Boy, have we come a long way! I still remember a colleague of mine commenting that the Internet would never last and now look how dependent we have become of our Wi-Fi! Web 1.0 (READ) was a huge step for education and the access it provided to information was unprecedented. Being able to access databases of information without having to dig through the basements of university archives was extraordinary! Teachers and students were able to access and read information from new collections and perspectives.
Web 2.0 (READ-WRITE) saw the beginnings of reaching out to resources around the world, communicating with specialists and sharing information with each other, not to mention socially connecting with friends and family near and far. Web 2.0 in schools meant Teachers and students could contribute web quests, blogs and comments with other students. It allowed students to connect with Authors in their library and communicate with students from around the world to share experiences and information. Web 2.0 increases the need for students and teachers to use a critical lens when evaluating research found online. It requires users to identify who and where the information comes from and whether or not they are reliable, relevant and objective. Web 2.0 tools also impacts assessment and evaluation allowing teachers to provide timely and effective feedback, often in real time -providing comments, suggestions and even audio notes to students. Taking advantage of these tools means students are continually able to reflect on what they are doing, improve their work and provide feedback to each other.
Web 3.0 (READ-WRITE-EXECUTE) is already making its mark on society. As technology becomes more and more ingrained into every device, appliance and tool we use on a daily basis, it seems a logical move to have all of them talk with one another to provide the optimal experience for the user. Having your smartphone turn you pool heater on so its a balmy 88 degrees when you arrive home or how searching for something on Google creates ads to appear in Facebook that are inline with your query are two simple examples. Web 3.0 in education means the use of intuitive programs and tools that allow students and teachers to combine learning with gaming, to create their own tools (apps and programs) and to do it from anywhere. School is no longer required to occur between certain hours of the day with any device. Mobile programs and tools and mobile devices like phones, tablets are creating a learn anywhere, learn anytime experience for students. In terms of assessment and evaluation, programs like Edsby, Edmodo and Sesameio are providing for open, timely and transparent communication of learning, feedback on work in progress and a platform by which each user can alter the content to suit their needs -parent screen vs. student screen vs. teachers screen.
As educators, it is necessary for us to be aware of the potential of the web and how it can most effectively be used to help develop our students -be it through creation, curation or a critical eye. Just as educators would be remiss to use a text book from 1975 to teach today's students, so should they feel the same using Web 1.0!
I have included a couple of links that I found helpful exploring this topic.
Image found on educatorstechnology.com
I asked a group of preservice students the other day what Web 2.0 was. Very few people could articulate it. I suppose that I felt this was common knowledge. Why would it be, if this isn't something that is/was addressed in their undergrad or prior. In your experience, is the general knowledge of these types of interaction on the web strong? Do people have an understanding of how much web 3.0 can impact us and our students? Data..data...data....data...
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