Web 2.0 Tools Questions

A ‘web 2.0 teaching tool’ is a combination of ideas, technologies and trends with emphasis on the collaboration of a user, sharing of user generated contents, editing and social networking. In the perspective of education, Web 2.0 is defined as the read write web and includes blogs, wikis, document sharing, digital storytelling, sharing of resources, social mapping, and photo stream. This is a second generation and a revolutionary way in the development of the World Wide Web that allows for manipulation of the World Wide Web and is different from first generation that was static. Educators can use these tools to engage their students and in improving some essential skills among students including communication, creativity, proficiency in technology and global awareness.

            There several advantages when educators incorporate ‘web 2.0 teaching tools’ into their curriculum. The first advantage is that it allows the educator to interact, communicate, and collaborate with their students and other educators. It helps in affording the students with more connectivity among themselves and thus provides opportunity for the student to share resources. The use of Web 2.0 allows for the creation of new knowledge for their students. Students are given a chance to create the knowledge since it offers them a chance to generate content instead of just listening to lectures. It gives the educators a chance to maintain student centered learning. In addition, the use of Web 2.0 presents the educator with a lot of flexibility besides the fact that they are easier to use. Moreover, educators who make use of Web 2.0 are in a position to gain writing technology skills. They are also in a position to understand their students better and thus motivate them.

            Students might prefer using ‘web 2.0 teaching tools’ in their formal assignments for their teachers because it allows for interaction and sharing of information. For this reason, students who make use of web 2.0 teaching tools in doing their formal assignments have a variety of avenues to consult from unlike when they are required to ask their teacher for help. It also means that the students have a wide variety of information to choose from. Moreover, a student can have access to information using web 2.0 teaching tools at any time, while it may be hard to get information from a teacher any time a student wants, since the teacher may be busy.

            The use of ‘web 2.0 teaching tools’ as had an impact on both students and teachers. One of the major impacts in the learning process is that it has motivated students to learn continually even outside the school setting. Some of the web 2.0 tools acts as go-betweens between the students and the outside world and have a potential of initiating and improving a culture of learning among students. Moreover, it has enabled students in getting essential technology and social skills that are crucial for them to contribute fully in the contemporary society. To the educators, the use of web 2.0 tools has led to increase of the toolkits that they need. It offers them an opportunity for introducing their student a good computing practices ranging from safe sharing of information to how to participate in public dialogue.