Web 2.0 For Teaching Teens Blog Post

Q: What is Web 2.0 and how does it relate to teaching teens?

A: Web 2.0 is a term used to describe the evolution of the World Wide Web. The idea is that the web now focuses on people sharing information online, e.g., blogs, tagging, wikis, and social networking. Web 2.0 has allowed the web and its' components to become more user friendly and a more intergrated part of society.

Web 2.0 allows teachers to engage students in a more interactive way, especially teenage students because of blogs, socialnetworking, and wikis. It gives students a more increased way to participate in the classroom, and outside of the classroom, 24 hours a day. The students take possession of their own learning, along with sharing what they have learned on the web with their peers.

O'Reilly, Tim. (2005, September 30). What is Web 2.0? Design patterns and buisness models for the next generation of software. O'Reilly. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html

Q: Do negative effects of Web 2.0 exist? If so, how do these cons pertain to today's society?

A: In the article, "Web 2.0. The second generation of the internet has arrived. It's worse then you think.", there is a paragraph that summarizes the negative effects of Web 2.0 so well that I must list it verbatim. "Web 2.0 technology personalizes cultures so that it reflects ourselves rather than the world around us. Blogs personalize media content so that all we read are our own thoughts. Online stores personalize searches so that all we see are advertisements for products and services we already use. Instead of Mozart, Van Gogh, or Hitchcock, all we get with the Web 2.0 revolution is more of ourselves."

It's obvious that technology, computers, the internet, and Apple, run today's society; to some extent, we have to except the inevitable fate we have been given. However, it is our responsibility as individuals to know who we are, what are abilities/limits are, and what it is that we can offer society, and be satisfied with the outcome. It is also our duty to know the world and understand how we fit in it, not allowing our minds to be clouded by one way of thinking but to be open to many schools of thought. This can only enlighten us and possibly help to create a true visionary, not an impostor.

Keen, Andrew. (2006, February 14). Web 2.0 The second generation of the Internet has arrived. It's worse then you think. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from http://www.weeklystandard.com.

Q: Are Web 2.0 tools being used in the classroom and as teaching resources too soon?

A: There's no doubt that diversity in education always lends itself in a positive direction, but is it too soon to consider Web 2.0 tools, as a "new" form of education and teaching? If you consider my last post, it's no coincidence that Van Gogh, Hitchock, and Mozart were viewed as masters in their field. The skills that they gained took many years to attain and the works that they created took decades to be appreciated. So how is it that the authors of blogs, wiki's, social networking, and podcasts, just came on the scene and their publications are considered such reliable resources? So much so, that the education system is beginning to change it's format (21st Century Skills), forcing teachers and students alike to use these forms of resources in the classroom or at home.

Like with any "new technology", there is a lot of trial and error that should be put in place in order to work through problems that may arise with the technology and with the user of the technology. This and the lack of serious training on these technologies, could be a formula for disaster when using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom; and should be considered. Some other things that should be looked at before jumping on the Web 2.0 "bandwagon" are the possibilities of inaccurate information that is shared, the material on Web 2.0 tools such as blogs changes so often that it makes them hard to archive or index, and even the misconception that because these tools are more appealing to students, that they are more apt to use them; if a student doesn't read a textbook, then who is to say that they are going to read an entire blog.

Technology is great; it adds spice to a somewhat mundane classroom style. As educators, we need to make sure we are educating ourselves with not only the pro's of Web 2.0 tools, but the cons as well. Especially before we are introducing these sort of things into the classroom.

Allen, D., Allen, D. W., Onderdonk, J. C., O'Shea, P. M. (2011). A Technological Reinvention of the Textbook: A Wikibooks Project. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 27(3), 109-114.

Hong, W. (2008). Exploring educational use of blogs in U.S. education. US-China Education Review, 5(10), 34-38.