Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.

Web 2.0… Discovery or Disaster?

Criteria A: Investigation
Context: The technology department of our school has to make a presentation for
the board to prove to them that the use of Web 2.0 can benefit the education of
students, and that it should therefore be accessible for student use during school
hours. The members of the board all have different opinions about the use of Web
2.0 in the classroom and the technology department has 3 minutes to convey their
message.

Challenge: We first have to choose our own points of view about the Web 2.0 and
explain it. We then have to research Web 2.0 to find arguments to back-up our
viewpoints. In our research we should include: a synopsis of Web 2.0, the tools
available, the soft- and hardware developments that have made Web 2.0 available
and how it can be used educationally. Finally the goal of this project is to create a
presentation in two different media which conveys our viewpoint and opinion about
the use of Web 2.0 in the classroom.

Guiding Questions

“In what ways can

Environments environments influence
Areas of Interaction: technology choices?”
Guiding questions
Approaches to learning “How will teaching with
different media help in
education?”

Health and Social “ In what ways has

Education technology influenced
knowledge?”

Research Questions
What is Web 2.0?
What hard-and software changes have been made to Web 1.0 in order to create
Web 2.0?
What are the positive aspects of using Web 2.0 as an educational tool?
What are the negative side effects of using Web 2.0 as an educational tool?
How do teachers feel about using Web 2.0 for teaching?
How do the students feel about the use of Web 2.0 for their education?
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

How can we visually show presentations/video on the blog without having to go to a

different website?
How will we know if our product works?
Who will test it?

Sources
We get our information on Web 2.0 we want to use a as broad as possible variation
of sources, we will use diagrams, internet surveys, websites, videos found on
Youtube. And more
Research
What is Web 2.0?

Source: Web 2.0 -

Wikipedia

Before we can start to form opinions on Web 2.0, we must first research what Web
2.0 tools even are. As we researched we found this graphic (above) which relates
words and terms to Web 2.0. Although we don't know all these terms it helps us
understand what features are subgroups of Web 2.0.
"The term "Web 2.0" refers to a perceived second generation of web development
and design, that aims to facilitate communication, secure information sharing,
interoperability, and collaboration on the World Wide Web. Web 2.0 concepts have
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

led to the development and evolution of web-based communities, hosted services,

and applications; such as social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs,
and folksonomies" (Web 2.0).
Essentially what this defination tells us is that Web 2.0 allows users of the World
Wide Web to use different media to share information. Commonly used Web 2.0
tools are sites such as youtube, wikis, as well as social networking spaces and
blogs.

What hard-and software changes have been made to Web 1.0 in order to
create Web 2.0?
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

What 1source: blog.aysoon.com

are
the

positive aspects of using Web 2.0 as an educational tool?

Tools How it helps the students/teachers

Social networking spaces There are social networking sites
EG: Facebook, Bebo, Hi5, designed for teachings such as
MySpace. teachade.com in which teachers can talk
and discuss methods, as well as
resources that have been succesfull in
teaching certain subjects. Through this
teachers may get ideas such as how to
tackle teaching different things. Sharing
these ideas can give the student a
better experience because the way the
teacher teaches greatly affects how well
a student learns.
Video sharing Videos are a very valuable source in the
EG: YouTube, My Video, classroom as they can be informational
MySpace, Yahoo! Video, and educational. All students learn
Google Video. differently, and therefore the use of a
visual tool such as a video can add a
new perspective to a concept which the
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

student is trying to grasp. Having a

different person than you teacher
explain or teach something to you can
be very useful because depending on
their way of thinking, you may be able to
relate to them better, and therefore gain
a better understanding.
Videos also create some variety making
learning more interesting for students,
making them more willing to listen and
learn.
Picture sharing Pictures, diagrams, and images are very
EG:Flickr, helpful for students as they provide a
visual aid.
Information sharing Information sharing is a very big aid for
EG: Wikispaces, students because it is a great resource
when used correctly. For example,
wikipedia holds a lot of information on
any subject you could think of, but since
it can be edited by anyone, students
must learn to find other sources and be
skeptical of the information found on the
internet.
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

The following movie also demonstrates other positive aspects of using

Web 2.0 in the class room.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4cd78ad5e89496b197fe
(TeacherTube)

What are the negative side effects of using Web 2.0 as an educational
tool?
Web 2.0 encourages the participation of all the users and therefore a drawback is that you
cannot trust all the information on the internet. There may be videos on youtubethat
misinform you, or information on Wikipedia which isn’t valid, and all this must be taken into
consideration before teachers let students use them as a tool for learning. Also, in allowing
students to access Web 2.0 tools you also allow them to access things that are unrelated to
education. For example, though social networking pages might be helpful in education,
students might use the tool for personal purposes, such as talking to friends. Likewise, with
image and video sharing websites such as Flickr and Youtube, if students are allowed access to
them, they might misuse this privilege and watch videos or look through images that are
unrelated to the topic.

How do teachers feel about using Web 2.0 for teaching?

A network of schools in the United Kingdom, called Becta Schools, conducted a survey in
which they asked their teachers what benefits they got from Web 2.0 tools:

“Web 2.0 helps to encourage student engagement and increase participation –

particularly among quieter pupils, who can use it to work collaboratively online,
without the anxiety of having to raise questions in front of peers in class – or by
enabling expression through less traditional media such as video. Teachers have
reported that the use of social networking technology can encourage online
discussion amongst students outside school. Web 2.0 can be available anytime,
anywhere, which encourages some individuals to extend their learning through
further investigation into topics that interest them. Pupils feel a sense of
ownership and engagement when they publish their work online and this can
encourage attention to detail and an overall improved quality of work. Some
teachers reported using publication of work to encourage peer assessment. The
research also found that over half of teachers surveyed believe that Web 2.0
resources should be used more often in the classroom” (Becta)
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

How do the students feel about the use of Web 2.0 for their education?

To answer this question I will create a survey and send it to the students in grade
10, 11, and 12.
The survey will have the questions:

1. What Web 2.0 tools would you find helpful in your education?

What Web 2.0 tools would you find helpful in your education? Social
networking spaces

Video sharing

Picture sharing

Information sharing

Audio

Chatting

Email
2. How would it be helpful?
3. Do you think using Web 2.0 is appropriate considering you can also access things
e.g. facebook?
4. Why/ Why not?
We will only send it to grades 10, 11, and 12 because they are the only grades who
have done this unit before so they will know what Web 2.0 is.
The results:
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

2. How would it be helpful?

1. We could communicate better with our class / the sources of the information we get researching

2. Gathering information
3. Lots of info availabale
4. For knowledge
5. It's more visual
6. You'll be able to learn something from it
7. Video >tutorials info>research Audio> french/spanish Email> contact with teachers etc.
8. In everything. Cause its a big part of our life
9. Access and communication
Sharing/collaborating/opinions
10.

3. You think using Web 2.0 is appropriate considering you can also access things
e.g. facebook?
1. yes
2. yes. facebook can also be used to gain information
3. yea
4. Yes
5. Maybe
6. yes or no? i think it's both
7. I think too many peopl would go on Facebook, but if the teachers watch them, it
would be ideal!
8. Yes it is, otherwise we would not be able to communicate with each other.
9. yes i do, because it allows a sharing of info
10. yes

4. Why/ Why not?

1. you can ban some sites - you don't have to allow them all
2. wikipedia...quick access to info...
3. Allows access to entertaintment and knowledge
4. You might join groups that have something to do with education
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

5. yes, because you'll get to contact someone and learn somehting, but on the
other hand, facebook could interept your learning time
6. Using Web 2.0 you can extend your learning in so many ways, it would be really
helpful.
7. Why not
8. because it allows a sharing of info
9. social networking, why not.

At least 50% of the people who did this survey found 6 of the 7 tools useful for
school. Of these 7 information sharing and video sharing are said to be the most
useful. Generally these people said Web 2.0 is useful to improve communication,
access of information and it gives wider range of media available to learn from.
Most people said that social networking are also useful for education since they
allow information sharing, however I found this very surprising because in my own
opinion facebook or MySpace will not be used as education related information
sharing tool but as a social communication device, which it is intended for. The first
reply of question 4 is very helpful. It says that you can also ban sites and don’t have
to allow every single Web 2.0 website.
From this survey I learned that students generally find Web 2.0 useful for education
and that they don’t see educational hazards in it. They feel like it can improve their
learning skills. From the student point of view the school should allow access to Web
2.0 in the classroom.

How can we visually show presentations/video on the blog without having

to go to a different website?

Source: IB
MYP Personal
Project
Screenshot

The above screen shots were taken of a Personal Project blog. They show what our
group wants to have on the blog. Upload visual presentations and not just a link. We
want to use this to show our final products.

Relations to the Areas of Interaction

Environments

This project relates to environments because it connects the whole world with each
other through different media. With the use of Web 2.0 people around the world
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

share a stronger connection and are enabled to communicate in various ways.

People can enhance their knowledge since there is a broader variety of sources, and
perspectives available. All around, Web 2.0 promotes globalization and makes the
world more united as one.

The use of Web 2.0 for education helps improve the learning environment by
allowing students and teachers to learn and teach in different ways, which enhances
various skills that are useful later in life.

Human ingenuity

This project relates to human ingenuity because the tools that are provided through
Web 2.0 are innovations in technology created by humans to enhance the mobility
of internet users.

With the help of Web 2.0 we can create more, and improve the quality since it
increases the users’ options are increased, and there are more sources since
everyone can contribute.

Web 2.0 has brought many positive facets to our daily lives; however with creations
that enable anyone to do anything on the internet, there are also negative side
effects. For example, someone who has no knowledge on a subject may post
something that someone else uses as a source, though the information isn’t valid.
This is one of the sacrifices that come with the creation of Web 2.0.

By the broad range of digital technology used, tradition and culture are lost on the
way, as a result of the globalization that Web 2.0 promotes.

Health and social education

Web 2.0 relates to health and social education because it helps the individual to
develop skills since Web 2.0 allows users all over the world to interact and to share
their knowledge with others.

Since Web 2.0 enhances globalization, it makes the users more culturally aware
because they can connect and hear perspectives of other users around the world,
no matter what religion or nationality.

Web 2.0 gives people a chance to publish their own work, and to receive feedback,
both negative and positive, which is a valuable learning experience for them,
helping them to improve.

Design brief
We will, as response to the challenge given (create a presentation for the school’s
board to convince them of our opinion on web 2.0)), create a presentation using
technology that explains 2.0 and convinces the board of our opinion on it; when we
finish the final product we will upload the presentation on a Web 2.0 application to
demonstrate how useful it is and so that it is easily accessible to the board..
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

Design specification
As is mentioned in the design brief, the final product will be the creation of a
presentation that will show what Web 2.0 is, and it will try and convince you of our
opinion of Web 2.0 In order to do so the final product will have to include the below
listed conditions, requirements and restrictions:
– Be in a format so that it is easy to present (PowerPoint/movie/audio clip)
– It should be accessible , published using a Web 2.0 application
– It should explain what Web 2.0 is
– It should tell about its applications
– It should have a brief synopsis of our reasons for being pro-Web 2.0
– It should use some visuals
– It should last no longer then 3 minutes

How will we know if our project worked?

We will know that our project is successful when the product will explain briefly
about Web 2.0 and everything else we have in our design brief, but most important
of all, we will know that it worked when we will be able to convince people of our
opinion on Web 2.0.

Who/how will test it?

Because our target audience is the school board, we will test our final product by
the school board. However, it might be that they are too busy with being the board
that they won’t be able to help us test our product. In that case we will ask our
technology teachers, our grade, and some other teachers the following questions:
What is your overall opinion about the product?
Do you think it explains Web 2.0 well?
Does it convince you of our opinion about Web 2.0?
Do you think this would convince the board?
How could we improve it?
We think that the chance that the board has time for us is slim, so we will focus on
our teachers and students.

Works Cited

"Becta report shows benefits of Web 2.0 in the classroom." Becta Schools. 02 May

2009

<http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=tl&catcode=ss_tl_dig_02&rid

=15903>.
Thara, Ayla and Arleen Grade 10 Web 2.0

"Howstuffworks "Is there a Web 1.0?"" Howstuffworks "Computer Channel" 02 May

2009

<http://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-10.htm/printable>.

OCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"

"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd" Web 2.0 Tools

and Applications –

Go2web20. 02 May 2009 <http://www.go2web20.net/>.

TeacherTube.com. 02 May 2009

<http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4cd78ad5e89496b1

97fe>.

"Web 2.0 - Wikipedia." Wikipedia, de vrije encyclopedie. 02 May 2009

<http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0>.

Evaluation of my sources
We have used a good range of different sources. We used more images then we
have in previous design cycles. We did this because we were asked to. However we
found out that images are a good source for information. Also we used a video from
teacher tube; because it is from teacher tube we regard it as being reliable. We
used other sources such as internet sites and blogs. We found that the information
was reliable because the information from the different sites is similar. A good
source that we used is a survey that we constructed ourselves. We asked students
from the school to fill it in and give their opinion.