"Web 2.0 Tool Evaluation Criteria" Video Reflections

The video assignment for this week was to view the video entitled “Web 2.0 Tool Evaluation Criteria”. I believe that this video highlights several important factors in determining whether or not the use of a Web 2.0 tool can be beneficial in an educational environment. The most important factor that the video mentions when evaluating a Web 2.0 tool is to determine whether or not the tool allows for meaningful or authentic learning to take place. I think that this is a necessary first step because the goal of incorporating the use of any additional materials into the classroom learning environment should be to help the students learn.

 The video points out the fact that the tool should engage the students in the learning process. If a teacher fails to keep the students engaged in classroom activities and the students fail to associate the relevance of the information presented, it is likely that the students will fail to learn the information. In much the same way, if a tool fails to keep the students engaged, it will most certainly fail in helping them to learn. The Web 2.0 tools should also help to promote critical thinking among the students in order to aid in the retention of the information that they are working to learn. The second criterion that the video addresses is the idea that the tool should be easy to use. If a Web 2.0 tool is too complicated for students to learn to use, they will most likely either : spend too much class time simply trying to figure out how it works and miss out on what they are supposed to be learning, or they will become frustrated and give up. Therefore, I believe that this is a very important factor to consider when evaluating Web 2.0 tools. The fact that a tool can be generalizable is the third area mentioned in the evaluation criteria. In other words, it is necessary to determine if it is possible that the tool could be used for different subjects and is not limited in its use. I would imagine that Web 2.0 tools that can be applied to various subjects would be of greater benefit in a learning environment because there would be less time required for students to learn the proper use of the tool and more time could be spent actually using the tool for its intended learning purpose. The fourth item mentioned in the criteria for evaluating Web 2.0 tools is the notion that the tool is learner controlled, thus providing the student with greater ability to utilize their creativity. A fifth criterion discussed in the video is that the use of the tool allows for a finished product to be completed. After using the Web 2.0 tool, students should have something that they can show that illustrates their work. I think that this factor is important for both the students and the teachers because the fact that the student can produce a final product offers  a good way to evaluate the student’s understanding of the tool, as well as the information they have learned as a result of using that tool. The final area that should be considered when evaluating Web 2.0 tools is the appropriateness of content. It is my belief that, especially when working with students in grades K-12, this is something that must be a priority for teachers to consider before introducing a tool to their students. Instructors need to determine if the tool contains material or links to materials that are appropriate for the students who will be using that tool. In addition, I feel it is important to evaluate whether or not the information presented within the tool remains centered on the topic or ideas that are the focus of the desired lesson.

Overall, I thought that this video did a good job of addressing or highlighting very important points that should be considered when evaluating Web 2.0 tools for instructional use. As a teacher, if I introduce the use of a Web 2.0 tool in my classroom, I want to do my best to ensure that it will meet these criteria so that my students can benefit from its use. While I am still learning more about the various Web 2.0 tools available, this video has given me a good indication of the things that I need to examine when trying to decide if a tool will indeed be beneficial in my classroom.