Web+2.0

As I researched I found that the definition of Web 2.0 cannot be defined by just one definition. But it is agreed that it is an updated internet / application use of technology that allows people to interact in an open forum. A lot of the usages are for open opinions. Like news websites; many of them allow for an open forum on news topics. Although membership is usually requested at no charge, Web 2.0 allows for such advances. It almost seems as though getting information out has become less of a challenge and more of an embrace, especially for educators, starting at the College level and being passed down to the k-12 level.

 Web 2.0, I see it as making learning a lot more interactive and pleasing to the parents. It is more assessable for kids, especially those who have ipods. It has become a trend for kids reaching the middle school ages to be so opinionated and ready to stand for what they are assumed to believe in.

 Things like YouTube can be used as a great immediate source for in class learning. I remember my teachers having to go to the library to check out video tapes in order to expand our knowledge on a topic. Although this way will remain, for now, I do believe that the ability to type in the topic and find the perfect thirty second or fifteen minute clip will be convenient for everyone. If a student wanted to use it as a reference at home or in the future, it is a source that is at the hands of the student. They can access it anywhere a computer is located at the school with a simple title.

 Facebook I believe is a great source for parents. Almost like twitter but Facebook can become a little more personable. This can create a better open forum for the parents who do want to know what the child is learning in the classroom. The class schedule and outline on topics for the day.

 It is not uncommon to find kids who enter into middle school, when it is asked of them what they learned that day in school they say, “Oh, nothing.” But as we all know that is not true. Facebook would be my way of giving parents the details for that days assignment or the weeks assignments. Enabling them to engage in a school based conversation with their children.

 I sometimes catch myself debating as to using Facebook as an outside social site for my students. But there are many other factors that have made this decision migrate into using other sites like Blogspot.com Facebook has an age restriction and it is not a guarantee that all students are at the appropriate age to respect the Facebook rules and regulations and the other boundary I have discovered is that guardians might not want their kids exposed to Facebook because of the environment and stories. But Blogspot is a safer site for discussion.

 Twitter would be a great tool as far as communication with guardians. You can set it up on your phones that whenever I change my status it goes straight to the parents phones as a text message. Alerting them on homework and other important things that the parents should know.

 Wikipedia is a cite that I would only use as an example site. Before the first paper, I would like my students to understand why there are reliable sites to use and unreliable sites to use. This is a lesson I want them to know before they leave my class, a lesson that will help them in College because Wikipedia is not allowed.  It is an unreliable site because it allows people to go in and change definitions as they please and sometimes the definitions that go altered usually remain that way.

 Podcasting is an excellent way to communicate with students on the in between times. When students are out of school for the longer breaks and getting mentally prepared to come back. Podcasting, I would use to allow my students and their parents to become familiar with me before they meet me in person. I will use that opportunity to let parents and students know my expectations and the outline of the class. It is also a time saver. Instead of the first day being all about detail on the class I can use that day as an introduction to material because I took advantage of podcasting.  If I find that pieces of material are harder then others I would also take advantage of podcasting. In order to explain outside of class the meaning behind texts so that students can come back to class and know exactly what the material means.

 Wikis is a great source. I would use it to upload all material outlines. Including my class syllabus. It will become the main site for my uploaded podcast as well.

 As far as slide presentations go. I would prefer not to use any slides. Mainly because I do not want to bore the kids. I want my students to have more interaction and I feel slideshows take away from that. I would consider trying Prezi as apart of an assignment example but not for classroom material presentation.