Comments on: Web 2.0, Web 2.0, Web 2.0 again!

By: Anthony Macchiarola

Anthony Macchiarola — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:53:10 +0000

I thought this was an interesting article. I especially liked the distinction between multitasking and task-switching. While multitasking can increase efficiency when one of the tasks is routine, task-switching normally inhibits productivity. I think that most of the destractions in the classroom are a result of task-switching (stopping classwork to text their friend) rather than multitasking (listing to their i-pods while doing their homework). I think most of the rules are in place to stop the destractible behaviors but naturally they limit opportunities to practice and become efficient at multitasking.

By: Ryan Haver

Ryan Haver — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:04:24 +0000

The notion that all of our students need the access to some sort of Web 2.0 seems a little bit unattainable presently. However, it’s absolutely going to be a part of the students jobs, education, and social lives for the foreseeable future. Stemming from this fact there is an obvious need that must be addressed and is mentioned towards the end of the article, the playing field must be leveled for students to be successful. Web 2.0 devices and tools must be made available in schools and classrooms for some students to have an interest in working with them out of the traditional school environment.
Currently I’m struggling to get administration to unblock websites to allow my classroom to incorporate them.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:36:06 +0000

I’m a little confused!! What exactly is Web 2.0? Is it a program that will be used or is it using technology that is more Web Based? I didn’t want to read this article because taking 3 other classes; I have way too much on my plate. However, there is a ton of stuff in here that I’m not doing, but because I see what I’m missing I’ll try and do more. I think the first step that needs to be taken is to involve the parents. If i were to do a class blog or a wiki, I would want the parents to have access to it as well. This way they can monitor or get involved with their child’s education. I have just started using voicethread.com in my class and the kids love it, but it is a tremendous amount of work for me. I think it is important for teachers to ease into Web Based technology and limit it to one or two classes per assignment; otherwise it becomes to labor intensive. I will continue to use voicethread, Ellumination, and soon blogs to help the students learn, but I’m still a little apprehensive because I feel students won’t fulfill their side of the bargain.

By: Jamie D

Jamie D — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:30:03 +0000

I believe Web 2.0 tools are beneficial and certainly have a place in the classroom of the 21st century. I think the most motivating part of the suite of Web 2.0 tools is that students actually get an authentic audience that is genuinely interested in their work. Just like the example of the student who normally get’s B’s and C’s in school who spent hours on his anime videos: there was a real audience who were interested in what he was creating, which encouraged him to tinker and tweak his videos to make them as good as possible. This isn’t the case with a book report, as students usually just do the bare minimum (they find them meaningless and the teacher is the only one who reads it anyway so what’s the point).

With that said, there needs to be a delicate balance. In an age where state curricula is jam packed it is a challenge (maybe even impossible) to adapt every topic of every content area to a constructivist lesson either student centered in the classroom or using Web 2.0 tools. However, when appropriate activities can be designed, students will achieve a better understanding of the content.

By: Joel Peterson

Joel Peterson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:13:30 +0000

I agree that the Web 2.0 resources are vital to a comtemporary constructivist classroom. The technology exists aside from education, and teachers have the pleasant burden of incorporating these technologies into their classroom. Students in America are falling behind their foreign counterparts in both their achievement in education and skills using technology. Many students will have jobs that don’t even exist at the present time, and we much teach them how to be dynamic and keep pace with the constantly changing technological environment.

While the technology is used to enhance a given curriculum, it is the use of this technology itself that teaches students new skills that are not specific to a given subject. For example, students in a physics class could be responding to questions in a discussion board to reinforce difficult concepts, but they are also acquiring the skills, methods, and etiquette of online communication.

By: Kaci Duffy

Kaci Duffy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:13:12 +0000

While reading the article Web 2.0, the idea of Literacy 2.0 struck a chord. I was sort of taken back my student being encouraged to “take the reins”. I do not like the idea of students creating alternate assessments for their classmates. I think the idea behind this looks wonderful on paper but impossible in an actual classroom. Whatever happened to student studying hard to acquire knowledge? It has always been suggested that students must leave the classroom understanding the objective. There has been many times where I left a classroom completely not knowing what went on, went home, opened a book and studied and figured it out for myself. A lot of responsibility has been taken away from the student and the finger has been pointed at the teacher instead. I do feel that students need to be exposed to technology considering our society is based on them. I just do not want to use technology for the sake of using it. If I can teach a topic and teach it well with lecture than that is what I plan on doing.

By: Mark Stewart

Mark Stewart — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:14:01 +0000

Yes, I am. I am currently bouncing around what I will blog about, but I went and set up a blog page at blogger.com. I have to get it unblocked so that students can access it at school as well as at home. Mark

By: Michael S

Michael S — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:03:35 +0000

Web 2.0 I found to be very interesting. I feel if everyone who is an educator and an administrator understood what web 2.0 was all about that we could work together and incorporate it into the curriculum somehow. I would love to use some of the ideas I read about in my classroom. I used google.docs in one of my grad class which is great for collaboration on group projects. I think next time I do a collaboration project in my classroom I will have the students use some kind of online website where they can post their project and others in their groups will be able to access it and make changes to the document. A blog would be another good way to get students involved they could respond to question or posts or could voice their opinion on different subjects. All are great ideas. One thing that concerns me is that many students when they leave school do not have access to technology such as a computer so you would have to find a way to meet their needs during the school day.

By: Lisa Yonnone

Lisa Yonnone — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:38:24 +0000

Web 2.0 is a necessity for the future. Teachers need to learn how to use and embrace Web 2.0 in the classroom. Web 2.0 is new to me and the more I find out about, the more I see how it can enhance the classroom. Simply tasks like collaboration, peer reviewing, and essay writing can all be addressed with the use of Web 2.0. Having students actually take pride in their work is a problem that teachers face. Many students feel like the only person that is going to see their work is the teacher, so why should they put there all into it? If the students knew everyone on the web was going to look at it, I can guarantee that a better product would be produced.

I love the fact that Web 2.0 tools allow students to write, edit, add, delete, and combine multiple works. I was always told that two heads are better than one. With a Wikki or a blog, students can post work, and then have other students review it, fix anything that needs fixing, or add to it. Students also can comment on others products and voice opinions without the pressures from other students. This is a wonderful thing. Another thing I love about Web 2.0 tools is the freedom it grants students. Maybe essay writing is very difficult for a student and he would rather create a Voice Thread that relays the same message. Web 2.0 gives students different avenues to go down to reach the same end result.

Over all I think Web 2.0 is here and teachers have to learn to go with it instead of fight it. We as teachers need to get our students ready for the world they are going to live in, not the one we do. Web 1.0 was used solely for the retaining of information. On the other hand, Web 2.0 is used as a way for us to present the information we learned in a way that makes sense to us. Web 2.0 lets students construct knowledge in a way that is meaningful to them.

By: Lindsay Wylie

Lindsay Wylie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:46:14 +0000

This article really does a nice job of explaining what web 2.0 actually is. You made an excellent point that really hit home with me. You said, “we should embrace what they know to enhance what we want them to practice”. For me this sums it all up. We should be using technology to help our students move forward. If they know how to write things like short stories, letters, etc, then why can’t we bring that knowledge to a new level. Technology allows us to open new doors for our students and we need to embrace that.

People do not realize that there are three components to web 2.0: participation, collaboration, and distribution. Tools like delicious and ning allow for students to share websites that might be helpful for certain things they are working on or interested in. Jing is also a very useful tool for students to use. They can use it for a variety of things like teaching others how to do something or using it to capture a story that they have created. Voicethread is another way to take student work to a new level. This tool allows for collaboration as well.

Many educators fear the use of technology, especially student use. However, the outcome is meant to be a positive one. Tools like these are easy to use and would really enhance student learning.