Are you ready for Web 2.0?
Just when we think we are getting used to the internet, ‘personalised learning’, ‘Managed Learning Environments’ etc, along comes another phenomenon- Web 2.0. Are you ready for it? You may be already..the fact that you are reading this blog and hopefully responding to the articles with comments show that you have taken a step into the Web 2.0 pool (albeit at the shallow end..)
What is Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 does not refer to any new upgrade or change in the technical standards associated with the web. However it represents a new concept in how those standards are being used or how they will be used in the future.
Basically Web 2.0 refers to the way the web and its tools are used to engage in online collaboration and sharing with others. Rather than using your web page as a static online pamphlet, publishing your school, business or your own web site, Web 2.0 software tools allow you to collect and respond to feedback from your web site visitors.
You can in effect set up and manage your own community, sharing photos or collaborating on work documents using blogs, wikis, podcasts or online documentation such as Googles’ documents and spreadsheet software. The programs that you need to use are freely available on the web.
A list of free Web 2.0 services and programs have been reviewed by Don Hinchcliffe. Check his article here
What does it mean for me as a teacher?
Well, quite simply, the kids are already out there with Web 2.0 programs. The question you need to ask yourself is how can you harness Web 2 in your teaching? Remember ‘personalised learning’? I have listed some examples where Web 2.0 software and standards are being used
Edublogs web site (For teachers and students wanting to set up their own blogs)
Wikis- online collaboration and publishing tools (Visit Shambles for more information)
Podcasting- Probably the easiest way to get started. There are a huge range of education podcasts created by children that are accessible along with open ended software programs such as Audacity which will allow you to easily create your own class podcasts.
Google’s free online document and spreadsheets application programs (This will get right up Microsoft’s nose!!) Not to mention Google’s truly outstanding CAD program Sketchup which is free to all and it interacts with Google earth. I have downloaded and tried Sketch up and would make it a mainstream piece of software in my maths class.
There is also a wide variety of sites where photos and images can be shared. Flickr is one example. I must admit that I have some reservations about sharing photo images. Indeed there are some discussions on this already. What do you think?
I wonder how many of your students are already using Web 2.0 programs? Probably a lot more than their teachers. How could we take advantage of Web 2 and use it in creating lessons that will engage and motivate?
Over to you…
