Module 6 – Web 2.0 Tools

Three Ways To Use Web 2.0 Tools In Your Teaching

1. Online Reflection

Web2.0 tools can be used for online reflection. This can be in the form of students blogging their thoughts as they reflect on their learning. Teachers are able to assess students and design the appropriate intervention strategies. This could follow a format such as broad questions which students answer, specific topic related questions, or open ended where complete freedom of direction is given to the student.

Rolfe, Freshwater and Jasper (2001) propose using three simple questions when reflecting on learning: ‘What? So what? Now what?’.

What?: What have I learned?

So what?: What does this tell me about my strengths and about my gaps in understanding?

Now what?: What can I do to improve my understanding? What are my next steps? What are my targets and goals for moving forward?

2. Online Collaboration

Web2.0 tools can also be used for online Collaboration. Applications like VoiceThread allow teachers to set up audio-based discussion rooms. Teachers could set up these discussion rooms after hours as a ‘Virtual Homework Centre’ where students can collaboratively learn and solve through their exercises.

3. Video Repository (Youtube, Podcasts)

Youtube videos and podcasts can be used to supplement teaching and learning. For example, during my placement, I added youtube links from Khan’s academy and Eddy Wu after each lesson I taught. So basically, students were able to watch two other explanations of the same lesson. How many times have students struggled with understanding a concept, then comes along another teacher and explains it, and the students understands instantly. Sometimes no matter how much we try, and think we are explaining a concept well, a student needs a fresh point of view. Using this method allows the student to have three different explanations from three teachers!