Web 2.0

WEB 2.0 - An Introduction

Sarah Ehr

EDU210 - Module Six

Twitter is a Web 2.0 tool that allows users to create short 140 character blog entries. Within these microblogs, users can post photographs, links and group their blogs into categories using hashtags. Twitter users can follow friends and hashtags to recieve the relavent blogs on their newsfeed, and other twitter users can follow them.

Twitter would be useful in a classroom setting as a way for students (who are over the age of thirteen) to share material, resources and opinions with one another in a fast and easy manner. Hashtags would ensure that all posts from students on a similar topic could be found in one place, and the ability to reply to posts others make could create opportunites for conversation and debate on class materials. 

Learners who have difficulty focussing and reading extensive material would benefit from twitter because the maximum length the post can be is 140 characters. These students could read the short individual posts to learn and then contribute without having to worry about reading and writing difficulties.

One way to help students in class is to use a variety of media as a way to teach and assess. Animoto is a Web 2.0 tool that teachers and students can use to create videos using:

• Pictures
• Video Clips
• Text
• Music

Students who are over the age of thirteen can use Animoto if they have difficulties reading and writing. Animoto uses visual and auditory information to convey the message rather than text, so students will be able to use it to learn or do their assignments. Animoto effectively scaffolds for its users, making it a classroom friendly alternative to classic methods.

Animoto can be used in the classroom for multiple types of projects:

• Documentary on a character in a story or from history
• News broadcast of historical events
• Science lesson videos
• Movie trailers for a book summary

Teachers can also use Animoto within their lessons to further engage students and use a different medium to teach the material

MindMeister is a Web 2.0 tool that allows its users to create mindmaps using text, images or links. These mindmaps function like a web, with each idea branching out to several concepts included within it.

Teachers can assign the students to create mindmaps as projects, or use mindmaps as notes for students. This would help break down learning barriers for students who have difficulty organizing their ideas, as well as students who struggle with reading or need more visual stimuli to learn best.

Mindmeister has no age requirements listed in it's terms and conditions.