Web 2.0 learning environments in vocational education : a study on the use of collaborative online tools in the statistics module

Abstract

The project we present in this paper intends to evaluate the potential of using collaborative online tools in the teaching and learning process on Mathematics in Vocational Education. Google Docs tool and its features as a form, text, spreadsheet and electronic presentation editor were used to teach a Statistics Module. The study involved students from the “Communication/Marketing, Public Relations and Publicity” course, corresponding to the 11th grade that, throughout the Statistics module, exploited the different features of this tool. The aims of the study were: i) to evaluate the strategy implications in the interaction dynamics’ and students’ cooperation, and ii) to ascertain if the experience changed the participants’ perceptions concerning Mathematics, Statistic and the use of ICT in this curricular subject.