I use loads of web 2.0 tools and personally think they're essential in today's HS for effective learning. I'm wondering what books I can read to understand what research support the use of Web 2.0 tools?
Hi Jessica
A book I co-edited and wrote a chapter for is not exactly what you are looking for, but it might be helpful. We have teachers talking about how technology is influencing their classroom instruction, particularly in the age of standardized testing and assessement:
I would also be interested in research supporting the use of Web 2.0 technologies in the classroom. I haven't seen very much.
I have read a few books that are about the power of web 2.0 technologies as they apply to business, not necessarily education. They have been very insightful and have convinced me that one of the reasons we need to teach using these tools is because they encourage the development of skills that are essential for success in todays workforce. Here's my list (with links to Google Books):
1. The World is Flat by Thomas Freidman (convinced me of the importance of collaboration)
2. Free: the future of a radical price by Chris Anderson (a book about marketing, market forces, and the power of the masses)
3. The Long(er) Tail by Chris Anderson (a book about niche markets and the death of the one-size-fits-all approach. Has some interesting correlations to our current educational system)
I did an action research project on Web 2.0 tools (specifically blogs) for my master's degree. I can sum up what I found for you -
Two classes used blogs for communication in science classes (myself and another teacher, two very different groups of students, teachers taught the same thing every day). The experiment groups commented each other's blogs following the lessons. I taught another control group and instead of blogging, they journaled in a notebook.
After one semester, the two experiment groups showed improvement in test scores by 57% and 56%. The control group showed 36%. The biggest increase was from the lowest readers.
I don't know if this helps you, but at least it justifies what you're doing with your own kids.