Why Web 2.0?

There are so many ways and reasons to use Web 2.0 tools in the classroom.

1. Web 2.0 tools allow students to interact and collaborate with other classrooms in their school and across the globe. Students could participate in discussions or debates with other classes using Twitter, Edmodo or a blog.  Students can collaborate on a project using a Wiki or Google Drive, even asynchronously. 

2. Classrooms could use Web 2.0 tools for distance learning. Google groups, Hangouts and Skype are some of the tools that classrooms can use to interact with other classes or experts to learn about and see things they may not have access to in their local area, like this virtual field trip via Google Glass.  

3. Web 2.0 gives students alternative ways to obtain information. In addition to getting information from books, students can also interact with electronic books, videos, websites, images and blogs to find information and get alternative viewpoints, not just one perspective. Using Web 2.0 helps the teacher to differentiate learning. Students may prefer to listen to a podcast or video rather than reading for information. There are also assistive tools like Read & Write for Google or other text to speech tools that can assist struggling readers. 



4. Using Web 2.0 also allows for alternative ways to participate.  Some students do not like to answer questions in a large group or there may be students with communication or other disabilities who are not able to participate in a fast paced discussion. Using Web 2.0 tools such as Twitter, Edmodo or VoiceThread, students can enter their answers to teacher's questions or participate in a discussion, even from home. During a class discussion, the teacher could have students use a class hashtag to respond to questions and have the feed posted on the projection screen or whiteboard. That way everyone can have their opinions heard and the teacher does not have to force quiet students to participate. 

5. Alternate methods to show learning.  As with #3 and 4 above, students can have a choice in how to demonstrate what they know. Students can choose to do a presentation using Prezi or Emaze, or a video using Go Animate, or they may prefer to create a cartoon using StoryBoard That or an infographic using Pictochart.



6. Flipped learning. Rather than lecture to the class, the teacher can create a video on YouTube or Vimeo and give the link to the class to watch for homework, provided they have a way to access the Internet. The next day the students can use the class time to collaborate on a project related to the video rather than listen to the teacher lecture. 


Web 2.0 provides the teacher with multiple methods to diversify her teaching and assessment. It also gives students alternative modes of participating and expressing their knowledge. It is a great way to incorporate UDL into the classroom.  It has also been said that students work harder at their writing and projects when they know they will be shared with the world rather than just with the teacher. So using Web 2.0 is one good way to integrate technology into the classroom.