Web 2.0 has fostered a change in the educational environment that has made it easier to provide an educational environment that is changing the way we look at the educational process. Quickly defined Web 2.0 is “commonly associated with web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user centered design and collaboration on the World Wide Web” (Wikipedia).
Information sharing and interoperability are, I feel, key phrases in the definition of Web 2.0. These are key phrases that when applied to education and becoming more and more important. For instance, information sharing has become an integral part of the educational environment. With Web 2.0 applications like Google Docs it has become easy to collaborate on papers or other projects and to share the information.
User centered design and education meet in applications like Animoto and Jing. Both are applications for creating video that can then be easily shared. Animoto creates an engaging way to pass information on by the addition of music and the interesting way the slide shows are presented. Movement and an interesting and engaging background help to create videos that can be used again and again. It’s very easy to present information for a classroom in an engaging way using Animoto. Jing on the other hand allows for the creation of videos that while not as exciting as those produced in Animoto, are interesting and engaging in their own right. The Jing application allows for the creation of a detailed presentation that can then be turned into a video and very easily presented to whomever, where ever as long as there is an internet connection.
Web 2.0 has created an environment in which learning and teaching rely on technology but that technology is very easy to use and facilitates a greater, richer learning environment.
Nice definition of web 2.0. The sharing feature is one of the coolest things we have for teaching...it can make learning happen anywhere there is an Internet connection. :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great that Web 2.0 allows us to use free resources and gives us so many opportunities to collaborate?
ReplyDeleteFree is wonderful especially when you can use the application almost everyday. I found Jing at the beginning of the semester and everyday I use it! I do not know what I would do without my Jing. I really think today I may have to upgrade to the premium user package so I can do a presentation that is longer then 5 minutes. Oh... the gift of gab...(Whatever right..lol)I never seem to be able to fit everything into a 5 minute Jing on the first run. Oh well, off to Jing up some Ms. Jones' content.
ReplyDeleteYes free is great! I think our resources as teachers and as students is unlimited! We are so lucky to have so much at our fingertips. The great part is almost everything has tutorials if we don't know how to use them.
ReplyDeleteI also like the collaborative(and free) aspect of Google Docs.
ReplyDeleteI really like when web tools are free. My favorite tools are ones that my students can use without an email address.
ReplyDeleteI try to promote free (and open source) as much as possible since there are so many great tools and we're all financially strapped.
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