Thing # 5

Web 2.0 doesn't mean a new version of the world wide web, but a change in the way people are using the internet. In the past, schools used the internet as a read only source of information. It was to expensive and time consuming to create webpages. Today, non-techincal people are using the web for many things in their daily routinues.Web 2.0 refers to the many opportunities that are being used to build upon the web such as blogs, podcasts, wiki, RSS, social networking, and tagging. I think School 2.0 will follow the same guidelines as Web 2.0. It won’t be a totally new version, but a change in the way we do things. In the past, one room schools used a small chalkboard for instruction. Then, technology allowed photo printing and textbooks became the means for teaching and learning. We are now moving to electronic tools as the new change. The New Media Consortium Horizon works to identify new technology to be used in education. They have identified tools such as grassroot videos, collaborative webs, and social operating systems. School 2.0 will utilize technology over the regular pencil and paper method. It will also use communication tools such as wiki, blogs, social networking, and RSS as a way for students to learn and interact with each other. Allow students to experience these tools in school will have them excited and engaged considering they already use these tools in their spare time. As a teacher, I see the impact that technology has on student learning in my classroom every day. In the future, it will be common to see these technology tools being utilized as part of the daily instructional methods.