A. A major point that was discussed in Chapter 3 was about how the web is being used as a platform to share various tools. These tools are participatory, cost effective, and collects intelligence from multiple people to evolve quicker than previous software packages. This platform allows multiple people to work on one project or document simultaneously from any location in the world. Several helpful tools made available to people to share information and links is through tags and syndication. Web 2.0 uses folksonomies for classifying topics and is much easier to locate specific information that is of interest to you.
The second main point the chapter made was that there is a multitude of free software programs and applications that are accessible online. These include blogs, podcasts, wikis, social bookmarking (del.icio.us), photo sharing (flickr), photo editing (picasa), video (YouTube), Word Processing (Google Docs & Spreadsheets), Spreadsheets (Zoho Sheet), Presentations (Zoho Show), Electronic Portfolio’s (ELGG), Content Management (Moodle), Calendars (Google Calendar), Mapping (Google Earth), 3D modeling (Google Sketchup), Social Networking (Myspace/Facebook), Organization (Google Notebook), Surveys (Zoho Polls), Instant Messaging (Yahoo), VOIP (Skype) to name a few. Instead of paying for expensive software individuals, businesses, and school districts can take advantage of these free resources to effectively get work done in the 21st century. These programs and the skills associated with each should be brought to our students attention if we want to prepare them for the global and competitive marketplace. The value in the future will be placed with individuals who know where to find information or get things done. This will give our students a good head start on the competition with these services.
B. I am going to incorporate Web 2.0 technologies into my classroom using multiple tools and software. For instance, if my students are working on a project that asks them to make a spreadsheet for a budget or accounting I might have the students go online to either Google Docs & Spreadsheet or Zoho Sheet and use those programs as an alternative to Microsoft Excel. I would let my students know that they can access this program everywhere there is Internet access regardless if they have Microsoft Office on the computer they are using. I might also use podcasts to post previous lessons online for students to download. This will help absent students as well as students who need to hear the lesson again to reinforce the concepts. I want to have a classroom focused on authentic assessments and therefore electronic portfolio’s would be a valuable thing to have for my students. They could place all of their work in a file with ELGG where they can access it from anywhere in the world. Who knows they may even want to use it for an interview they have. I might use survey’s in my class to guage students understanding on a particular subject by having pop quizzes. There is really no limit to how much teachers can incorporate this technology into their classroom.
C. Businesses today are moving online. Meetings are recorded and downloaded to ipods via podcast, blogs are being created to facilitate communication to customers and employees, and websites are being bookmarked to share valuable resources with other employees in the same company. Students who are able to learn how to use these technologies in the classroom will be much more effective employees when they have to take part in these activities in the workplace. Many companies are looking forward to the younger generations to bring new ideas and technology competence into the company. If students can demonstrate these capabilities during an interview via a portfolio they have assembled they will have a much better chance of being hired by the company of their choice. Companies need to compete at an ever faster rate today and these technologies allow for efficiency and timeliness. This is an exciting time for businesses as costs will drastically be cut when most business activities will be taking place online using newer technologies to facilitate commerce.
10:48 pm - 9-10-2010
I’m with you Derek I will try to incorporate as many Web 2.0 tools into my classroom because it will make the students experience more enjoyable. Even if the student dislikes your subject, using the Web 2.0 tools could change their attitude towards your subject, simply because they enjoyed playing and learning the material with the Web 2.0 tools.
10:52 pm - 9-10-2010
Keeping up with all the resources available to our students is essential to our students’ future marketability. Businesses want employees that are up with the latest technology and resources available so we need to get our students comfortable with the tools available now and show them how to discover new tools in the future to market themselves with.
3:37 am - 9-12-2010
Using internet applications in the classroom is such a great idea! The internet is something students are interested in and they love using. Helping them find new internet applications will not only help them remain interested, but it will also help students learn new resources for the future.
Also, using Podcasts can be very benefical! Its a great way for all students to learn the material whether they are present in class or not. Going along with that, some students may be worried to ask questions because they do not want other students to make fun of them. This way, they can rewatch the lesson and hopefully understand the second time.
10:40 pm - 9-13-2010
Derek, it is very important to set our studnets up for success. With your idea of getting the students prepared for what is being used in the business world now is a great point. If students walk into a job without knowing what is currently being used, how are they going to be successful?
12:16 am - 9-18-2010
Yes, I think we need to think outside the box of “Microsoft Office” as you stated above.