Summer PD Series: Web 2.0 for Educators
Yesterday a number of our teachers participated in a Web 2.0 for Educators workshop. The purpose of the session was to (1) heighten awareness concerning the differences between Web 1.0 (digification of media) and Web 2.0 (interaction with media) and (2) explore how the read/write web can foster communication, collaboration, creativity, and design.
What is Web 2.0?
Much has been written on the subject of defining Web 2.0, but I think one of the best explanations comes from Kansas State University professor Dr. Michael Wesch:
Wesch’s short video drives home the point that “Web 2.0 is linking people…people sharing, trading, and collaborating…” When educators embrace these possibilities, they will find no shortage of engaging tools at their disposal.
Communication and Collaboration Tools
Learning is not an isolated, confined process, and while teachers need to be near the center of a child’s learning experiences, they do not have to be the center. Students who use blogs to publish for a wider audience, collaborate outside of school on shared documents, or develop a network through social bookmarking are extending their education beyond the classroom. When students are emerged in a “2.0″ world, the timeless question of “who’s your teacher” shifts to become “who’s reading, responding to, and collaborating on your ideas?”. Tools like WordPress, MediaWiki, Google Docs, Acrobat.com, del.icio.us and others can make that happen.
Creativity and Design
As I’ve stated before, students are creative by nature and we need to provide opportunities for creative expression. Formal papers are not the only method for demonstrating understanding, and when media-rich alternatives are employed, they must be utilized with an eye toward good design. Creating digital stories, animations, artwork, books and other products blends the mastery of course content with the acquisition of real world skills. VoiceThread, Kerpoof, Mixbook, ccMixter and countless other Web 2.0 tools can facilitate this process in and out of the classroom.
A Few Points to Consider
Each teacher took something different away from the workshop, but here are the four points that I hope unified everyone’s experience:
- Web 2.0 isn’t about any one tool; it’s the collective power of the read/write web.
- Structure learning experiences around the task(s) the resource can facilitate rather than on the resource itself.
- Public means public. Students need to be aware of the scope of their audience.
- Web 3.0 (the semantic web) on the way!
If you haven’t done so already, I would encourage you to explore some of the tools and techniques highlighted here. If used effectively, they can support your curriculum and help your students understand what it means to be part of the “machine” that is Web 2.0.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:52 am
It’s great to see that there are workshops being provided for educators about web 2.0. I personally believe the future of the classroom lies within web 2.0 and I’m excited to see the results of what happens. As a person that works for a company that produces note software, I’m especially excited anytime that technology is being accepted more and more into the classroom.
Workshops such as the one you spoke about keep me optimistic about my future hypothetical childrens’ technological education! Thanks for the post!