I decided to research Web 2.0 Tools for my blog research assignment and as I explored, I learned alot, as I was not previously clear on what Web 2.0 Tools were and the vast possibilites that exist when they are used. I learned that Web 2.0 tools are authoring tools that are available to anyone via the Internet and provide users with powerful capabilities of generating and sharing information online through blogs, wikis, online portfolios, social networking sites, podcasts, etc.
**********The following is the citation for the article I read:
Gersh, Sheila Offman. "Global Projects and Digital Tools." MultiMedia & Internet @ Schools Jan.-Feb. 2009: 10-13. Academic Complete. Web. 3 Nov. 2009. http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/results/results_single_ftPES.jhtml.
In this article, the author focuses on the "need to make our students 21st-century and global learners ..." and how Web 2.0 Tools are a great resource to accomplish this task. When referring to today's students, Gersh says, "Outside of school they are texting, using cell phones, creating social networks on the internet, and playing interactive games online; they often do all these things at the same time -- multitasking. They expect to use some of these tools when in school." Most importantly, the skills they can gain through using these tools can also be used to enhance and strengthen, and even complement the teacher's lessons/instruction. These Web 2.0 tools promote global collaborative projects. We can learn from others by using the internet, videoconferencing with experts, creating interactive, collaborative environments and these types of activities help "students develop their own authentic projects based on their own interests and questions about other cultures. When given these opportunities, students "become engaged and eager learners" ... and "are also more eager to produce work that is of high quality because they are now sharing their work with a real audience." Gersh sums it up by saying, "It's an exciting time in education. Teachers and students have the tools to .... make learning and teaching exciting."
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You are totally right. I think that kids will be much more inclined to sharing their work because there is no live audience. It is a great way for the more quite and unspoken kids to express themselves.
ReplyDeleteExcellent scholarly article. Your summary and quotations bring this topic alive - and help us to keep current on this topic - which is a challenge to do! Good work
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