a) Teachers can more effectively and efficiently convey new information to students using web 2.0. The web 2.0 provides multiple new technologies and a sheer mass of information and resources that teachers now have to assist in there lesson. This not only save time for a teacher in preparing a lesson but it also makes for a better lesson. A teacher can use the best information and technologies for engaging students in their learning.

Students today are digital natives meaning that their lives are surrounded by the tools of the digital age such as computers. Students thinking patterns have changed from previous generations. Today’s students (digital natives) like to work at a fast speed and multitask. The students will be engaged as these new technologies in Web 2.0 interest them. So with using a social constructivist learning approach, building on the information on what students know will assist in convey new information to them. Thus teachers that convey a lesson through Web 2.0 will be highly successful in teaching students.  Refer to Marc Prensky’s article on Digital Natives, Digital Immigrantshttp://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf 

 b) Web 2.0 fosters a collaborative environment.

According to Dearstyne (2007), Web 2.0 essentially creates, shares, remixes, repurposes, and passes along. Dearstyne, Bruce W. (2007, August). Blogs, Mashups, & Wikis Oh, My!. Information Management Journal, vol.41, no.4. http://web.ebscohost.com.ipacez.nd.edu.au/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=108&sid=98d9d92a-e983-43ad-a491-79900f3b0976%40sessionmgr107

Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory the zone of proximal development supports the theory of collaboration. The zone of proximal development is ‘the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance, or in collaboration with more capable peers’ (Vygotsky, 1978, p. 86 )Vygotsky, L.S. (1978). Mind and society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. This means students learn more effectively from their peers, teachers and parents.   

Social networking programs such as Facebook and Myspace are not only entertainment but a source of educational communication. They can be used to collect, share information and discuss tasks, a distinctive feature of web 2.0.c)     Classroom management while working in Web 2.0 can be effective and easy. This is largely due to the fact that students are engaged in the lesson and therefore stay on task. However if they are working on programs in Web 2.0 you may find them on social networks such as facebook and myspace, or listening to music. A teacher must be aware of this and try to keep them on track with the task. it is quite impossible to keep them off however a lesson can still be productive. This is because students are digital natives and like to multitask (see Marc Prensky above). They may be on these other programs but they can still complete their task at the same time.

View YouTube video on classroom management  

d) Web 2.0 supports higher order thinking

a)     Web 2.0 supports higher order thinking. As noted in the two diagrams below of Blooms revised taxonomy, the highest order of thinking is creating (build, design, construct). The Web 2.0 typically fosters creativity through it’s hardware and software.

b)      1.      It is difficult to integrate all of the web2.0 technologies into one short assignment task. For example in the task point 4, I stated ‘post your image on Flickr’, this was not really needed for their project. It was included because I needed to use more Web 2.0 programs. Flickr is a good program that students can teach their parents to use. 

2. Photoshop is not a web2.0 application. In order to fit it into the Board of studies syllabus I hade to use a program such as Photoshop. http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_sc/pdf_doc/visual_arts_710_syl.pdf. I also found this was essential element in my task as it catered for multiple intelligences.  

 I also found it was a program that was challenging and engaging for students. It operated in higher order thinking of Blooms Taxonomy. This is because students are not only understanding a meaning behind an artwork, but they are creating something themselves. 

 3. It is challenging to create an assignment that parent or caregivers are meant to be so heavily involved in. If this assignment was put into practice, I would be surprised if all parent contributed. Some may simply not be bothered however many parents or caregivers are busy with other commitments such as work. All the students that parents were not involved may then feel isolated. Although in saying that, I do think it would benefit both parent and student to learn off each other. www.facebook..com   

c)      Collaborative

The Web 2.0 is a relatively new phenomenon with term originating roughly in 2004. However, there is huge amount of disagreement on what it actually means. Some people claim it is only a pointless marketing word, whereas other suggests that Web 2.0 is modern term. Tim O’Reilly (2005) created the term Web 2.0, to describe the growing swarm of applications and Web sites that exploit collective intelligence and participation. Although no one agrees upon a definition of web 2.0, common characteristics are evident.  Downes provides a simple description for web 2.0 stating;

 In a nutshell, what was happening was that the Web was shifting from being a medium, in which information was transmitted and consumed, into being a platform, in which content was created, shared, remixed, repurposed, and passed along (Dearstyne, 2007).  

Generally it is considered the second generation of the web that includes social-networking sites, wikis and folksonomies (Dearstyne, 2007). Its aim is to facilitate collaborative learning between users. This means users can exchange information and work stimulations at a task, thus enables a share an understanding. The Web 2.0 is therefore beneficial for teaching and learning. 

 As mention previously the Web 2.0 is a collaborative working environment. According to Through the use of online communities it encourages people to contribute to build an outstanding end product.  The online communities are developed through applications such as wikis and blogs. Wikis are collaborative websites in which multiple people can edit or add to its content. They are increasingly becoming popular in school environments. This is due to the fact they make essentially information easier to access, for example by instantly linking to web pages (Dearstyne, 2007). These links not only provide us with a reference, but essentially through following the links they allow for a greater understanding and further learning. Wikis get more people involved and inform who has contributed to the information. Thus, the teacher can monitor the amount of work each student is contributing. This most frequently viewed wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopaedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/). Wikipedia is written collaboratively by people all around the world. The articles on Wikipedia provide links to other pages through key words. According to Wikipedia (2007), Unlike an encyclopaedia, Wikipedia is being continually updated, rather than taken months like a printed encyclopaedia.  

 Blogs are another tool in web 2.0 that assists collaborative communication, learning and creativity. Blogs can basically be what ever you want them to be. They are personal diaries or a place where people can collaborate. They share many similarities to wikis such as providing collections of links. Simply a blog designed for people to continually write, with the most recent posts placed at the top, so people know what is new. Sharing information and working collaboratively in a blog or wiki has the potential for greater insight in a subject and more efficient learning. However blogs do not only have to be used by students in a classroom environment, can be used but as research tool.  Hey Jude is a fanastic example of blog created by Judy O’Connell. It is essentially provides recourses and posts to assist understand about web 2.0 (http://heyjude.wordpress.com/).   

Social networking is considered a major aspect to Web 2.0. Social networking is an online tool in which users create a profile and build a network that connects people to other users. This enables people with similar interest, friend, or people from the same area to get connected (Skiba, 2007). Social networks such as Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/) and Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/) are the most popular and are used frequently by teenagers. According to Skiba (2007) these social networks do not seem to be going away rather they are the way of the future.  Thus as educators we must transform them into an educational tool as well as entertainment. Using Facebook and Myspace students can build connections with other students in their class as well as their teacher. This is very beneficial for students learning as they feel like they are accepted and belong (Educause Learning Initiative, 2006). Inturn these connections assist with student’s retention.  Facebook and Myspace are continuing to move beyond strictly the social aspects. Today users collect and share information online, which is a distinctive feature of Web 2.0. An important element of these social networks is that they emphasize creating content rather than only consuming it such as in Web 1.0 (Educause Learning Initiative, 2006). They also allow students to express themselves creatively through their profiles and communication with others. 

Programs such as Flickr, iGoogle and YouTube allow for collaborative learning and creativity. iGoogle provides one page that has multiple technologies and searches embedded, for example it givens constant updates to your favourite blog or even news and weather. Flickr is a photo sharing website that allows individuals to put up their own photos. 

Web 2.0 provides cheap or free software, such as blogs, wikis, YouTube, Flickr and the numerous social networks. The rise of web 2.0 has ultimately changed the way teachers educate students. Student work collaboratively therefore learning from each other, rather than learning by themselves. The web 2.0 supports all students learning styles, providing activities that cater to all the multiple intelligences. The web 2.0 supports learning as it provides endless accumulation of websites and databases. Ultimately the web 2.0 facilitates collaborative communication, learning and creativity as it is engaging with the multiple uses of software.   

References 

Dearstyne, Bruce W. (2007, August). Blogs, Mashups, & Wikis Oh, My!. Information Management Journal, vol.41, no.4. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://web.ebscohost.com.ipacez.nd.edu.au/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=108&sid=98d9d92a-e983-43ad-a491-79900f3b0976%40sessionmgr107  

ELI Web. (2006, September) 7 Things You Should Know About Facebook. Educause Learning Initiative: Advancing Learning through IT Innovation. Retrieved September 2006, from http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7017.pdf   

Levy, Steven. (2005, October). The Trend Spotter. Wired. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.10/oreilly.html 

O’Reilly, Tim. (2005, September 30). What is Web 2.0, O’Reilly Media Inc. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html  

Skiba, Diane J. (2007, August). Nursing Education 2.0: Poke Me. Where’s Your Face in Space?. Emerging Technologies Center. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://web.ebscohost.com.ipacez.nd.edu.au/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=103&sid=cfc476d0-313c-4edc-a9e9-55c8270baa65%40sessionmgr106 

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. (2007, October 27). Wikipedia: About. Wikiamedia Foundation Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About

Hey Jude is a fantastic blog which surrounds the web 2.0. Hey Jude was created by a experienced teacher called Judy O’Connell. It offers us advice about the web 2.0 which can assist with our understanding.

Abstract: The article presents a study on the use of electronic portfolios to foster teacher education and assessment on an individual professional level. The nature and challenges of personal examination in school settings surrounding the high standards implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act and other reforms are explored in depth.

 

Facebook is a program that allows people to connect. You resister using your school, work, or in my case university email address. This enables you to add your coworkers or classmates. You can also join a regional network that connects you with people in your area. When I registered with Facebook I used my university email address and was connected with people taking m y course. Next I found my friends from high school and people that I knew in my area. It is great for allowing you to connect with the people you know.

Facebook not only enable you to keep up with your friends, you can upload photos, put up videos, and play interactive games. You can even send gifts to your friends.  

From a teachers point of view I feel Facebook could be a great educational tool. Teachers can set up a classroom Facebook which is only restricted to the people in the class. This would offer privacy and allow the students to feel included. It will engage the students as they enjoy working in the digital age. The teacher can post homework and assignments on Facebook for students to work on.

North Narrabeen Pool aka ‘The Pool’

I learnt how to swim here…oh the memories

Picture courtesy of flickr 

My experience 

As an art teacher flickr can be a source of inspiration for my students, as well as me. I have already use flickr when making a lino print. I wanted to draw a tree so went to flickr and typed in trees. 2,860,971 results were found which provided a large amount of choices. I could have scaled down the search however I found a perfect picture on the first page. I’m sure this would help many students with images for assignments etc. Flickr is more than just fun site for view photos it can also be educational.