Mahua DeDebbie Kemp-Jackson

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Reflection questions:How many of you have a personal blog, wiki

or website?What are some of the drawbacks/challenges

that you have encountered?How/why would you want to use technology in

the classroom? Are there any ways that you can use technology in the classroom above and beyond using traditional teaching methods?

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Web 2.0- A definition “…knowledge-oriented environment where

human interactions generate content that is published, managed and used through network application in service-oriented architecture.” (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/web_2#_note-4 )

YouTube- What is Web 2.0?

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Classroom use of technology in the pre Web 2.0 eraRestrictive CumbersomeRequired knowledge of codeStaticUni-directional

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Why Web 2.0?

Multidirectional & participatoryOne-stop resource centerUser-friendlyDynamic

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Context of Web 2.0 use in language classroom

Learning starts from social interactions (Vygotsky, 1978)

A language learning environment should be in a “community of practice, in which a language learner becomes a member of a community that speaks the target language.” (Lave & Wenger, 1998)

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Web 2.0 as an application of Community of Practice (COP)

ParticipatorySupportiveEngagingHelps ELLs find their “voice”Creates a sense of community

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Advantages of using Web 2.0 in the language classroom

Uses a familiar medium to engage student interest

Access to peer workAccess to multiple opinions and perspectivesEncourages group workCreates a sense of communityStudent -centeredEasy to useIncreases knowledge and comfort level with

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Points to consider

Students‘ access and familiarity with technology

Extra workConcept of criticismConcept of collaboration

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Wikis in the ESL classroom

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Wiki in an advanced reading class

Used as an adjunct to Russell Baker’s Growing Up

Class WikiUsed for

Resource center Links for research Assignments etc Damanga

Discussion Participation & collaboration

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Wiki in an advanced writing class

Used with an upper-level writing class; the last ESL level

092 wikiUsed for:_• one-stop environment for syllabus,

homework, grammar exercises• Group project related to the presidential

election• Collaboration in class on writing activities• Discussion- not used much this semester

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ProblemsLack of familiarity with technologyLack of computers at home- feeling of being

left outDifficulty in navigating through the pagesStudents have to be reminded to access the

wiki at home, even to check for homework assignments.

Students often forget the URL!

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Student reactions to toolsPleased at the availability of resourcesAt first, diffident at having to write in a public

forumLater, realized the value of being able to

collaborate with their peers Also, enjoyed reading the comments of their

peers.

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Blogs in the ESL classroom

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Blogging as a shared “discussion activity”Can be used with any ESL levelTeacher can tailor discussions to the

students’ level and abilityAlso allow opportunity to add links, video,

interviews, pictures, etc.Level 4 Blog

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Issues with bloggingActivity has to be modeled by the teacher,

perhaps a few times at first, especially with a low-level class

Students have to understand the reason they are blogging

Teacher must tie in blog as a graded or extra credit assignment; give students a reasons to blog

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Benefits of bloggingContinues the discussion outside of classAllows all students of all levels to participate

in the discussion- good for more shy or less talkative students

Allows teacher the ability to continue with class activities or to put activities on blog that she doesn’t have time for in class

Student like to see each other’s commentsStudents are participating in a Community of

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To review: Features of each siteInteractiveOne stop- shopping for links, etcCan be accessed anytimeCan be updated by teacher anytime, or by

students with teacher’s permission and password (for student bios, etc.)

Can control access to site-only students in class can have access, etc.

Free- no extra cost to teacher or students who might want to create their own site

Relatively easy to use19

DrawbacksFor our students at UCC, we need to model how to use site all the

timeDon’t assume that students know how to use certain web 2.0 tools

even if they are proficient in using others (Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, etc.)

Some students may be resistant to using technologyTeacher may not feel confident using technologyTechnology doesn’t always mean no/fewer problems!Always have a backup lesson in case the technology fails- server is

slow or not working

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Creating your own site!Here are a list of free web 2.0 sites to choose

from; many give the option to upgrade to a premium site with no ads for a small fee

Experiment with a few and then choose one that is easily accessible and user-friendly (for the students)

Features to consider (use-friendly and accessibility):-

Allows for easy upload of files, pictures, etc.Is easy to edit (editor feature is intuitive)Customer support is available if you need it

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Various free Web 2.0 sitesBlogging Siteswww.blogger.com/www.blogspot.comhttp://blogono.comwww.wordpress.comhttp://www.blogstream.com/?SRC=GAWWikiswww.pbwiki.comwww.wikispaces.comwww.wiki-site.comhttp://www.wikidot.com

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Free sites, continuedWebsiteswww.freewebs.comhttp://geocities.yahoo.com/http://www.thefreesite.com/Free_Web_Space/http://pages.google.com/http://www.bravenet.com/

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List of web resources to begin with http://mashable.com/2007/08/06/free-blog-hosts/- list of free blog sites  http://pascal.vanhecke.info/2005/10/30/free-hosted-wikis-comparison-

of-wiki-farms/- comparison of popular wikis  http://wikiwikiman.wikispaces.com/WikibasedWebsites- list of wikis

available on the web, hosted by Wikispaces!  http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital

%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf - Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants- divide between today’s students

and teachers http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital

%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part2.pdf – Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, part 2: Do they really think

differently? http://youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE (You Tube- What is Web 2.0?)

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Thanks for your attendance!If you would like a copy of any of the

resources, or if you have any questions or comments, you can email us at

de@ucc.edu (Mahua De) kjackson@ucc.edu (Debbie Kemp-Jackson)

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