Thing #5

Web 2.0: A Guide for Educators
I am fascinated by the way technology has grown in the past 25 years. Educators do need to get on board with these new technologies. I for one need to spend more time learning how to incorporate these web tools in my lessons. The social networking sites that are available for people these days are making communication much easier for everyone. The downside is that it is for everyone. Predators, employers, creditors, and investigators all have information available at their fingertips. This world without boundaries can have its downsides if not properly controlled.

The Horizon Report – 2008
Wow, what an article! I find it very intimidating to read about all the things that I have not yet explored and/or used to my advantage with regards to the web. The things that the students have been talking about and working with for years I just thought was garbage; my mistake and one of my many short-coming. Doing things I’ve never done and incorporating things that I don’t truly have a grasp on is difficult for me. I know social networking, videos, digital messaging, web collaboration, data compiling, and much much more is upon us. I need to get out there more and do what it takes to become more informed and keep up with the way of the future. Class collaboration with countries from around the globe, video clips of lessons and concepts, and other ways to work to make things available for everyone is important for our future. Teachers are going to have to lead the way and school administration are going to have to understand these things so that everyone can take advantage of what is already available. We, as educators, need to step outside our boxes!

What does "School 2.0" mean to me?
School 2.0 means that there are many more resources available for students and teachers to use in the learning process. What was once a process of teachers lecturing and students practicing with paper and pencil has now become presentations and the gathering of resources to defend your position, Textbooks are becoming outdated as they are available on the web. Learning can now happen independently from the classroom and with a much larger audience. Our students have grown up in a world without walls. Today's students are more technologically savvy than ever before. As educators, we have a responsibility to harness that desire for collaboration, social networking, and creativity and incorporate it into educational experiences.

What does this mean for schools of the future?
There is going to have to be a new breed of educator. Technology has endless possibilities and the schools of today and tomorrow need to take hold and encompass it. I have been in college for many years. This is only my 3rd online course ever. Schools are heading toward online independent learning so that students can work at their own pace, be tracked simply, and have data compiled so that they know where to go from here. Teachers are going to have to create learning opportunities through modules and explorations so that learners will be able to explore the information and become more responsible for their own learning. I have no idea what this is going to look like, but I do know that I better get on board before I get run over.