New Tools for Teaching Writing

In the article, "Invited Commentary: New Tools for Teaching Writing," Mark Warschauer briefly references the shift from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0, which is an important transformation that CALL teachers should understand.

Web 1.0
In the early 90's, the Internet was like an encyclopedia. It opened access to knowledge that people wouldn't otherwise have. People could read and learn from the Internet just the same way they would by going to the local library and checking out lots of books. However, the Internet was controlled by a small group of programmers and experts who shared their knowledge.

Web 2.0
Web 2.0 evolved with websites like Amazon.com that allowed customers to post their reviews. The Internet transformed from a read-only tool to one in which people from all around the world could share their opinions and knowledge. Web 2.0 tools, such as blogs and wikis, provide a platform for anyone to share their voice with the public. You can think of the flow of information in Web 2.0 as a two-way street (give and take). Another part of Web 2.0 is the mashup - in which people take content, such as YouTube videos, images, tweets, and other text and combine them all together to create a new story.

So what does this mean for CALL? The Internet should not just be a place for students to read text, review flashcards, or play drill-and-skill games. Think of the Internet as a medium for students to share their voice, join communities, create or transform content, and establish their expertise. Think of your students as knowledgeable experts (each student has some expertise to share - sports, photography, fashion design, art) and allow them to express their knowledge to the public using the language that they are learning and the variety of Web 2.0 tools that are available. This will engage the students because learning becomes personal and interactive rather than a delivery system of knowledge.