Web Based Learning-Upping the Ante with Web 2.0 Technologies!

Last summer was my first experience with online learning. For our final project we had to come up with a Web Based Learning idea using Web 1.0 technologies. Now that we have moved up in the world, and can incorporate Web 2.0 technolgy I have a lot of ideas as to how exactly this project could be even better!

The overall concept of my final project last summer was that classes all over the world would be particpating in a database creation. Each class would need to measure tides (can be pulled from a source such as Weatherbug or actually measured by older students) four times every day for an entire month. Students would then graph their data on a line graph over the entire month (each student graphing one or two days). Teachers would take a picture of these graphs to share with one another. All of the data would be pulled together and analyzed alongside the pictures of the graphs. Students would see the pattern in tides vary during the different phases of the moon. They are drastically different (very high/very low) when the moon is new and full while the change is not as radical during the other phases of the moon. By going through with this project students would solidify their knowledge of the phases of the moon and how the moon controls the tides.

One way I could incorporate Web 2.0 technology would be to have students use a discussion board to talk to each other about generalizations made about their data when they are analyzing the pictures and the graphs. A second idea I had would be to have students create a wiki on the project website talking about different concepts and vocabulary they are learning within this project! These two additions would make this project so much more interactive and real! The fact that the kids would be talking to the other students participating in the project would be so much more authentic than just having the teachers upload their pictures and data every month!