Module 11: Using the interactive web in the classroom

As a regular user of Web 2 applications like gmail, Facebook, Authorstream, Youtube, blogger, Skype, Wikis, Moodle, etc, I thoroughly enjoyed this module, as it has both given and also will give me the opportunity to extend this knowledge, and benefit both myself, my students, my family, my colleagues, and my institution. I reflected on how Web2 has changed language teaching and learning in the forum, so I am going to cheat and paste it here as well :)))) But before doing that, I would like to do two things...First I would like to thank my friend Steve for introducing not only me but also a lot of people to Web 2 applications. And secondly, I would like to thank the course designers for creating the platform for us to actually see and listen to Nik Peachey talking about these applications.

And now my reflections:

I remember that in the past, when teaching directions, we used to draw imaginary cinemas and supermarkets on imaginary streets in imaginary towns to make it easier for our students to understand the language for giving instructions.... In the same way, we used to ask our students to buy a special notebook and keep diaries of their language learning experiences to personalize each language learning experience. We also asked our students to take photos of their rooms for descriptions, and we had to wait for a week for the photos to be printed. We created imaginary characters for our students to write letters to.

The world is a different place now due to the ever-improving technology, and accordingly the whole language learning and teaching experience has changed beyond recognition. Web 2 applications have made this new experience even more meaningful with their flexibility, interactive nature, variety, and diversity.

Which teacher or student today would think of buying a notebook and using it to record language learning experiences? Would we draw imaginary roads in imaginary towns when there is 'google maps'? How many of us get our photos printed today when our photos are ready at the click of a button and can be readily used to describe our rooms and shared with our classmates in a blog? Or uploaded on Flickr or Picasa to be shared with the whole world? Who would think of creating imaginary characters to interact with when our students have friends from all over the world on Facebook?

The Internet, but more specifically Web 2 applications....... They have changed the way we live, buy, sell, communicate, socialize, and teach and learn. Teaching and learning have become more fun, more meaningful, more outcome based, and more globalized.