week 13: the future ... Web 3.0 key questions

Libraries are becoming "active learning laboratories" because many Web 2.0 tools are information/communication based and these types of teaching tools and resources can be used by a teacher-librarian (Wikipedia, blogs, creating wikis).

Wikipedia's definition of Web 2.0 includes "... web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design,[1] and collaboration on the World Wide Web ... web-based communities, hosted services, web applications, social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs, mashups, and folksonomies. A Web 2.0 site allows its users to interact with other users..." .

1. How do Web 2.0 (and beyond) tools transform the traditional role of the library as a place into one characterized as an active learning laboratory?

Since the library is the information epicenter of a school and many Web 2.o tools are information/resource based, it makes sense that Web 2.0 is becoming a big part of the school library. Wikipedia's definition (above) points to a toolbox filled with tools that involve interaction, sharing, collaboration and networking, all of which involve the state of being "active". A traditional (more passive) library does not involve much interaction ... it is more of a "one-way street"; however, a library using Web 2.0 tools becomes an active learning laboratory where students can explore, interact and communicate. Students that are creating wikis for a novel study, for example, are "active" and engaged in learning while they add bits and pieces to their wiki and are collaborating and sharing when asking classmates to contribute to the same wiki site. How about a student adding relevant information to his/her hometown Wikipedia site? If a student is engaged, he is definitely learning something and often, is recognizing the importance of the lesson.

2.How did you construct new knowledge and further development of your teaching philosophies using Web 2.0 tools?

I believe that, as teachers, we must choose how to "speak" to our students so they understand what we are saying. We must also choose teaching tools that "engage" our students in the learning process. Why not use digital tools to teach "digital natives"... and could these tools involve some sort of interaction? This is where Web 2.0 comes into the picture. It makes sense ... Wikipedia, blogs and YouTube (all interactive) are "comfortable" for students as they are often a part of their everyday lives. Throughout this course, I have slowly become more "comfortable" with many of these tools and see the value of using them within my library. The idea of interaction (engagement) is my favourite as it supports my own philosophy and I am happy to have many more tools in my toolbox. I am looking forward to interacting, sharing and collaborating with my students.