Advantages for educators to
incorporate ‘web 2.0 teaching tools’ in their classrooms are for students to
professionally develop their use of web communication and for them to be able
to use these technological tools effectively. Most of your students are using web
2.0 tools on a daily basis, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace, though they may not
know what a web 2.0 tool is. Students need to learn how to communicate with
their peers in an appropriate manner using web 2.0 communication tools. If students
learn to communicate effectively with their peers hopefully this will carry on
when they enter college, the military, or the work force. The more familiar students
are with the web 2.0 tools that are available the more likely they will be able
to use those tools effectively. For example, I had not used wiki or brainshark
before W200 and that made the assignment more difficult because I hadn't been
exposed to it before. If we teach our students how to use these tools while
they are in middle/ high school students will be able to use what they learned
later on in their careers.
Students might prefer to use ‘web
2.0 teaching tools’ in their formal assignments in school because they are acclimated
with devices like the computer and/or ipads to communicate written messages to
others, for example making a post on Facebook. I believe students are going to
be more engaged with the lesson if technology is involved. Though students may
be more accustomed to using computers and ipads teachers need to make sure
students understand that the assignment is to be done in a formal manner. ‘Web
2.0 teaching tools’ can be used to have students learn how to research a topic
and report on that topic, like the brainshark presentation I completed for
W200.
I think the overall impact ‘web
2.0 teaching tools’ have had for both teachers and students is positive when
used effectively. When I graduated from high school in 2011 I hadn't used web 2.0
teaching tools in any of my classes, because of this I felt unprepared for
college. I don’t think many teachers are integrating technology into their
classrooms, but I think that will change as more college students graduate as
teachers because they were taught how to use these technologies. Teachers can
engage their students more effectively and students are more likely to
participate in the lesson when teachers use technology like ‘web 2.0 teaching
tools.’
