Since Web 2.0 is easily accessible provided the possession of a computer or smart device, it definitely has changed various aspects of my career in teaching. The first and foremost advantage is a significant surge in researching more efficiently. The need to visit libraries, study and filter through stacks of books for a specific module of teaching information, or physically borrowing newspapers and journals is now no more an issue. A simple search using any web search engines gives breadth, depth and specificity of information or literary resources pertaining to the doubts I have, be it in educational psychology, child behaviorists, current lesson materials or almost any other subject matter. This allows me to be efficient and effective in preparing my lesson plans to teach in class. Not only that, since Web 2.0 is available all the time, I do not need to allocate a specific time for research. Instead, I can surf the web, browse and study even during mundane leisure moments such as during my wait for the bus or even during recess in school.
The next advantageous impact is a significant increase in resourcefulness. Through the use of Web 2.0, I am able to easily introduce new teaching materials to my pupils. They vary from audio/video presentations to interactive applications that enhance understanding in a subject matter. Examples of such applications I have used are Kahoot and Quizziz(interactive quizzing applications), Chatterpix(a story-building application that improves language proficiency) and Prezi(an intuitive and user-friendly presentation application). Therefore, there is less need for handouts or worksheets in class. These kinds of highly graphical and innovative resources easily capture students’ attention, thus making them more interested in learning the subject. The students end up having lots of fun whilst learning. These digital teaching materials also introduce new neural pathways for students to witness, grasp, relate and reinforce what they have studied instead of learning through conventional teaching methods like memorization and examinations.
Another major change through the use of Web 2.0, is easy communication between the tutor and the pupil. Unlike conventional teaching which requires physical face-to-face interaction between both parties, now the teacher can simply go online to discuss topics with students. These can be done through educational portal forums like Google Classroom or using applications that allow collaborative teaching/learning sessions like Google Docs. In my experience, I see the effectiveness of my own university’s educational portals known as UNIEC Campus and UNIEC Virtual. Both these web applications have many features that facilitate teaching and learning. Lecturers may post online timed quizzes, assignments and start a forum or post lecture slides and coursework marks. Students like myself, on the other hand, may participate in the online activities initiated by the lecturer, download course materials, message the lecturer through a messaging service, submit assignments, check assignments for plagiarism and view exam schedules. Therefore, the use of Web 2.0 has effectively built a robust and reliable channel of communication between the teacher and the student, even without physical presence.
Other beneficial influences of Web 2.0 include timeliness in announcements and eco-friendly work practices. Addressing the former benefit, announcements do not necessarily need to be printed and distributed to students any longer. Instead, they may be circulated via online social media messaging platforms like Twitter or Facebook. The teacher can keep in touch with the students even off the classroom. This saves time, is significantly cheaper and last but not least, effective in performing managerial or teaching tasks. Since every rung of the teaching and learning process incorporates digital media and devices needed to access those media, there is a substantial drop in the use of paper and books. This is because assignments can be submitted in softcopies (text or word file documents), referential resources can be viewed and read digitally such as in PDF or HTML formats, course or teaching slides can be displayed using presentation applications and communicative or instructive messages can be sent via emails or instant messages. Employing the use of Web 2.0 in the educational field, therefore reduces the burden of ecological destruction through deforestation.
In conclusion, the changes brought by using Web 2.0 can be seen to enhance productivity and effectiveness of teaching and learning, allow efficiency in work completion by saving time, cost and energy and lastly, make teachers and students enjoy their interdependent careers in the education line.
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