Birth of a Salesman

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Web 2.0 Technology – The third dimension of communication

There has never been a time where electronic communication has been as pervasive as it is right now. Although, it is not a new concept, the advent of the Internet and increased Internet capability have really set the ground work for a communication explosion.  At the forefront of the communication explosion is the concept of Web 2.0 Internet sites. So what is Web 2.0? According to Wikipedia Web 2.0 is, “…is commonly associated with web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web.”  Some of the characteristics of the Web 2.0 website are the promotion of organic growth, integration of multimedia components, integrated communication tools, and highly customizable layout.

As a result there is a growing movement to create richer, more interactive, electronic experiences. Consequently, the way that we teach students cannot remain the same. Teaching and learning have to also reflect the norms and traditions of the culture. The following curriculum will encourage students to explore Web 2.0 technology through the use of seven cognitive learning tools, that will not only focus on learning information about Web 2.0 technology, but to help develop a thorough understanding of the subject and a strong conceptual framework to utilize these tools to as effectively as possible.

What is the Cognitive Tools difference?

Cognitive tools help the learner to construct knowledge by taking we know and exploring new ideas about what we know, and assimilating it back into our knowledge structure. The following curriculum will explore seven cognitive tools that will help the learner develop a deeper understanding of Web 2.0 technology.  Each week a different cognitive tool will be explored and there will be a complementary activity to promote the understanding of that tool.

Seven Cognitive Tools:

·         Perceiving

·         Patterning

·         Abstracting

·         Embodied Thinking

·         Modeling

·         Playing

·         Synthesis

Lessons:

Module 1: Perceiving

What do we think we know?

The term Web 2.0 has become quite passé, but does it actually mean? There are various definitions, understandings, and potential uses for this technology; but what is the truth?

·        For this lesson the student will explain their own understanding of Web 2.0 technology.

o    Include the benefits of this technology.

o   This assignment is about establishing a baseline of what you know on the topic. If you are completely unfamiliar with the concept, take a wild guess? What does it sound like? There are no wrong answers

·        Visit five web sites that are classified as Web 2.0 and document the urls. Document what the things that you like best about these sites.

·        Think of a creative use for Web 2.0 site. Describe the features of the site. Feel free to be as creative as possible. Remember, there is an app for about anything that you can think of, so nothing is off limits.

Module 2: Patterning

To better recognize opportunities to incorporate Web 2.0 technology into a solution, it is important to identify the aspects of web site that are uniquely Web 2.0.

·         In this lesson you will, use the list that you documented from last week’s assignment to compare and contrast the features, the use o f the site, and the audience.

·         Summarize your findings:

o   Write-up on what why you felt certain features or choices were made in the designing stages of the site.

o   Include in your summary, any patterns that you recognize and what direction  you feel the technology is heading.

Module3: Abstracting

Analyze the core functionality of the identified websites from the previous lesson. Choose one word to describe the core essence of the site. After summarizing the site in one word, identify the features of the site that address the primary purpose of the site. Document any additional features that you believe would have enhance the core functionality of the site

Module 4: Embodied Thinking

·         Create a sculpture that represents your topic using household materials like clay, paper mache, aluminum foil, etc.  

·         Try to utilize materials that contribute to the overall sensation, or character of your topic.

·         Take a picture of your sculpture and upload it to your site.

Module 5: Modeling

·         Create a functional model of the Web 2.0 site. His can be developed in Powerpoint, HTML, or any other development tool provided that the output is exported to an industry standard format.

o   Functional model should reflect the color palette that you wish to utilize

o   Semi-functional placeholders for content

o   End-user navigation should also be well thought out and semi-functional

·         Write a brief description of the site and how the site structure contribute to the overall goal of the site,

Module 6: Playing

·         Engage in a group activity that demonstrates how social networks work, grow, and our utilize in our society.

·         Students will work in groups to develop the best use of the social network to achieve their goal.

·         Solution will be submitted to the teacher to determine the best worker of the problem.

Module 7: Synthesizing

·         Develop final presentation of Web 2.0 site.

·         Write a paper to describe what contribution (if any) the class assignments played in helping to define the vision of the site.

·         Point any enhancements that were the result of one the exercises.

Elevator PitchFrom the time we are babies we are utilizing our five senses to learn about the world. We want to grab the things that appeal to our visual senses, we place objects in our mouth to taste them, and we bang on them to hear how they sound. It is during our early childhood when are at our most playful, as we are discovering about ourselves and the world we live in, and then, we begin formal education. We trade- in our play time for straight lines, nursery rhymes for classroom lectures. It is time to return to what works, a return to the very instincts that we developed as children. In this curriculum we will utilize seven cognitive tools that help foster deeper understanding of Web 2.0 technology.

Twitter Pitch

There comes a time when conventional wisdom is jest outdated. Explore a technical curriculum that forces you to go deeper.