Teaching and Learning With web 2.0 Tools

Over the course of this class I have learned several new things about teaching and learning with Web 2.0 tools.  While exploring various tools encountered through personal experimentation and tools suggested by others, I have found that there are a number of advantages associated with using Web 2.0 in education such as: providing interactive learning, enables collaboration with peers, promotes and fosters creativity, builds critical thinking skills, allows for students to reflect on their learning, ability to be shared, and many technologies have simple steps to follow to begin using them.

I have found that the major strength in using Web 2.0 tools is the ease of access.  Many, if not all, tools are available through cloud-based or web-based platforms, which allows for them to be used anywhere there is Internet access.  This means that students and teachers have the ability to utilize the tools at school or away from school.  Along with accessibility, most of the tools are free and provide several features when using the free versions.  This can be particularly beneficial for a "flipped" classroom, in which the lesson is recorded and shared with students.  Students have the capability of pausing a lesson in order to take notes or draw a model, answer comprehension questions to check for understanding, and share the information with parents or peers.Web 2.0 tools can also be used as center activities to reinforce or reteach content, during small group instruction for students who are not currently working in the small group. or as an exit ticket when completing a lesson.

Some of the Web 2.0 tools we explored included Twitter, YouTube, Aggregated Pages, and Social Bookmarking with Diigo.  I was unaware of the way in which Twitter can be used professionally to connect with individuals or organizations that share common goals and interest. YouTube is a great way to share lessons that students can replay, or pause. Aggregated pages and Social Bookmarking can be useful when conducting research using multiple links.  Social Bookmarking can also be used to provide "bookmarks" for resources within a given content area or subject.

Future tools will need to continue to evolve to meet the demands of our growing digital population. When we compare current technology today with that of the past, we see that devices have gotten smaller, faster, and capable of performing several different tasks simultaneously.

As students use more and more Web 2.0 tools they will expand their own digital footprint.  Some of the pitfalls of Web 2.0 tools could be in ensuring student safety and student privacy.  Another challenge may be in creating meaningful assignments.  Thus, it is imperative for educators to continue to learn about the uses and function of different web 2.0 tools.  There must be adequate professional development to ensure a smooth and thorough implementation.