Wallwisher


 * What is Wallwisher and how do I use it in my classroom? **

 What is Wallwisher?

 Wallwisher is a Web 2.0 tool that allows anyone to build a “wall.” The walls that people build on this site are comparable to notice boards. It is basically a site where a person can post virtual “sticky notes.” It takes about five to ten minutes to create your own wall depending on how simple or involved you would like your wall to be. Once your wall is created anyone can visit it, if you so choose. They would simply type in a URL address assigned to your wall, double-click anywhere on the page, and post their thoughts in a virtual post-it note.

 How could you use Wallwisher in the classroom?

There are countless ways Wallwisher can be used as an educational tool. I have personally used this tool in my classroom and was very pleased with the results. During presentations about the provinces and territories of Canada, I had each student write things that they learned from their classmate’s projects. Their assignment was to then post one thing they learned from the presentations on a wall I had created. The instructions given in class were simple, easy to follow, and not one student had a problem completing the task. This was an easy assignment that was also effective. The students were very engaged during the presentations because they could not wait to post what they learned about Canada on Wallwisher. This is the link to my Wallwisher notice board about Canada:

Canada Wallwisher

This is just one specific example of how you can use Wallwisher in the classroom but there are countless others. Perhaps you want your students to post one fact they learned after studying the Amazon Rainforest on Wallwisher. Or maybe you want your students to post one sentence about a favorite character in a book they have just read in a class. Either way, students’ learning can be fueled by the urge to use this Web 2.0 tool. To create your own Wallwisher:
 * Simply go to [|www.wallwisher.com] and sign up.
 * Registration is free and does not take more than five minutes.
 * Once you are signed in, you are ready to create your wall!
 * The site will walk you through step-by-step on how to create a wall.
 * You will choose your URL, the title of your wall, background color, who can view your wall, and who can post sticky notes. There is also an option, which allows you to approve every post before it shows up on the wall. This is a nice feature when using it in the classroom to avoid anything inappropriate being posted on your wall.
 * Once you choose your preferences, click “Done” and your wall is ready to be posted on!