Thing #5

One of the perspectives I read was "Teachers 2.0" by Aaron Smith.  His website consists of weekly posts on a wide range of topics.  He had technology tips of the week, website reviews of the week, and even lesson ideas of the week.  It was a really neat website.  He wrote about some of his experiences in talking with others about new technology and such.  His posts seemed to always have some sort of open-ended question where he would state his thoughts on the topic and leave you to ponder your own thoughts on the given topic.  He wrote one in response to a disagreement he had with his sister concerning social games in the classroom.  He neither condoned nor comdemned them.  The gist of his post was to urge others to simply try new things with an open mind.  Too many people turn their noses up at new things before they even take a real look at it.  I found it very interesting that he brought this point out since blogging is that "new thing" I am trying.  I had to face blogging with an open mind and because of that I have really enjoyed it.  
  
Susan McLester in her article "Web 2.0:  A Guide for Educators" writes about the incredible explosion of new technology we are seeing today.  She talks about the internet and how fast it has become an integral part of our day.  Whether we are making payments online, surfing the Web for entertainment, accessing information, or chatting with friends on a social sight, many of us spend hours on a computer every single day.  She insists that teachers must  maximize their resources with the seemingly endless knowledge and education opportunities available on the internet.  She is right in that we should use the internet to our advantage, but I do not want new technology to replace pencils and paper.  I like the idea of Web 2.0 for the expanding knowledge our students can get out of it, but I do not want to teach some online class that doesn't even really need me.  This is my main concern with Web and School 2.0.  

"School 2.0" seems to be the next step for education.  As technology improves, education must change to meet the needs of what is acceptable.  The idea of School 2.0 stems off the idea of Web 2.0.  Basically, it's the idea that education be extended outside of the classroom into homes and communities incorporating the use of more and more technology.  I think this is good  as far as extending education to everyday life outside of the classroom, but I do not want the technology and Web 2.0 idea to take over schools.  My fear is that in the near future we won't even use books,  paper, or pencils anymore.  Children will get lazy and so dependent on their computers that they will not have as good of a work ethic.  Students need to be in the classroom setting as it is now to learn and develop socially instead of simply logging on to a computer in their own "cyber world."  I see School 2.0 as good and bad, the bad outweighing the good.