Web 2.0 Tools

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Since the dawn of the Web 2.0, there have been an ever increasing number of tools that allow people to create, produce and interact with web content.
There are many different type of Web 2.0 tools that can be used in the classroom. There are tools that can be used to create virtual learning networks for blended or online learning. There are also social media tools, such as Twitter,  that can be used by students to engage in discussions with their peers and experts around the world. 

Some tools that can be utilized in the classroom include tools such as Moodle and Edmodo. Teachers can utilize these sites to facilitate learning opportunities for students. Both Moodle and Edmodo are considered virtual learning environments and each "emphasizes classroom and community building" (Light & Polin, 2010). According to Moodle.org (2014), the site is "guided by social constructionist pedagogy" is can easily be set up for an entire district to use for free. Similarly, Edmodo.com (2014) describes their tool as " designed to get students excited about learning" where teachers can monitor student progress. 

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Virtual learning environment tools, such as Moodle and Edmodo can be used to engage all students in discussions. These tools would be great to use in the classroom and could be incorporated into centers or as a whole group activity, this type of blended learning can increase student motivation and engagement. This is especially helpful in a classroom where some voices are dominant in class discussions, leaving many other students apprehensive to join in. Additionally, teachers and schools looking to "flip" their classrooms may use tools such as Moodle or Edmodo. These tools allow for a consistent place for students to find materials to prepare for the next day's lesson. Allowing students to digest materials outside of the classroom, for example when learning about ancient Egypt,  can facilitate greater, more in depth conversations the next day in the classroom. 

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Another type of tool the can be used in the classroom are social media sites, such as Twitter. Although Twitter to some is a way to narrate every move they make in life, it can also be a valuable learning tool. According to a study by Blessing, Blessing and Fleck (2012) the use of Twitter in the classroom can be an "effective way to increase memory for important class concepts.” One of the benefits of Twitter is that each message is limited to 140 characters, therefore students must practice being precise and stating what it is they are looking for in a short space. Similarly, one can review several tweets in a short amount of time, looking for pertinent information. 

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There doesn't appear to be only one right way to use Twitter in the classroom. Jeff Horwitz, A second grade teacher incorporated Twitter into his classroom, allowing students to tweet throughout the day. He praised the tool, explaining it allowed students to “have authentic writing opportunities with an authentic audience”(Kist, Doyle, Hayes, Horwitz, Kuzior 2010). Twitter can be used to "follow" experts, and ask questions about current issues. If we had a tool such as Twitter when I was in high school, I am sure it would have greatly added to my contemporary issues course. Further, Twitter can be used to connect students, whether they're in different periods or different countries to each other and their learning. Another added benefit to using social media tools, such as Twitter, provides a great opportunity to talk to students of all ages about netiquette and digital citizenship. 

Though there are many other Web 2.0 tools available, these tools are a great place to start. They can be used in a variety of ways and can help to get students involved in their own learning as well as motivate them to continue learning at their own pace. 

http://www.appappeal.com/web-2-0-application-world-mosaic/

Resources

Blessing, S. B., Blessing, J. S., & Fleck, B. K. (2012). Using Twitter to Reinforce Classroom 

           Concepts. Teaching of Psychology, 39(4), 268-271. Retrieved February 18, 2014, from        

           http://top.sagepub.com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/content/39/4/268.full.pdf+html

Edmodo.com. (2014). Edmodo.com. Retrieved February 21, 2014, from https://edmodo.com

Kist, W., Doyle, K., Hayes, J., Horwitz, J., & Kuzior, J. T. (2010). Web 2.0 in the elementary 
           classroom: Portraits of possibilities.Language Arts, 88(1), 62-68. Retrieved from 
           http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/748977628?
           accountid=3783

Light, D., & Polin, D. K. (2010, June 28). Integrating Web 2.0 tools into the classroom: Changing the 
           culture of learning. EDC Center for Children and Technology. Retrieved February 20, 2014,      
           from http://cct.edc.org/sites/cct.edc.org/files/publications/Integrating%20Web2.0.PDF

Moodle.org. (2014). Moodle.org. Retrieved February 21, 2014, from https://moodle.org/