Effective Virtual Learning Environment through the Use of Web 2.0 Tools

Introduction

Tablets, smart phones, the Internet and other technologies are increasingly being used in the development of education. Historically, Distance Education has gone through similar periods of development with the use of a variety of communication tools. This development started with physical mailing methods and has continued through the Information Communication Technologies that are being used currently (Newby, Cutright, Barrios & Xu, 2006; Passarini & Granger, 2000). These modern tools include: printed materials, radio, voice tapes, video tapes, television, telephone, fax, video conference, teleconference, computer, the Internet, and e-mail (Koçer, 2001). As these technologies and communication tools have developed, intercontinental sound and video transfers have become simpler and more immediate. The first application of distance education appeared in the second half of 1800s (Tsinakos, 2003); however, the term was only catalogued by Wisconsin University in 1892. In 1906, it was used in a publication by William Lighty, the director of a university (Kaya, 2004).

Despite this extensive history, the term ‘distance education’ has many definitions. Aşkar (2003) defined distance education as “education that is created through some communication technology tools for student, teacher and materials in different places” (Moore & Kearsly, 1996). Briefly, distance education can be defined as teacher(s) and student(s)s in different locations practicing their planned teaching-learning activities through communication technologies (Almogbel, 2002; Scott, 2003; Genç, 2004). Examination of historical distance education programmes show that methods show initial use of mailing, then one-way sound transfer following the invention of radio. In the 1950s, one-way video transfer began to be used as a method after television became widespread in daily life. In 1968 the British Open University was developed as an alternative to traditional education paradigms, and has since served as a model for similar programmes. In 1970s and 1980s newly-developed cable television, closed-circuit television and video conferencing technologies were incorporated into distance education programmes.

Most recently, the rapid improvements in Web technologies have helped to develop Web 2.0 tools and increased their day–to-day use around the world. As a result, resources are required to inform teachers about the Web tools available to them and how they may be used. Many studies have shown that lessons conducted using Web 2.0 tools increase students’ motivation and success (Bicen & Uzunboylu, 2013; Cochrane & Bateman, 2010; Hoffman, 2009). This section of this book, Web-based education and the development of Web 2.0 technologies are discussed.