Thing #5

     Web 2.0 term used to mean the new, user friendly, interactive generation of the Internet.  Now, not only are businesses developing webpages,and the Internet being used for business and research purposes.  The Internet is now a part of almost everyone's daily lives.  Men, women, and children are very fluent with the use of the Internet, and use it to network with people all over the world, and do things that before were very intimidating, if not almost impossible.  Ordinary people are now opening online businesses, becoming writers, meeting their future spouse, and going to college online, all of which would have been impossible before the shifting of the Internet to the Web 2.0 philosophy.
     Schools must embrace the technology and Web 2.0 that the world has now become accustomed to.  Children are now very fluent in the use of technology and the Internet.  Educators must begin to use this to their advantage, and not fear the shifting from "traditional" teaching methods to new and more innovative approaches.  I loved the idea of gaining more professional development using technology resources, rather than the traditional in-services.  The idea of using podcast to expand on learning opportunities, is a great idea.  The teacher could listen to the podcast at her own convenience, and listen again at anytime.  This would allow much more information to be presented to the faculty of a school, when an in-service or faculty meeting did not have to be scheduled to present the information.  Blogs are another way to collaborate and brainstorm with other teachers over classroom ideas, curriculum, teaching strategies, etc.
      I am excited about Web 2.0 becoming more "traditional" in the classroom as time goes by and technology is more common in the classroom.