web 2.0 applications in teaching
i just came across an article titled, “The Best Web 2.0 Applications For Education — 2007” and i looked the list over and checked out some of the apps. i like to think i am fairly on top of technologies that can be beneficial in the classroom yet i hadn’t heard of any of these tools. and that has me thinking . . . is it worth it for a teacher/educator to invest time using one of these tools in teaching and learning? i have no doubt that some of these tools can be beneficial for a teacher and a learner; however, that’s not my concern. i would be worried that i’d put a lot of time into a tool OR that my students would start a project and the tool would evaporate — go away. it’s one thing to use Google tools or some other more mainstream developer’s tools because they have a lot of funding behind them and there is little chance that the tool would be gone in an instant. but many of these other tools may not last. is it worth the risk to invest time and energies into them???
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
You make a good point. One way I’ve tried to deal with that is only putting sites on the list that even a novice can learn to use in a couple of minutes. I also don’t have my students do any Web-related project that they can’t complete within one class period.
Larry Ferlazzo
February 1st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I agree, it’s important for educators to involve students with the internet. For example; blogs, RSS, wikis. But I think the best way is to incorporate them into well established tools. There is not really any point to incorporating a technological tool into the classroom if it will be obseleat in a few months or less. Plus the mainstream tools have been made to be user friendly and easy to follow. Many people have used them before so they are reliable. I think that is an important aspect for educators to follow.
February 25th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I also agree with what has been said. In order to be a successful teacher you have to make sure your students are well rounded in order to prepare them for the future. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure they are comfortable using computers and utilizing the internet. A great way to do this is through incorporating technological tools into the classroom. These can be a great way of making students feel engaged yet at the same time its essential that these tools are reliable, easy to use and meaningful to students otherwise they are virtually useless. Thus I believe that if an instructor is going to assign a technological tool out of the main stream they better be available to answer questions and provide help when problems or confusion arise.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I think that is a risk we end up running with using and depending upon these educational technologies. Things change so quickly in the world of technology that we need to watch what we use in the classrooms and attempt to fiqure out if this is something the students may be able to use again and in this we must consider whether or not the tool will still be in use and if it will still be effective
April 1st, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I think technology is important and could be very effective in the classroom. If it takes to much time however, the students are not benefiting from it. Technology should make life easier both for students and teachers if it takes a large amount of time then it is not worth it. As for brand new technology, I personally wouldn’t invest my time in it. I would wait to see if it works out and if it does it will only get better. There is no point in learning about a new technology that will not be around in a year or two. The main point is that education is the focus not technology if technology can help education without interrupting it then it is worth it if it is more trouble than help it is not worth it anymore.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I love the idea of utilizing Web 2.0 apps in the classroom, but I also share the same worry of tools becoming either obsolete, or developers pulling the plug. On the web site Go2web20.net many of the links end up getting scrapped or are dead links to begin with. It is frustrating to think that I could invest my time and energy, as well as the student’s efforts into a tech-integrated lesson plan which may at any point just disappear. I think I will stick to tried and true tools and play it safe, for myself and for my students sake.