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Why all the fuss about Web 2.0? You may have come across some of the more popular Web 2.0 tools such as Blogs, Facebook and Twitter but why has so much excitement been generated among educators in recent years? Perhaps you would like to add a comment below. Web 2.0 means many things to different people.
One of the key features of Web 2.0 that has drawn educators is that it allows people to interact in ways that were not possible with earlier versions of the web. The new generation of web sites allows people not only to read content, but to comment on, edit and develop content online. For this reason, Web 2.0 is sometimes called the Read and Write Web.
Another development with Web 2.0 websites and tools is that they typically have an interface that is easy to use. You do not need to know HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to maintain a beautiful website. If you can use word processing software such as Microsoft Word, you should be at home creating and using blogs or managing your Facebook account. This is a great plus for busy educators.
There are a number of other definitions of Web 2.0 which you can explore below. These diverge widely depending on the audience. For educators, we might argue that the importance of Web 2.0 is the potential it affords to access and produce engaging interactive content that supports the learning experience as well as interact with people doing similar work around the world.
Web 2.0 is indeed exciting! However, it does not guarantee learning any more than previous technological advancements. Consider how revolutionary the humble blackboard and chalk was once upon a time. To be clear on the position that we will take in this session, we think it is vital that the use of Web 2.0 tools should be based on sound pedagogical practices that are designed to help the students meet the intended learning objectives. In general terms, we can say that if technology does not assist learning, it is not worth using. We hope that you stay with us to explore these issues through investigating applications of Web 2.0 tools, developing lesson plans and learning through open and supportive discussions. ---The Enhancing Lessons Team.
Web 2.0 and Business
Web 2.0 and Computing
Web 2.0 and Language Learning
If you have an extra hour, this presentation by Michael Wesch, a cultural anthropologist at Kansas State University, discusses Web 2.0 in terms of social impact. Optional, but highly recommended: http://hosted.mediasite.com/flash/ELI/HumanFuturesforTechnologyandEducation/
Comments (2)
rogeriopaescosta@... said
at 7:52 am on Jan 14, 2009
Hello everyone!
Last March I made a presentation that I decided to call "Language Learner 2.0 - autonomy and reading strategies" to undegraduate students (International Trade). I tried to show them the amazing tools we have nowadays to help our learning experience: the Web 2.0. It's not a magical solution but a great opportunity for language learners.
I made a comparison between language learners 0.0 X language learners 1.0 X language learners 2.0 (using the evolution of the web as an example) to introduce my topic: the importance of autonomy and reading strategies. I'd be glad to share the ppt file with you and get feedback in order to improve my work.
Cheers,
Rogerio
yatzirig said
at 9:57 pm on Jan 14, 2009
HI.
I saw and read about web 2.0. It's possiblities to be used as an educational tool are huge! I mainly understand one difference between Web 1.0 and 2.0, web 1.0 was mainly a read only web whereas web 2.0 gives you the posibility of hosting and creating content, it's interactivity among users has scaled up in large amounts.
I'm also a big advocate of free license software which makes it affordable for those students that have a low income.
Rogerio, I'd love to see your ppt.
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