Implementing Web 2.0 technologies in class enhances a student’s learning experience. There are many benefits for students, teachers, and parents in implementing them in our school. I would like to discuss a few advantages of using these technologies in order to demonstrate the benefits of their use.
The first benefit that I would like to discuss is relevancy. As instructors, we all know that learning must be relevant to students. I remember using computer applications in grade school that had little real-world use. Of course that was a few years ago and computers were not widely available back then. However, my point is that students will be more vested in learning if they can use their new knowledge outside of the classroom. Many Web 2.0 technologies are used by many users all over the world (such as YouTube, Twitter, and Google Drive). For example, did you know that more than 1 billion unique users visit YouTube each month? Using these technologies in class makes the learning experience more relevant to learners. In addition, the learning curve for students could be less since they may be familiar with how to use applications that they already use on a daily basis. This could result in student projects where the end result reflects that it is less about learning how to use an application and more about the content that students are presenting.
The second advantage that I would like to discuss is availability. A benefit for our school to start using Web 2.0 technologies is that many of them are widely available from anywhere without needing to purchase expensive software. In most cases, students can access them from any computer, anywhere in the world. We would no longer be restricted in how students share their work with their peers, teachers, and parents. Parents can view their kid’s Civil War video project on YouTube from any computer in their home or mobile device. This allows parents to participate more in their kid’s school work. Back when I was in school, if I created a project on a computer the only way my parents could see it is if they went to my school. This could also enhance teacher-parent conferences since there would be less time spent on the work that students create and more focus on discussing overall performance and areas of opportunities.
This leads me to discussing a third advantage, ease of collaboration. Group projects are simplified and made to fit all different types of student schedules. Like working adults, students can have busy schedules too. Some of them may need to sleep early to attend swim practice early in the morning or others may have soccer practice after school. Extra-curricular activities, although rewarding, can take up a large part of a student’s day. So getting students to work together at the same time can be difficult, which could result in substandard projects. Students can collaborate with their peers without needing to meet at a specific time by using tools such as Google Drive or discussion forums. This allows student groups to maintain communication and provide feedback while allowing them to participate on their own time. If students did need to meet real-time, Web 2.0 technologies can facilitate the experience. Let’s say a parent just got off work and needs to make dinner and take their kid to their friend’s house to work on their project. These types of situations would no longer be stressful for our students and their parents if we implement the use of video conferences. Our kids are already using Skype, Facetime, and Google Hangouts to chat with their friends. Why not put this technology to use in our school? In the example that I just presented, the parent can go straight home and prepare dinner without needing to drop off their kid with their friend and having to pick them up.
Let’s review the advantages of Web 2.0 technologies. By implementing the use of Web 2.0 technologies in our school, we are making learning more relevant to students. We will get more buy in from them and their parents. We are also using applications that are widely available and in most cases for free. This can allow our school to allocate funds in our budget for other needs. Lastly, we can enhance the way our students collaborate with their peers by using applications that they already use on a daily basis and simplifying the routine of family life.
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Great point. Using advanced technologies in the classroom like Web 2.0 make learning in the classroom relevant to the students. For me, it does not make any sense that students outside the classroom use different kinds of technologies while in the classroom they still use Power Point and MS.
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