Why Web 2.0 is Good for Learning and for Research: Principles and Prototypes

Keri’s Definition of a Web 2.0 Tool:

- A new generation of the web that mixes multiple forms of interactive technology. Instead of just presenting the information on a topic, giving the user the opportunity to explore and experience in a whole new way.

Classifications for Web 2.0 Tools:

- Interactive

- Collaborative

- Perpetual Beta

- Accessible

Sample Web 2.0 Tools - Do they meet the criteria? Do they support a constructivist teaching model? How could the tool be used effectively in a classroom?

- Flickr – image hosting website

o Flickr is very interactive and collaborative. And, it is accessible to anyone with a yahoo email address (which is free). The tool is not in a perpetual beta mode; however they are changing and making updates to their site to keep it fresh.

o Flickr supports a constructivist learning model because it enables the students to be in charge of their learning. They can take their own pictures, or they can choose from the thousands of Creative Commons pictures on the web.

o Flickr could be used in a classroom as a repository for student work. There is a website called FD’s Flickr Tools that will enable the students to manipulate their pictures into movie posters, etc. No longer are they confined to paper and crayons. I have also seen it used, with TEAM, where we were all in a group and then we commented on each others work within the group each week.

- Slideshare – a site where the user is able to post a previously completed slideshow to the Internet.

o Slideshare is not extremely interactive or collaborative. However, you can post comments on user’s presentations. The site is extremely accessible, especially if you are just looking for a presentation. If you want to post a presentation then you must sign up for an account. Slideshare is a free tool. This tool is not in a perpetual beta mode; however they are changing and making updates to their site to keep it current.

o Slideshare supports a constructivist learning model because the students can create their own presentations using pictures. In addition, it supports a constructivist teaching model because it allows a teacher to create a presentation using pictures if she feels that this would benefit her students.

o Slideshare could be used by a teacher that wanted her students to be able to view a presentation that was given during a lesson at home. The teacher could upload the presentations to Slideshare. The teacher could even then embed the presentations on a class website that the students are more familiar with (to make it even more accessible for younger students.

- Photostory – a Microsoft program that allows you to narrate still pictures

o Photostory is very interactive and rather accessible (only to PC users though). It enables students to take photographs, add transitions and narrate them, in a very simple way. The program is very simple to use and can easily be taught to elementary school children. The tool is not extremely collaborative, as the students cannot really interact with each other once they are done. They can however, take what they have produced and publish it to an online video hosting site, where others can comment on their work.

o Photostory definitely supports a constructivist learning model because, like Slideshare, it enables the students to create their own presentations using pictures. It allows the students who are more comfortable using the technology to create their own transitions, but will automatically transition for those less comfortable. This program is not in a perpetual beta mode; however they are changing and making updates to their program to keep it up-to-date.

o Photostory could be used in many classrooms. One of the major drawbacks that I have seen is that it needs to be downloaded and authenticated on each computer before its use. The other major drawback is that it can only be used on a PC computer. Teachers could use it for a variety of projects. It could be used to review field trips, to talk about interviews, to showcase important items, the possibilities are endless.

- WizIQ – an online teleconferencing tool

o WizIQ is extremely interactive, very collaborative, and fairly accessible. Since it is a free tool, I did not find it to be as reliable as Marratech is (which I can only assume costs LIU a lot of money). Because of this fact it is both more and less accessible. The fact that it’s free makes it more accessible and easier to spread to a wider audience; however, the fact that it’s free also means that it’s less reliable. Unlike Photostory, it can be used by both PC and Mac operating systems. This tool is not in a perpetual beta mode; however they are changing and making updates to their site to keep it the popular choice among Internet users.

o WizIQ supports a constructivist learning model because it enables the students to interact with each other and the teacher both in a chat-box and on a whiteboard. The teacher can transfer audio control over to the students, when they raise their hands. In addition the teacher can quiz the students at the end of the session to see if they’ve learned what was taught, or practiced.

o WizIQ would not be used in the classroom; however, it could be used effectively in lieu of a regular classroom setting. A teacher could use WizIQ to run on online tutoring or extra help session.