language.

These are not the frequently mentioned Web 2.0 tools, but they are just as effective and will definitely take your class, school, even school district to new and exciting levels. Which tool(s) can you imagine using to move further into the 21^st Century?

Cathleen Richardson is an Educational Consultant and eLearning Specialist.

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