Matthew Sommerville
WEB 2.0 Platforms
Building Connections
The name of the tool is Google Docs and its web address is https://www.google.com/docs/about/. If you have heard or used this tool you might think this is more a Web1.0 tool than a 2.0 one and on some aspects of it I would aggree for it is essentially similar to a Microsoft Word Document used for writing various things like essays, outlines, notes, and even information about WEB 2.0 products. The more interesting side or the 2.0 side of Google Docs is in its ability to be shared with other Google Doc users online. This allows for simultaneous editing of the same document, selective editing (such as ability to leave comments), or no editing where others have a “view only” access to the content. The point is it allows you to quickly share information and potentially have it worked on and edited by a group, while the actual individuals do so from the comfort of their own computers. In the context of education this is great for showing students documents like course outlines (view only) or having them do group projects with one another where everyone in the group can easily access the content and contribute. For certain learners who learn best from the comfort of their computer, who prefer typing over handwriting, and who work well in groups but still prefer to work individually, Google Docs is a perfect medium for them to work in. According to Google, to have a Google Account (which would include access to Google Docs), individuals must be over the age of 13.
Next I looked at Twitter. This is a more obvious WEB 2.0 tool as the whole site is based on sharing information in as many forms as there is information, from 140 character tweets to links to scholarly articles to movies to vines twitter is a space designed for sharing information. Its web address is https://twitter.com/?lang=en. This could be a very useful educating tool as it provides students and teachers with access to information being put on the web by leading experts or representatives in almost all fields. If you want information about biology there is scientists you can follow and show the class. If your class is interested in current events you can have them subscribe to various news providers such as the BBC. This could reduce barriers for students as it allows them to explore areas of interest to them. It also allows you to guide their interests by showing them certain educational people or groups to follow. According to statements made by Twitter, if they are aware that a user is under 13 they take steps to remove that individual's account but Twitter does not ask your age when signing up.
The last Web2.0 tool I will look at is Edmodo. Its web address is https://www.edmodo.com/. This tool is designed specifically for teachers, parents and students so as to create a safe space for online interaction and knowledge sharing. As the teacher it allows you to create groups and share information with said groups with the ability of limiting access to content of other groups (to whatever degree you feel necessary). It also provides lines of communication with parents and also safe online space for students to explore the internet. This tool is used by many educators for the reasons listed above, especially the communication aspect with parents and students. It can help remove barriers for many learners, for example those who have trouble speaking out in class because of shyness may feel more confident speaking from their online persona, allowing them to be more “vocal” on issues discussed in class via forums set up by the teacher. As for age restrictions, Edmodo specifies that if you are not “of age” (most countries this is 18 years old), your legal parent or guardian must aggree to the Terms and Conditions for you and allow you to create an account.