OOL S 2.

0
WEB T Ponte Salvatico

Web 2.0 is an interactive web application that is different from the common website applications. It is
in contrast with the non-interactive common websites where users are limited to the passive viewing
information that is provided to them. Web 2.0 application is a tool for collaboration, whereby it allows
the users to have a real platform for true collaborative activities. It focuses on the users and the
content, instead of just surfing on the internet.

The way messages spread
across the Web has been
changing by the web 2.0
technologies. This web
application involves infor-
mation sharing, interop-
erability, user-centered
design and collaboration
on the worldwide web.
People have a new way to
define their own perspec-
tives, opinions, thoughts
and experiences as well as
to have other people com-
ments and read others’
piece of mind. There are
several web 2.0 tools
widely used such as we-
blogs, RSS, video casting,
social bookmarking, social
networking, podcasts and
picture sharing sites.
These tools are becoming
more and more popular for
majority of them are free.
Some of the popular tools
are blogger, wordpress,
myspace, youtube, meta-
cafe, del.icio.us, dig, furl,
twitter and flicker.
NING NET-
WORK
Web 2.0 has shown
rapid growth in the cy-
ber world. This can be
seen through various blogs, forum, file sharing, pho-
social networking sites tos sharing and etc. Isn’t this
like Facebook, Friend- great? Everything has been
ster and Twitter. How- compressed into a network
Inside this
ever, on 2005, the lat- which allows the teacher to
est to become popular monitor the students’ activities article:
in Malaysia is Ning. In- even better.
deed, Ning can be per- As mentioned above, blog is one
ceived as a powerful
Intro 1
of the features available in
tool that has potential Ning. Teacher could use this
in creating a better feature to encourage the pupils
means of teaching in- to get excited about writing
Ning Net- 1
structional which can and thinking. Teacher can as- work
replace our conventional sign the pupils to write an en-
classroom. Further- try in their blog every week to RSS 2
more, a teacher can use reflect their language learning.
Ning as a platform in This is a way to improve their
generating his/her own writing and critical thinking CLT 3
mini social networks skill. In fact, by having blog,
particularly for the stu- the teacher can assess and
dents. A teacher can scrutinize the development of Dilemma 3
open the network mainly the students and also get to
for her students or know the students’ inner
others who are really thought. In fact, blog is a me- Conclusion 4
interested to be part of dium to connect with others
the learning environ- and build connections to learn-
ment. The teacher has ing especially when they have a
the power in determin- chance to leave comments on
ing the target group for their peers’ blogs. This can
that particular network. promote collaborative and co-
Ning also provides sev- operative learning among the
eral features that suit students as well as the
the classroom needs teacher. Teacher can also give
which students can get feedback to the students
engaged in various based on their writing. Plus
meaningful activities in this will motivate them since
a fun way. In Ning, a they will have sense of ac-
teacher can have vari- knowledgment by the teacher.
ety of tools including
 Other than blog, Ning also enable the students to share photos and files. Through this, the
students have a chance to upload their favorite pictures of themselves, their
friends, their families, and their interests. The teacher can stand a chance to get to
know the students better which could develop bond with them. Hence, the teacher
could use this application provided by Ning to assign the students to find any kinds
of photos which are related to the topic and directly correlated to the content of
learning. Meanwhile, they are also able to share files with their peers in the network
(Ning). However, the files must be associated with their learning context. The teacher must moni-
tor the students’ progress including all the items that has been uploaded in the network so that
there will be no non-content-related material. All these contributed to sharing information with all
the members of the network which enhance their learning.

RSS

Another web 2.0 tool that is possible to be integrated to the

RSS would help in providing social network is Really Simple Syndication (RSS). This tool helps the
the latest update, comments,
users to get the latest update from various websites such as blogs,
blog posts as well as
news headlines and video or audio update in a standardize format.
announcement from the Ning
master The idea of using RSS helps the user to have web sites of their
choice deliver their latest news directly to your monitor. So instead of
having to visit 14 different places to get your weather, sports, favorite photos, latest gossip, or
latest political debates, you just go to one screen and see it combined into a single window. Be-
ing used in a social network such as Ning, RSS would help in providing the latest update, com-
ments, blog posts as well as announcement from the Ning master. The members of the Ning will
be able to cope with the latest information shared in the network. Being used in a classroom,
RSS would help the Ning members in organizing and streamlining the abundance of content of
the web. Besides, it would allow for an approach to reading the combines both scanning (picking
out interesting and relevant materials) and synthesizing (making connections between the rele-
vant and interesting materials). It would also give students the opportunity to evaluate and weed
out content on the web.

POLLDADDY

Besides, PollDaddy is another easy and fun way to engage network members in order to

receive immediate feedback on their understanding. It is somehow changing the traditional

method of pop-quiz into something more along the lines of a game show.

PollDaddy is a new online-survey tool and available to be integrated into

the Ning social network for free. PollDaddy can be use to get feedback

from the community members for many purposes. It can be use to decide the date for replace-

ment class or any activity, to determine their understanding on certain concept as well as a de-

mocracy class leader election.

Page 2 Web 2.0 is an interactive web application that is different

 LEARNING THEORY : COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING

From the explanation above of
what Web 2.0 is, we believed that
Communicative Language Teaching
(CLT) would be the best theory to
apply in the classroom
whilst web 2.0 becomes
the learning tools. Ac-
cording to Larsen-
Freeman (2000), Com-
municative Language
Teaching aims broadly
to apply the theoretical
perspective of the
Communicative Approach by making
communicative competence the
goal of language teaching and by
acknowledging the interdepend-
ence of language and communica-
tion.
The most obvious characteristic
of CLT is that almost everything
that is done is done with a com-
municative intent. Meaning, stu-
dents use the language a great
deal through com-
municative activi-
ties. A good ex-
ample would be
the use of blog.
Through blogging,
students have the
chance to express
their ideas and opinions in their
own words. So, they have the
freedom not only about what to
say, but also how to say it. CLT
also emphasizes on cooperative
learning. So, it really suits with
the tools of Web 2.0. Throughout
social networks such as Ning, Face-
book and Twitter, students have
the opportunity to exchange views
and thoughts where they receive
immediate feedback from others
whether or not they have success-
fully communicated. In this way,
they can negotiate meaning effec-
tively. Having students involve in
the social networks are really good
since they will be exposed to the
authentic communication and de-
velop strategies for understanding
language as it is actually used. Thus,
the communication becomes pur-
poseful and meaningful.

EDUCATORS’ DILEMMA

Due to some circumstances, some issues that might worry the teachers on implementing
web 2.0 in the lesson. We consider this as the educators’ dilemma as this might be
some problems that might occur to be overcome by the teachers, somehow.

#1: How can I effectively keep the pupils up to date?

Teachers need to make sure that every students did their work. As using web 2.0, stu-
dents might have access to it not only in the classroom context but it can be done anywhere at
anytime as long as they have the internet access. However, it will be hard for the teacher to
monitor the student work as every task will be done online. It might be difficult for the
teacher to have proper assessment on the students’ competency and understanding based on
any task given to them.
One way to overcome this issue is that teachers may set some rules to be followed by
the students. For instance, each student would have to post a blog at least once a week re-
flecting on what they have learned. Meanwhile, punishment may also be used in order to make
sure the students are up to date. For example, prepare a discipline sheet/board and make it
visible to everybody. If a student fails to complete the given task, one mark can be deducted
from the student. Another way is to make use of merit demerit approach. The key point here
is DISCIPLINE. Teachers should know the appropriate strategies to handle with this matter.
If a perfect ‘game plan’ for teacher is been done while the students utilize web 2.0 fully in
their learning process, this dilemma can be resolve.

Page 3
WEB TOOLS 2.0
 #2: How can I increase relevance and interest in my subject matter?

This can be done by take into consideration the students’ interest. No matter what
the skills or topic you are teaching, teachers must take into consideration and include the
things that the students love. In short, use something which is authentic to them. By inte-
grating their interest with technology, students will be motivated to learn. Besides, capital-
ize on students' existing needs. Students learn best when incentives for learning in a class-
room satisfy their own motives for attending school. Some of the needs your students may
have are the need to get new experiences, the need to perfect skills, the need to overcome
challenges, the need to become competent, the need to succeed and do well and the need to
feel involved and to interact with other people. Satisfying such needs will help to sustain
learning more effectively. (Source: McMillan and Forsyth, 1991)

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, web 2.0 can be one of effe

ctive tools in integrating ICT
in the process of learning. Pupils will gain
the benefits of this new era of
learning method as they will enjoy themselv
es, not only interacting and commu-
nicating through all of the listed applicati
ons but they can also improve their
knowledge acquisition. Regardless of any
issue that might rise due to the im-
plementation of web 2.0 in teaching and lear
ning context, these issues can be
overcome in just a matter of time as stud
ents nowadays had more advance in
terms of connecting this application with
their learning process. This new
transition of learning, based on the student-c
entered strategies, will eventu-
ally promoting active learners that will be
responsible on their own learning
process. Hence, along with other positive
attitude towards learning that can
be ensured, by using web 2.0 can provide
much more meaningful learning among
the students.

Farah Filzah . Fadliyana . Izyan .

Ponte Salvatico Noor Arina Nadiah . Nur Hannim .
Nur Aisyah.