Webbing In
Eugenia D. Coutavas

Eugenia D. Coutavas

Several years ago, while teaching in a literacy program, the classroom conversation turned to communicating with family members back home.  Calling cards were very popular at the time, but one student mentioned a way of using your computer to call abroad – for free!  They were talking about Skype.  At the time however, I had never heard of Skype and had no idea how it worked.  I felt a bit foolish being informed of this technology by my student.  It seemed to me something I should have known about. 

I share this to illustrate how technology, in this digital age, is coming at us fast and furious and as teachers we need to keep up.  I’m not advocating using the latest technology in the classroom just because it exists, but I am a proponent of knowing about what’s out there in order to better discern what application it might have in our classrooms.  Also, our students are already using an array of web 2.0 applications like: Facebook; Flickr; Youtube; blogs and wikis.  Why shouldn’t we know their ‘language’?

What is it?
A website that explains all things web 2.0 in plain English.  It’s called Common Craft and was created by a husband and wife team on the west coast.

Why do I recommend it?
This site is great for personal enrichment, but could also have various classroom applications.

How I have used it.
I have watched their entire library of videos for my own edification and have used it once in class.  I was teaching an oral skills class and was surprised to find that most of the students didn’t know what a podcast was.  (This was over a year ago.) I showed the video ‘Podcasting in Plain English’ in class.  My students really appreciated its simplicity, and I think you will too. 

I look forward to sharing my technology/Web/Internet discoveries with you. Feel free to contact me with your your discoveries at Webbing In at: dialogue@nystesol.org.

Eugenia "Debbie" Coutavas received a B.A. in History of Art with a minor in photography from the University of La Verne in Athens, Greece, and an M.A. in TESOL from Hunter College.  In addition to teaching for more than ten years, Debbie was also the Web site coordinator for Hunter College's IELI Web site.