Web 2.0 is a term used to describe web sites that use technology beyond the static pages of earlier HTML web sites. A Web 2.0 site may allow users to interact and collaborate with each other in a social media dialogue as creators of user-generated content in a virtual community, in contrast to websites where people are limited to the passive viewing of content. Examples of Web 2.0 include social networking sites such as Facebook, video sharing sites such as YouTube, blogs, and wikis.
Some critics may argue that Web 2.0 may be harmful in a school environment. This can be true. Web 2.0 has many privacy issues involved with it. Putting personal information about yourself online can always have consequences such as stolen identity and allowing strangers, classmates, even employers to access things, photos, and much more about you that you may not want everyone to see, but they can. It could also be argued that cyber bullying is on the rise with social media as well. However, although I have a zero tolerence policy when it comes to bullying, as do schools, I believe that bullying would have continued to take place in person if it were not for the social media, although it is easier to moniter and recognize outside of social media.
Dispite many of the problems that may come from Web 2.0 in the classroom. I TRULY believe that the benefits drastically outway the consequences. To name some, it allows for more authentic assessments based on student's skills, it is cost efficient, it stimulates new modes of inquiry, it creates new opportunities for collaborative learning, it allows students to engage in new literacies, it allows students to engage in new media, it encourages proficiency in publication of content and creates a sense of ownership, audience engagement, peer assessment, and informal learning. But most of all, in an educational environment that can sometimes be very dry, Web 2.0 and the use of social media in the classroom increase student engagment and participation and help connect content to the lives of students and the world around us. It is a great tool and skill to use and it helps prepare students for life outside of the classroom as well.
We live in a technological age! Technology is here to stay and it is all around us! Every type of educational tool has a chance for problems to occur, but this is worth that risk! The benefits outway the issues and I say bring on Web 2.0 and social media in schools and you won't regret the tremendous outcomes that will follow! Not only for your students, but for the future of education as well!
Mike, this is relatively similar to my post- and I truly agree that the benefits outweigh the consequences. But I also think that we haven't seen the end of these consequences. For our generation I think it will be really interesting to see how politics are affected my social media. Suddenly that old Myspace post will discredit everything they say about their view on "the effects of marijuana"
ReplyDeleteAs I said- the benefits and possibilities outweigh these negatives- but it will get interesting to see how social media changes peoples' futures.
I agree that there are so many benefits to utilizing social media in education-- what I see as one of the primary issues is the fact that teachers are often not sure about how to appropriately do so-- and as a result, either do so in detrimental ways or don't do it at all...
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot to learn and a lot to explore in regards to this venue-- and the technology continues to change as do we all... so, it will be interesting to wait and see what happens-- and to see what we can make happen!