The Advantages of Using Web 2.0 Tools in Education

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Introduction

As an educator in the 21st century the students desire an education that is both meaningful and engaging. The big question is how can educators ensure that this happens? The answer may be to incorporate the use of technology or more specifically with the use of Web 2.0 tools. Web 2.0 has various strengths and benefits for promoting successful learning yet educators are not always aware of the various resources and tools available to them. This study will go in-depth to discover how Web 2.0 tools can be used for education, even in the early childhood years.

What is Web 2.0?

In order to begin discussing the use of Web 2.0 tools in education one must first learn what Web 2.0 is and why it can be very beneficial to education. According to Michael Simkins and Randy Schultz (2010), Web 2.0 refers to a variety of easy-to-use online resources that make everyday work and communication on the World Wide Web more practical for almost anyone. Some examples of Web 2.0 tools include blogs, wikis, networking sites, collaborative tagging sites as well as file sharing sites. Currently there are hundreds of thousands of Web 2.0 tools available on the Internet. Michele Knobel and DanaWilber (2009) point out that “Outside school, many students are accomplished authors, filmmakers, animators, and recording artists.” The use of Web 2.0 tools can make this possible beginning at an early childhood education level.

The benefits of Web 2.0 tools are being researched and validated more frequently as Web 2.0 tools are becoming common place in the schools. Collaboration is being seen as engaging for students as well as an important aspect of successful learning in education. With the use of Web 2.0 tools it takes collaboration to...

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...rators are working on means of providing technologies into the schools. Although this process may take time, educators need to take their learning into their own hands and find ways to engage students in a successful manner and learning about Web 2.0 resources is a great place to start.

Works Cited

Douglas, M.L. (2010). [Web 2.0 in Education]. Unpublished Survey.

Knobel, M., & Wilber, D. (2009). Let's talk 2.0. educational leadership, 66(6), 20-24.

Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Oliver, K. (2010). Integrating web 2.0 across the curriculum. Tech Trends: Linking Research and

Practice to Improve Learning, 54(2), 50-60. Retreieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Simkins, M., & Schultz, R (2010). Using web 2.0 tools at school. Leadership, 39(3), 12-38.

Retrieved from Academic Search Complete, EBSCO host (accessed July 1, 2010).

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