Topic 7 - Web 2.0

Sitting in a classroom, listening to a teacher lecture about the culture in another part of the world (or just about any topic) can be boring, to say the least.  Luckily, we live in an age when just listening to someone talk is no longer necessary.  Now we can not only teach our students in the classroom, but we can also create a direct link to the information being taught.  There is no reason not to take advantage of all the benefits that a Wiki or a blog can provide our students.  Both of these items can easily take a simple classroom lecture to the next level of learning by making our students active participants in the discovery of information. 

Doing a Google search for practically anything will no doubt render a variety of websites and one of those will no doubt be a Wiki.  A wiki is similar to a basic website in that both can offer a myriad of information on a specific topic.  However, that is where the similarities end.  A Wiki is a website whose information is provided by the users of the Wiki.  Just imagine the possibilities in the classroom.  For instance, let’s say that Mr. Huddleston (Mr. H) wanted his 10^th grade History class to research and discuss the Civil War and to post the information on a Wiki.  Mr. H put the students into groups.  Each group is responsible for a specific topic within the Civil War (Underground Railroad, specific battles, Abraham Lincoln, etc.).  Each group then could go on to research and post that information on the Wiki.  Mr. H will serve as the Wiki administrator and make sure that the information is verifiable and is cited correctly.  Now, Mr. H wants his students to really grasp how important the Civil War was in America’s history and how that affects them today.  So, Mr. H then decides to open the Wiki to other history classes from different schools and allow the information to be shared.  Mr. H’s students can then participate in other Wiki’s and see the difference in information that has been found.  The students are actively engaged in teaching themselves about history and how it affects them today.  Another similar website that could easily share the same information is a blog.  A blog is an online personal journal or can serve as a class journal.  A user can post information on a blog and other users can respond or add comments to the blog post but cannot edit or change the original post.  So, let’s go back to Mr. H’s 10^th grade History class.  Mr. H might choose a blog instead of a Wiki and his students could easily post their history research in their blog (or class blog) to share with other individuals.  A student might post information on the class blog about how the Civil War affected the southern states vs. the northern states.  Other students from the class can respond to the original post and add additional information.  Blogs are similar to Wiki’s in that each can be open to other users or just a specific group.  Blogs and Wiki create an atmosphere where the information is easily shared in the classroom, nationally, and globally.  Teaching and the tools that the internet offers need to compliment one another and not be opposing forces with the causalities being the students’ innovation.

Social bookmarking and Voice Thread is yet another way to share information in classrooms across the globe.  Most individuals are familiar with bookmarking a website.  However, Social Bookmarking is a little different.   “Unlike storing bookmarks in a folder on your computer, tagged pages are stored on the Web and can be accessed from any computer” (whatis.com, 2008).  Therefore, a student could bookmark their websites for a research assignment in a Social Bookmarking website and then could retrieve those same bookmarked sites while at home for an easy transition.  However, those bookmarked sites will be shared with other individuals possibly looking for the same information.  This could alleviate some of the monotonous “digging for information” by guiding the student directly where they need to find what they are looking for.  Part of being in school is learning to utilize your resources.  Social Bookmarking is such an example of a resource.  However, an additional part of being a student is learning how to find the information on your own without having a shortcut.  Social Bookmarking can be used as a shortcut in searching for information and if used properly, can be a great tool in the classroom.  Another valuable example of a resource that students can use is called a Voice Thread.  Students love to see and hear themselves speak and perform.  A Voice Thread can allow for both in the classroom.  In this impressive way to collaborate with information, students can hear and see other students from across the globe, while sharing information.   Although this information is not in real time, most students will still be captivated by listening, hearing, and seeing other students from across the globe.  All it takes is a microphone and a webcam to be able to create a Voice Thread.  There is no software that is needed to be able to share a presentation of information or to even be able to create a class project.  Let’s revisit Mr. H’s history class.  If Mr. H wanted his students to create a Voice Thread instead of a Wiki or blog, all he would have to do is give them the website to post to.  The students then could compile the information and verbally record the information found on the specific topics to share with other classrooms globally.  Having a verbal and visual connection can easily engage even the most disinterested of students to participate in sharing information and the ultimate goal of meaningful learning.  Another example is a second grader who can take home a website address to share with Mom and Dad, instead of the common (and still treasuredJ) refrigerator art.  Mom and Dad can look at the class project online and orally hear their child speaking about the class assignment.  Voice Threads offer an invaluable tool that most interaction with the computer do not have… a personal connection.  Teachers need to study and utilize the awesome potential of Voice Threads.

Classrooms today are not the only demographic to benefit from the specialized websites available on the internet.  There are many websites devoted to teaching and more specifically the teacher in general.  One such example is Tapped In.  Tapped In offers a variety of online resources including discussions with experts, private meetings, public conference rooms, software/technology education, a monthly newsletter and many other resources for teaching.   Teachers need every resource available to use in the classroom.  Tapped In appears to be a valuable tool that teachers can use to get the answers to some difficult questions while offering advice to fellow teachers as to what works in the classroom.  While not personally being familiar with Tapped In, it does seem to offer the support that every teacher will need at some point in their career. 

Each of the Web 2.0 applications that are available offers a realm of possibilities both in and out of the classroom.  Teachers need to know how to utilize them and how they can create a pattern of learning for our students that will take them into the next generation.  I believe our textbook, Meaningful Learning with Technology, said it best, “Knowledgeable teachers who are confident in their use of technology will plan more learning experiences involving technology for their students, and those experiences will encourage learning processes that require students to be active, constructive participants will engage in cooperative, authentic tasks with intentional goals and outcomes” (Jonassen, et al., 2008).

Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R., & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful learning With Technology(3rd Edition). Columbus, OH: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

www.voicethread.com.  (2007). Retrieved on March 3, 2011 from http://voicethread.com/about/features/

www.whatis.com.  (2008). Retrieved on March 3, 2011 from http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci1168840,00.html