Web 2.0 in your Classroom

Web 2.0 describes web sites that use technology beyond the static pages of earlier web sites. The term was coined in 1999 by Darcy DiNucci and was popularized by Tim O'Reilly at the O'Reilly Media Web 2.0 conference in late 2004.[1][2] Although Web 2.0 suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to any technical specification, but rather to cumulative changes in the way web pages are made and used.(Wikipedia, 2009) The definition is clear but what we are taught to describe when speaking on technology is how easy and user friendly it is. But what is not expressed is the usefulness of a new technology series is. The usefulness of Web 2.0 is endless right now.

Learning has changed to the point that we must change with it as administrators and teachers or it will pass us by. One way we can do this is integrating Web 2.0 into our classrooms everyday. As scary as this may seem to some of us, there will be a major pay off eventually. The pay off may seem small now to change our entire learning system and teaching system to fit Web 2.0, but I promise you it will pay huge dividends down the road not only for academia but for the students as well.

If deeper learning is the meaning behind teachers philosophies then Web 2.0 is the only way we can reach a students thresh hold of learning. Integrating technology into your classroom can be very beneficial for the school as well as the students. Being a cutting edge technology based learning school you offer more of a diverse base to your curriculum as well as a fun learning environment. 

Some major examples of Web 2.0 are evident in every classroom or business. Web 2.0 technologies empower learners to create personalized and community-based collaborative environments (Tu, 2008). These environments are established as breakthrough learning powers in the academia world. If every teacher would integrate Web 2.0 into their class room, the students would see a dramatic increase in deeper meaning/ learning of the subject matter while being able to be connected to other students to the same thing and assisting each other with the topic/ assignment. 

Powtoons is a PowerPoint like program that uses a lot of the same tools as PowerPoint but is a web based system that continues to allow a group of students to collectively work on a project with animations and voice threads. This example is one of the best tools to explaining exactly what Web 2.0 can accomplish. Often the idea of groups outside the classroom or workforce is viewed as a time burden. But with interactive projects that can be collectively worked on from numerous locations that is no longer the case. Programs like Powtoons allows a student to be an individual and be able to show emotion and other traits of their personality through their work (Moore, 2013).

The scariest thing about integrating Web 2.0 into your classroom would be actually getting started. My lesson plan would consist of many different forms of Web 2.0 technologies. My lesson plan would consist of taking all social media and recreating it using many different educational tools. This allows a student to get engaged in the process. There are many students who use Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc., so there is going to be a large number of students interested in how those programs work. And if I can get students to take the knowledge they have about those sites and transfer it into these different programs they will be pros at the Web 2.0 series very quickly.

Next my lesson plan would consist of a survey that each student will have to fill out and get their parents and family members to fill out. This would consist of data that would be asking about anything that their topic would be on. Then use a site that creates surveys/ graphs for you there are many but the one I like in the Web 2.0 series is Survey Monkey for the surveys and Chart Go for the charts. (shamet, 2011) The project it self is simple but teaches the basics of how web 2.0 can create and evaluate information through many forms of technology and through a broad spectrum of medias. (Chartgo.com)

Web 2.0 is the only idea that I will use in my classroom pushing forward and I hope that my colleagues and administrators around the country do that same and give our own ideas a jump start and be open to new possibilities to help advance today's youth that is so thirsty for technology and improvements in it.

Resources:

Tu, C., Blocher, M., & Ntoruru, J. (2008). Integrate social networking technology to facilitate online professional community. Educational Media International, 45 (4), 335–341.

Moore, Cathy. "How Humor Helps + Powtoon Review." (n.d.): n. pag. Cathy Moore. 21 July 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2013.

Shamet1. "Web 2.0 Lesson Plan (t3)." Web 2.0 Lesson Plan (t3). N.p., 4 Dec. 2011. Web. 14 Oct. 2013.

"Web 2.0." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2013.