I think it’s fair to say that the Web 2.0 ship has sailed. Sailed away so long ago that nobody really remembers why it was there. Talking about Web 2.0 feels almost irrelevant now that it’s become such a huge part of the internet. I’ve met people who can’t remember how they socialised prior to Facebook.
Having been dabbling in website design for a number of years, I remember that the term Web 2.0 always caused problems for me. To me, nothing felt like it was really changing. It wasn’t a case of, “By the way, we’ve just upgraded the internet. It does cool things now.” We have to remember that the term Web 2.0 is used to describe a trend; a transition from the internet being a store of information, to an interactive goldmine. As a developer, there was very little change to how websites were created… but a huge difference in why we created them.
I’ve been racking my brains over the past couple of weeks to try and figure out how I’d use Web 2.0 in the classroom. I’m a huge fan of online applications, and pretty much love everything to do with Web 2.0. I was, therefore, hoping and expecting Web 2.0 to be the answer to everything, and provide me with tons of resources as a teacher. However, I struggled to find a great deal of uses for it.
Web 2.0 will save us
I was given many good ideas and websites by various people. The problem was, I couldn’t see how they enhanced learning. They allowed you to do the same job in a different way, and at first I struggled to see how this could be beneficial. However, I’ve since decided that, while they often do the same job in the first instance, they can expand out into much more. I believe (in my undying wisdom) that there are two areas which really make a difference in Web 2.0 applications.
Publishing.
The best thing about Web 2.0 is that pupils’ work can be published, and accessed anywhere. Making a poster on Glogster is all well and good, but the real advantage is that it will stay on the Glogster website for everyone to see. Pupils like to see their work on a display in the classroom… but the feeling that something you’ve created can be seen all over the world is unbeatable (which I’m sure anyone who writes a blog will understand).
Collaboration.
The other thing that’s so great is the possibility of discussion and feedback. The internet is fast becoming a dominating method of communication, and there’s no good reason why classes shouldn’t be in on this. I learnt everything I know about web design through online communities. Discussion like this can be accessed at any time, and without pressure. Since it is in the cloud, it can be brought in and out of the classroom effortlessly, encouraging pupils to keep learning after 3:30.
I was originally hoping for Web 2.0 to open new doors to unique and fantastic resources. However, I think that Web 2.0 takes something that’s already there and extends it. It takes a pile of information, and allows you to add to it.
Picture by Ben Sheldon
