Web 2.0 Tools: Summing it All Up

​​Over the past five weeks, we have explored Web 2.0 tools and their use in education.  While the concept of Web 2.0 was not new for me, I was presented with some new information and things to think about.  The most helpful piece for me was developing an evaluation rubric.  This made me stop and think about what would be important in choosing a tool for educators.  What I learned from this Web 2.0 exploration, is that sometimes the least "fancy" tools are actually the best to foster student-centered instruction.  When used correctly in the classroom, these tools enable our learners to better understand the process of learning, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the material.  These tools enable teachers to let the students create, communicate, and collaborate on a digital format - which is what a lot of students are already doing; this makes the learning more relevant. 

The pitfalls to Web 2.0 tools is they can be over and/or underused.  Sometimes educators want to substitute the technology for good quality instruction, which is not best instructional practice.  The technology you choose should enhance the learning experience for your students.  Through this class, I realized the importance of teaching our students how to use these tools and exposing them to the real world use of technology.  

Another thing I don’t often look at,  but need to consider when evaluating technology tools for educators is cost.  It is frustrating for a teacher to have a new tool ready to use and then find out the best features cost money.  The cost-factor is one of the reasons I like the Google Platform; students are able to use Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drawing, Jamboard and drive at no additional cost to the student or teacher.  Now, there are features within the Google Workspace for Education that cost money, but these costs are not related to the use of the main Google tools.

The work we have done in ETEC 527  reinforces my educational philosophy that the pedagogy should come before the tool. If we want our students to use technology tools in a way that maximizes student learning outcomes, we, as educators,  need to plan purposefully in our instructional design.  In addition, this class has reiterated the importance of staying up to date with technology.   Many of the technologies from five or ten years ago are not current and usable today.  By having a growth mindset towards education and the use of technology, we are modeling a culture of growth within our schools and our classrooms.