Choosing Web 2.0 Tools for Instruction: An Extension of Task-Technology Fit

Overview & Synopsis

The growth of technology and the inclusion of "digital natives" as students in the education world have created a demand pull for the use of Web 2.0 technologies in education. Dominant among these tools have been wikis, blogs and discussion boards. Distance education experts view the use of these tools as differentiators when compared to traditional education methods. However, the research in this area has yet to provide clear guidelines on usage. In this paper, the authors aim to provide a theory-driven model to outline the application and impact of these technologies in education. The authors focus on the education tasks and technologies characteristics to evaluate the underlying fit. The authors use the extant research to substantiate the model and provide practitioner guidelines.