Teachers Web 2.0 skills for professional development and education in the 21st century

摘要

The evolution of society and technology sustains the globalization of today’s society and demands new literacies from citizens. Education in the learning and knowledge society is not dissociable from Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), both as a mediating and potentiating element of teaching and learning process. It is crucial that teachers understand ICT and social networking as a powerful way to restructure the teaching and learning environment, as well as to rethink how schools need to work in 21st century.udData retrieved from two distinct doctoral studies revealed that teachers in non-higher education use Web 2.0 tools, including social networking, online office applications and blogs, for professional purposes. Teachers, in general, recognize the educational potential of these Web 2.0 tools and services. Our research showed that teachers are not frequent users of networks and that they prefer the generic ones to those of a more professional nature. Aware of the risks associated to social networking, but also of the need for constant professional improvement, these teachers recognize the importance of social networks in general as privileged instruments for sharing that contribute towards their update on curricular and pedagogical issues.udConclusions point towards the need of schools to take up the incentive and adoption of strategies that might foster the development of ICT and Web 2.0 tools and services skills by teachers. This recommendation aims to constitute a pathway for the schools to promote the creation of social networks and educational communities and foster, from their use, the development of habits of collaborative work and sharing among teachers. That is to “equip” teachers in a way that empower them to face the challenges of the 21st century in education and so be able to better contribute to prepare their students for the global society.