Netvibes


 * **Netvibes (BE 10/25/09)**


 * Resources**

Homepage: [|Netvibes] Digital Trends List of Top Web 2.0 Tools for 2009-2010: [|Best of Web 2.0]** Lesson Plan Ideas: []

Netvibes represents the latest in versatile UI manipulation on a web browser, in essence its a program that tailors the best parts of your internet experience by using several popular widgets such as: Facebook, AIM, email, Myspace, news, weather and stocks all accessible on one customizable website display.

SWOT Analysis **


 * Strengths: **
 * Show many topics to students at a time on one single page
 * High customization leads to innovative ideas by students to create their own artistic interpretations of the website display and widgets
 * Community development by sharing widgets and pages with fellow students, teachers and parents fosters growth and support of technology in the classroom
 * Private pages may lead to new development in research/development


 *  Weaknesses: **


 * A lot of widgets may be too difficult to grasp at first
 * Lack of support for at-risk students or those unfamiliar with web 2.0 tools
 * Requires skills more advanced than beginners to navigate and interact with fellow users
 * No real tracking of content available

Opportunities: ** 
 * 
 * Students may engage in online journal diaries or upload photos and discuss homework with twitter and social networking widgets
 * Collaboration and communication may improve between classmates strengthening relationships and building social skills
 * An effective teaching tool for maps and topography with Google earth widgets and iPhone applications ready for mobile use as well
 * Threats: **
 * Bad widgets may include malaware or viruses
 *  Widgets gone wild! Make sure that there is a cap or some limit to the amount otherwise the page may get lost amid widget-mania with an unchecked student imagination

 **Ideas for the classroom:

**
 * Activities involving tracking the local weather may be a great opportunity for students to familiarize technology with math, science and the environment
 * Creating a new widget or upload blogs and share ideas by connecting student websites into a giant resource page, which could be linked with other web 2.0 tools for other educators such as Digg or YouTube with multimedia embedded content

