Exploring the Uses of Web.2.0 Tools in

Teaching of LiteratureBy:

Dr. Nutan KotakAssociate Professor

Dept. of EnglishUni. School of Languages

Gujarat University

New v/s the “Old” Just as canonical literature is open to newer interpretations

and contemporary evaluations, so it is possible to teach these literatures through newer means.

Teaching Shakespeare through its digital versions expands its appeal and makes it all the more relevant.

Today’s students can be enticed by the audio-visual forms of canonical literature as they need more than just the books to keep them on the same page as the teachers.

Web 2.0. Tools are self-regulatory, participatory, and collaborative in nature.

Web. 2.0. Tools and Their Uses

Web 2.0.Tools like Blogs, Wiki, Podcasts etc. can be employed in the classrooms to make the learning scenario all the more interesting.

Web.2.0. Tools make the classrooms all the more interactive and constructive.

Active learning theory is at the base of the popularity of the Web.2.0. Tools.

Constructivism is the need of the day.

Constructivism Bruner (1973) states that learning is a socially productive

and influential process in which learners construct their own new ideas and concepts based on their past and current skills and knowledge.

Constructivism combines the new information, garnered through a variety of means like websites, books, blogs etc. and using it constructively to create newer avenues of personal and social knowledge banks.

Easy accessibility does not mean easy abuse. It is the responsibility of the teachers to channel the accessed information correctly through introduction of Intellectual Property Rights and laws of Plagiarism.

Interactive Classrooms

As we are all teachers, teaching in an environment which does not give us much scope for interactive classrooms, there are some possibilities if we are determined.

The earlier teacher-centered learning environment has changed greatly to a learner-centered one.

Web 2.0. Tools have enabled teachers to disseminate knowledge to the remotest corners of the earth.

When I joined one such group learning unit through RELO last year my co-participants were from some of those countries that we rarely get to know of.

Learner-Centered Classrooms

Web 2.0. Tools have made connectivity possible. We are able to connect with learners from varied segments of the society as it does not need the traditional set-up for its use.

Many a times it is felt that the learners who opt for these tools to enrich their own learning are self-motivated.

The courses are designed to suit the heterogeneous character of the group.

Blogs: Much has been said about the use of the Blogs, and I would

like to add its uses in giving the students a feel for the written word.

Maybe I might be wrong but, as all computers assist the users with spellings and grammar, the students can make good use of the same in their presentations. Once the fear of ‘correct’ English is left behind it would become easier for them to attempt writing.

Literature teachers can create blogs and ask students to comment on them.

Assignments can be given through blogs. Students might feel comfortable in asking questions through blogs.

Wikis Wikipedia allows one to edit the posts and thus

makes the information both user-friendly and dangerous.

It is good that many do not know of this feature of a Wiki page, otherwise mischief mongers can create misleading information.

To contain the damage there is a feature called ‘page history’ that allows all changes to be tracked and reversed.

More about Wikis Wikis can be opened to Internet public. Or

protected with a password. Wikis are designed so that any word or phrase

can be set up as a hyperlink to either an external Web site or another wiki page. Often wikis let you create the link to a new page first, and only then create the page that it links to.

These links help authenticate the information available on Wikis.

Podcasts Podcasting means creating a virtual audio show

by using the Web to “broadcast” audio files recorded by a computer.

Podcasting consists of a few distinct steps: first, recording the content; second, editing the recording, adding music or effects and creating an .mp3 file of the results; and last, hosting the podcast online and ideally, making it findable by an audience.

Podcasting and Literature Teaching

Poetry and plays can be played upon through Podcasting.

Teachers can access websites like YouTube, hotstar and others and get audio-videos relating to the content of the syllabus and help familiarize with the different tellings of the same.

The teachers can assist students in creating their own podcasts and then uploading the same on their own web pages.

Other Web.2.0 Tools Edmodo- Edmodo networks enable teachers to

share content, distribute quizzes, assignments, and manage communications with students, colleagues and parents.

Diigo- A social bookmarking website that allows signed-up users to bookmark and tag Web pages. Additionally it allows users to highlight any part f a webpage and attach sticky notes to specific highlight or to a whole page

Bing- A web search engine which is marketed as decision engine.

Mind Map Mind map is one of the tools which can be used

by literature teachers to bring out the creativity of the students.

Conclusion In conclusion we can say that the Web 2.0.

Tools can be successfully used in teaching literature as much as communication skills.

Overcoming the infra-structural difficulties we can surely and gradually introduce these contemporary tools to our literature classes.

We as teachers need to innovate and show the inclination to “Refresh” our knowledge.

Thank You