Wed-Based Learning

Today classrooms are not just located between the 4 walls of your room or even your school. Last summer I became fully aware of what Web 1.0 referes to which, according to Berners-Lee, could be considered the "read-only web." In other words, the early web allowed us to search for information and read it. There was very little in the way of user interaction or content contribution. I planned the Dig It! You be the Archeologist web based project to use this type of Web 1.0 atmosphere.

For this project a teacher, before the project start date, would create their own archeological dig site with organic and inorganic “artifacts” either in a storage bin exposed to the elements or in an area of at least one square foot grid of their schoolyard or other location populated with “artifacts”. Schools will also post their items for others to discover electronically after they are left for the school year. Students would post a sketch or pictures of the items they uncovered and allow others to predict what they are and what they could tell about our civilization. Once a written guess with reasoning for what the item is and what it tells about our civilization is submitted the web master will post the real answer of what the “artifact” is. The Webmaster will also post a sample set of “artifacts” for classes to practice with before they begin the project. This is similar to PBS's Arctic Journey.

Now that I have more tools in my designer tool belt I can see various ways that this project could be better implemented using a Web 2.0, or "read-write" web, platform. The project could be based in a wiki to allow for various ideas and reasoning for artifacts to be shared and built upon. You could also have a discussion board where you can post your idea and then allow registered users to comment on whether they agree of disagree.

Benefits of a Web 2.0 platform- Provides ongoing conversations about the artifacts. this would allow for deeper thinking in the ways of challenging or justifying ideas and reasoning.

Challenges of a Web 2.0 platform- The website creator loses control over the content.