Web 2.0

The Way We Teach Now
Effective
By Nicole Wanago
For many young adults, using
technology is as much a part
of their daily routine as eating
and breathing. Technology
touches almost every aspect their lives,
helping them to stay connected with
friends, answer questions and be a source
of entertainment, among other things.
Consequently, technology offers educators
an effective student engagement tool
that can help students see relevance between
what they are learning and the real
world. Technology also prepares students
to be qualified future employees who are
able to work in a highly technical business
environment, as well as be critical thinkers
and effective communicators.
There are myriad classroom resources
available. Yet, a common challenge for
educators with limited time and resources
is determining what tools to use, how to
use them and when. The Family Economics
& Financial Education (FEFE)
project at the University of Arizona has
worked to address that challenge by
providing educator-tested, technologyintegration
resources applicable to any
career and technical education (CTE)
classroom.
Free Web 2.0 Technology
Lesson Plan
Technology Integration Options is a free
and frequently updated lesson plan available
at www.fefe.arizona.edu. The
lesson was developed in collaboration
with classroom educators from throughout
the United States to identify the
most effective, participant-friendly
Web 2.0 tools. Such tools encourage
students to interact through collaboration
and sharing rather than simply accessing
information online. The recommended
tools in this lesson are generally free,
but some offer the option to purchase a
subscription for enhanced features. This
lesson plan saves an educator time by
providing:
• A list of classroom-tested tools
• Instruction sheets for the teacher
or student
• Online tutorials
• Teaching tips
Web 2.0 Tools—A Few
of Our Favorites
Several types of tools are available
for a variety of classroom uses at any
grade level