Thing #5

            I didn’t know what Web 2.0 was until I started this class. Web 2.0 describes the various sites and internet resources out there that allow users to interact and collaborate with each other rather than just passively viewing a website. Some examples of Web 2.0 include blogs, wikis, social networking, video sharing sites, podcasts, etc. With the abundance of all these free resources available, teachers should definitely take advantage of them in the classroom. Web 2.0 is changing education in a big way by making learning a more collaborative effort, making access to information easier and faster than ever before, and creating new learning environments for students.

                The trends that Steve Hargadon discusses regarding the two way nature of the internet were very interesting. He points out that Web 2.0 has created a tidal wave of information. Anyone can contribute information through sites such as Wikipedia. It has made people more participative by allowing people to comment and state their opinions on just about anything. It creates a collaborative atmosphere and social learning. It truly is changing the way people learn and how they go about doing it.

To me, “School 2.0” means using these new resources and tools to better engage students in new ways of learning. Technology is changing every day and so must our schools to keep up. Students are already using various forms of technology in their everyday lives, so it only makes since to incorporate these things into their activities at school. Schools of the future are going to have to continue to adapt to meet the technological needs of their students. With technology progressing as fast as it is today, what will our schools look like in 10, 20, 30 years from now? It’s exciting to think about.