Integrating Technology with Web 2.0 Resources

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Web 2.0 Overview

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Web 2 0 Overview

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Integrating Technology With New Web Resources

There are numerous innovative strategies out there today for educators that are interested in integrating technology into their curriculum. Web 2.0, also known as new media or the new web, is a prime example of how users can participate, collaborate, and distribute information via the internet. Due to the recent National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Students, teachers need to become familiar with new standards that involve integrating Web 2.0 resources (i.e. wikis, podcasts, blogs, and productivity applications, etc). The Tools for the Millenial Generation website (2009) notes, “The NETS for Teachers have also been recently refreshed to be more in alignment with the way schools need to integrate technology. The new standards are less about the mechanics of technology and planning, and more about modeling appropriate uses of technology, and leading digital leadership” (para. 4). More information regarding the NETS can be found by clicking here.

In order to engage students and make learning meaningful for students, teachers must first embrace new types of technologies such as creating a class wiki. A wiki is a web page that allows multiple users to edit its content in a quick and easy way. The Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference (2009) at George Mason define wikis as a “flexible and collaborative workspace where groups can work on documents and projects and where the editing history is automatically saved” (para. 2). Thus, students can use wikis for researching projects or conducting peer reviews on class assignments. Wikispaces can provide K-12 educators with fast, free, and easy features to create and edit classroom wikis. One of the world’s largest Wiki is the Wikipedia.

Second, one must let the technology support the content. For instance, teachers can allow their students to develop a podcast to communicate what they have learned in class. A podcast is essentially the sharing of digital audio files. The audio mp3 format allows users to send and forward comments to large numbers of listeners on host sites such as Podomatic or Gcast.

Third, teachers need to provide students with opportunities to make personal connections of their learning with friends and family members. This can be done through blogs (also known as web-logs); blogs are ongoing journals that allow the writer to publish their thoughts, get feedback, and post photos, text, and videos. However, unlike wikis, blogs can only be revised by the author. Many school districts worry about safety issues involved with blogging so they implement tools (i.e. Blackboard, Gaggle, and Moodle) that incorporate discussion features.

Finally, teachers should take “baby steps” when integrating a new technological tool with students. Teachers can initiate small tasks with students and then expand into bigger projects when they [teachers] become more comfortable with the resource. There are various web 2.0 resources that can help increase student and teacher productivity. For example, ScreenToaster ® is a web-based software that captures screencasts. Students can make their own recordings of screencasts to demonstrate how they did something; teachers can create tutorials and demonstrations to reiterate concepts and skills that were previously taught in class. Useful tools such as Gliffy ® and Lovely ® allow users to create professional-looking diagrams, floor plans, organization charts, sitemaps, technical drawings, and wireframes. Google ® Calendar also serves as a great tool to increase efficiency by allowing teachers to share and schedule classroom events with students and parents so that homework assignments, tests, and upcoming dates are organized in one central location for easy access.

David Wetzel, author of 7 Technology Tips for the Classrooms (2009), offers the following advice, “Mastery of teaching with technology tools, along with the use of web-based resources for teaching and learning content is a focal point for preparing students today” (para. 1). Teaching and modeling how to use Web 2.0 resources will help them attain knowledge and skills that are necessary to function in the digital age. In addition, we must always have a backup plan because technology failure can happen at any time and websites may be blocked for various reasons. Technology challenges our students and expands their imagination, creativity, and productivity on a daily basis. It is our job to embrace and welcome new learning opportunities for our students.

References

Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference (2009). Retrieved from http://gmu-tac.typepad.com/

Tools for the Millenial Generation (2010). Retrieved from http://millenial.wikispaces.com/

Wetzel, D. (2009). 7 Technology Tips for the Classroom Strategies and Techniques for Integrating Web 2.0 Tools (2009). Retrieved from http://teachingtechnology.suite101.com/article.cfm/7_technology_tips_for_the_classroom#ixzz0jXLhYQEa