At first glance, teaching online might just seem like replicating the methods of an in-person classroom via a videoconferencing technology such as Skype and Zoom. However, this only scratches the surface of the variety of different methods that can be used to make online learning different from yet just as rewarding as in-person learning.
It’s worth pointing out that this generation are the most technology-savvy ever, with the average child getting a smartphone at just 10 years old. This means that they will quickly grasp the different tools available online to make collaborative learning more fun, namely the implementation of Web 2.0.
What is Web 2.0?
The term Web 2.0 was first coined in 1999 by Darcy DiNucci, referring to the second generation of the World Wide Web. She argued that while the original web was more of a passive experience, Web 2.0 promised a far more collaborative experience. This was seen by the rise of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, video-sharing sites such as YouTube, and a variety of other online forums. With internet use exponentially expanding, it is time to join the latest developments in online teaching!
Web 2.0 Tools in The Classroom Course
If you are looking to become more advanced with teaching online, we would fully recommend heading over to Fresno Pacific Universities online course in Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. By taking part in this course, you will learn all about the latest online tools and how they are revolutionizing learning in the classroom. By understanding how the world of education is changing, you will be able to identify tools and methods to help students to realise their full potential.
This change isn’t just for now. When students do return to the classroom, in-person learning, including setting homework and tracking progress, will be greatly enriched by the use of Web 2.0 tools. Fresno Pacific University offer a fully accredited program, giving you that much-needed step up in your teaching career. The course can be part of a professional development course if you are looking to obtain a Classroom Technology Integration Certificate.
Web 2.0 Tools in The Classroom
Web 2.0 tools in the classroom can provide a collaborative atmosphere that engages students and makes them more receptive in an online environment. With most of these tools available for free, they come at no extra strain to the school budget, but they can help you to track your students’ progress and see how they work remotely with others. Students will be able to:
- Create work in teams
- Be better prepared for 21st century working life
- Become independent learners
- Track their own development
These tools are particularly useful for shyer students who many otherwise find it difficult to communicate in the classroom. Online tools, involving images and texts may be a better suit for their learning skills, allowing them to realise their full potential.
If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them
While in a physical classroom it would be easy to confiscate phones and put them in a box, in an online classroom environment there’s no way to easily get them away from their devices. Why not simply use them to your own advantage yourself? Students are now incredibly savvy digital users. By gamifying their progress, they will be far more engaged in the learning process. They might be having too much fun to even realise that they are in a classroom!
Fun Ways to Get Children Involved
If you asked a child 50 years ago what they wanted to be when they grew up, they would probably reply with answers like “astronaut” or “professional soccer player”. Now more children dream of being professional YouTubers. Why not invite the children to become content creators early on, turning assignments such as history projects into fun multi-media enterprise? Instead they could create posters, podcasts, blog pages and videos that fully allow them to have fun with a project and express themselves just like their online heroes. This in turn allows students to work together on projects, creating social bonds that could stand them in good stead in later life, as well as encourage independent thinking and learning.
