Do Web 2.0 Applications Enhance Learning in Teacher Education in the UAE? An Exploratory Study

This study investigated pre-service teachers' perceptions towards using blog and wiki applications to enhance their learning. It also examined pre-service teachers' perceptions towards the application that is more effective in their learning. The pre-service teachers' suggestions of other web 2.0 applications that can be used to promote learning were also explored in this study. For the purpose of this study, data was collected from 15 pre-services teachers using semi- structured interviews and the analysis of their postings on the blog and wiki platforms. The results revealed that participants perceived blog and wiki as powerful tools to enhance their learning. However, the majority of participants reported that the blog is more effective in learning than the wiki. Further, the study results showed that participants suggested several applications that can be powerful in enhancing learning such as Google Docs, Podcasts, and online forums. The findings of the study were discussed and recommendations for effective use of web 2.0 applications were made.

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