Choosing Web 2.0 Tools for Learning and Teaching in a Digital World

by Pam Berger, Sally Trexler

Choosing Web 2.0 Tools for Learning and Teaching in a Digital World provides practical strategies and examples to effectively integrate Web 2.0 tools to support the inquiry process in the school library program and the classroom curriculum. Targeted for school librarians, this book addresses the questions: What is digital literacy? How is learning different in a digital world? And the most important questions, what are the best strategies, resources, and tools to support effective teaching and learning in a digital environment? The first two chapters of the book provide the important context for school librarians: research on student learning behaviors in a digital environment, Web 2.0 background and characteristics, and alignment with the new AASL Standards for the Twenty-first Century Learner and the Stripling Inquiry Process. Grades 4-12.

Genres: Education, Textbooks, Technology, Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2010

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this for class. It gave me some ideas for web 2.0.

[Brenda Papapanagiotou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This resource is a must have for all teacher-librarians (and teachers for that matter!) as it is designed to help educators meet the growing needs of our "digital natives" (Prensky, 2001) in the classroom/ library.

This book addresses the following questions:

"What is digital literacy?"
"How is learning different in a digital world?"
"What are the best strategies, resources and tool to support effective teaching and learning in a digital environment?" (back of the book)


The main premise of the book is that "Web 2.0 characteristics support the principles of good teaching and learning - active participation and collaboration" (p.4).

The book divides Web 2.0 into the following categories: searching the web; social bookmarking; managaging and organizing information; content collaboration; media sharing; social networking and digital mapping. Each chapter provides a plethora of tools for our various media needs.

Each tool is presented with a detailed description of its features and includes application suggestions, web links and a figure depicting an aspect of its online application. Each section also features a comparative chart of the presented tools. I found this very helfpul in isolating which tool I might want to use for a particular application.

This book features a glossary of terms (great for understanding those new technology words such as aggregator and geotagging!) and a full index. But, best of all, this book has a "tool chart" in the appendix which lists all of the tools and their corresponding URL in alphabetical order. GENUIS!

This book helps the "digital immigrant" (2001) to understand the reasons behind the notion that "technology is not an 'extra'", but rather a necessity in our digital world. It provides so many ideas on how to start the journey towards digitalizing our classrooms.

I would recommend that every educator - teacher, teacher-librarian, adminstrator - regardless of their expertise in Web 2.0 have this resource on their shelf! To the novice teacher, it provides confidence; to the digital expert, it provides novel ideas.
Overall, the practical strategies presented inside are an asset to any and all library and classroom programs!

Reference

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Native, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1-6.

[Ms. McGregor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great starting point if you want to integrate Web 2.0 tools in classroom or library instruction but aren't sure where to begin. The book does a good job of overviewing some of the best of current web 2.0 tools, but remember that new tools are being created and existing tools are evolving at a rapid rate. I am interested to see if new editions of this book may come about to address this. In the meantime, this book gives teaching ideas and will walk you step by step through how to create an environment that encourages technological exploration and learning.

[Alanna King · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading a lot on this topic in other places, Berger and Trexler have written a very comprehensive guide on how to incorporate Web 2.0 into teaching, and learning. I used as much for use as a student as I did for use as a teacher. Anyone who wants to 'get on board' can do so easily with the guidance of this book.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reference book

[MaryBeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a textbook.