Web 2.0
The Web 2.0 is also known as the Read/Write Web. The Read/Write Web is exactly what it’s called, you can read and write things on the Internet. Now, the reason it’s called the “Web 2.0” is because in the first version of the web, all you could do was read. Unless of course you were a super nerd and knew the codes needed to publish things online. I wasn’t around at the time of the first version of the Web. I have no memories of going to public libraries and reading about something I needed to learn for school, I also don’t have any memories of being in awe when I saw a computer for the first time, and finally, I have no memory of using a computer without the Web 2.0.
Personally, I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to use code to post things on the Internet. It makes me laugh, if I can barely follow the instructions correctly to make up a new blog, then imagine how complicated writing in code must be. I love having the ability of just being able to write everything that’s on my mind onto a blog, update people on what I’m doing with Twitter, and other Web tools. I especially like the way Douglas Rushkoff calls this new generation, “a society of authorship.” It means a lot to me because I never grew up without the ability of publishing things into the Internet and if you have something for all your life, you can’t imagine what life would be like if it was never there. But that’s true for everything.
Weblogs
Now for those of you who don’t know what I meant when I earlier said “Blog,” a blog is a simply created, easily updateable Web site that lets an author to publish things into the Internet from anywhere that has an Internet connection. Also, blog is short for Weblog. But to be clear, there is a difference from a Web site and a blog. First, a blog isn’t just built on random chunks of content, they consist of reflections and conversations that are often updated almost every day. Further, blogs are filled with links. These links could be to personal sites that they like, or to sites that back-up what the author is writing about. Blogs have to be open to comments and questions from the reader or it wouldn’t be a blog at all. Blogs must have some sort of interaction between the reader and the author.
The thing I like most about blogs though would have to be that they promote all different types of thinking. First of all, you’re reading something that’s based on what someone’s thinking and their points of view. You have to become a critic, an editor, and have the ability of finding sources that would either prove or disprove the writing. Secondly, if we show blogs to students, it would be a great way to see who the analytical thinkers are and who we can help. Finally, they helped me become a more critical thinker. I don’t instantly believe in what I’m reading anymore. I know the difference from blogs (which have a lot of biases of the author) and legitimate sources like Wikipedia.
Wikis
Wikipedia is just one out of dozens of different types of Wikis. Wikipedia has over 3 million separate entries. Just a side note here, but the work wiki is short for the Hawaiian word wiki-wiki, which means “quick.” Although, the difference between a Wiki and a regular website, or an online dictionary, is that Wiki’s come with three important features. There is the “Edit” button or page that you can use to correct errors, Or if you’re bored, change something and make it funny. Although, you’ll see within a few hours, I guarantee that the error will be corrected. Next, there is the “Discussion” tab. This allows editors, publishers, and contributors to negotiate what the exact answer or definition might be. Finally, there is a “History” tab. This tab allows readers or editors to view the history of the given word or definition. It shows the history of who updated it, their sources, how large the file is, and what changes they made to the previous answer.
In my opinion, Wiki’s are one of the most useful things we can use in our classrooms. I like that it gets the entire class involved by allowing the students to input their answers. They can Discuss answers, and have everyone involved in giving their opinion on what answer should be put out. Personally, I like it we have options on what kind of Wikis we can use. As a class, we can connect with other class all around the world via Wikispaces. I find that Wikis are simple, quick, and is a great collaboration tool. Right now, my Wikispace page is very bare, but if I had an entire class full of kids to work on it, it would look better. We can create a collaborative page or create our own pages. Lastly, if we set up an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, it updates our class on all the news from other groups.
RSS
An RSS is basically a Web tool that takes the information you want to know about, directly to you. The biggest challenge in an RSS feed, is keeping everything organized. That’s where the “aggregator” comes in. An aggregator is software made to collect everything you subscribed to from the RSS feed. It allows you to organise everything and put them into folders, delete, and even just store them for later use.
I see these as more of a personal tool than a professional tool, because there are only so many new things that happen in education every year that by the time you learn one thing with your class, it’ll almost certainly be the end of the school year. While personally, your interests are always having updates, be it a sports team, band, or new technologies, they are always changing. I like using my Google Reader account to stay updated on my personal interests.
Social Bookmarking/Twitter
Social Bookmarking is when a person finds a site that they like, the person then saves the link of the site, and uses key word or “tags” to organize them and share them with the world. The great part of that is that they connect all of the similar tags and there’s connection between people in that similar interest. Now I bet you’re wondering what Twitter and Social Bookmarking have in common because I put them together, well really I just put them together because they’re in the same chapter. But what I did find is that they are both good ways of connecting knowledge and colleagues that can really help you out. Twitter is what’s known as a “micro blogging” tool. The reason it’s “micro blogging” and not like any other blog is that Twitter holds you to 140 characters or less.
Personally, the only experience I have on Social Bookmarking is on a Facebook app called “Status Shuffle.” The way that they work is they post Facebook statuses that they like and get organised according to what topic they are. I used to like reading the funny ones and share them with friends whenever I had nothing to do at home. There were a lot of funny things that I found on it. For example, if you click on the tag “funny” you get really funny statuses. I enjoy the use of bookmarks. Twitter is another story, I didn’t really find any professional use for it because I’m just at the basic level of it, but I find that it’s a very good way to keep up with personal things like the news to your favourite sports teams or favourite players. It’s almost like an RSS feed directly from your favourite players. My experience with Twitter is very brief, I didn’t tweet very much but I did get links to shows that Corey Taylor performed on his solo tour.
Flickr
Flickr is a Web site in which members post pictures of anything that they like. Although, there are some rule and restrictions when it comes to Flickr. If you have a free Flickr account, you only get 100 MB of uploads a month, but if you want a full, or “pro” account, it costs about $25 a year. If you do have a pro account, everything you do in Flickr becomes unlimited.
From previous experience with Flickr, I found that it’s very easy to run. It’s a very straight-forward Web site. When I created my account, I posted five pictures. I took a few from Facebook and I think one from my computer. I like Flickr, but I don’t have any personal use for it. I see it as a classroom tool like the way that David Jakes used it as a way of creating an imaged version of a poem. That would be a great class assignment to do in the future.
Podcasting, Video & Live Streaming
Podcasting is the formation and distribution of Internet radio. Short definition, easy to remember. Video & Live Streaming, are exactly what their names say, they are video and live streamed audio or visual media. Live streaming, everyone knows, is when you watch hockey and it’s happening live. That right there is Live Streaming. Need I explain video? I think not!
As past practise shows, posting videos online is rewarding. When I posted my video onto YouTube, I couldn’t help but be a little proud of it. I know that it’s not the best video in the world, but it’s out there for everyone to see, that has to blow your at least a little bit. Also with podcasting, I listened to Freakonomic’s “Unnatural Turkeys.” It’s unbelievable. How can people do that to animals? I’m not going to give away the answer to what happens, but for the record, I prefer dark meat over white meat. Above all of this, I feel that live video streaming is the best. Having the ability to watch live sporting events, concerts, using Skype, and so many other things that wouldn’t be as popular without live video streaming.
Social Networks – Facebook & NING
In our book, it states that students learn better or feel more engaged when they are self-directed or peer-based learners and they learn things they wouldn’t learn in school. One tool that they use on their own is Facebook. Facebook is a social networking site that, by now, has over 250 million members. It has a lot of different apps and games and features that allow you to connect with your friends. But, there is another social networking site called NING. It is almost exactly like Facebook with a couple different features. NING, you have to pay for, it has tighter security settings, NING has, by now, at least 2 million members, and teachers can be the administrators of the NING group to ensure the safety of the students.
I really enjoyed using NING in our class. I found it extremely useful to be able to see what work we needed to do on the internet. And in theory, using NING, a teacher can run the entire course right from home or anywhere with an internet connection. I definitely see myself using it in my future with my class. Facebook is another story, it doesn’t completely give us the privacy that NING has. We can set up groups, but there isn’t an administrator feature in Facebook groups (that I know of). Facebook, I believe, is a great personal Web tool but professionally, it would be hard to keep just to our group. Don’t get me wrong, I love using Facebook, it keeps me connected to my mom all the way down in Montreal, it keeps me connected to family in Cape Dorset, and to friends that I make from anywhere that I might be. It’s just a matter of protecting our students.
So what do all of these things mean?
I don’t know what anyone else thinks of all of these technologies, but I feel like they are going to be extremely helpful for anyone that uses them. Four years is a long time, who knows what other tools are going to be created. It’s hard to imagine that even just 20 years ago, almost none of these things existed. I know I’m not a dedicated blogger like some educators might be, but blogs are a great tool that we as future teachers need to use to promote our students’ ability to analyse writing. Wikis are a great tool that promotes collaborative thinking and writing. RSS’s and aggregators are great for keeping up with the latest tools for teachers. Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch with students outside of class. Podcasts are great to make and use in the classroom. There are so many opportunities for learning and teaching now that teachers before didn’t have. For example, Cynthia’s blog on how the internet has affected education is very insightful. And online tools like Bookr has given rise to plans that won’t be used for at least three years. Further, http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ is a great site that provides dozens of useful tools that everyone would enjoy. The Internet has taken over text books, paper and pencil, newspapers, pen pals, CD’s, paper mail, and far more things. Everything has been changed by the Internet, it would be naïve and stupid of us as both educators and future educators not to follow in that trend because if we can’t connect with our students, how would we ensure we’re meeting all of their needs for success.
Yes, this is a bow :).
