Post #6

"Web 2.0 is a category of new Internet tools and technologies created around the idea that the people who consume media, access the Internet, and use the Web shouldn't passively absorb what's available; rather, they should be active contributors, helping customize media and technology for their own purposes, as well as those of their communities."

When I was reading on the internet about Web 2.0, I came across this definition on tech soup and thought that it was a really good one. I really like the idea of using technology to enhance learning. I think that technology has so much to offer that a teacher cannot give to every individual student. More and more schools and classrooms are moving towards technology based classrooms, and I think that it's a good idea that teachers start now in order to ease the transition for students later on in their lives. In a sense the world now revoloves around technology. Everything from ATM's to e-mail and text messaging, all are causing the world to grow more and more technical. If students don't have a basic idea about technology, then they are going to be out of luck. I personally want to teach younger children, so I wouldn't be using as much Web 2.0 as teachers who are teaching older children classrooms would be. But this does not mean that I think that it is not important. There are still learning tools that younger children can use to enhance their learning, and I think that it is extremely important. I think that students, young or old, need to learn to socially network through the tools available with other students and members of their community. Technology so far has proven to be the best means of doing that.

I do not think that wikipedia should be able to be used as a web resource. I think that a lot of the time it does have accurate material and facts, but it can still be tweaked by anyone who choses to do so. If a student happens to come across a site where there is some changed and unture information and they use it as a fact, then they are giving wrong information without even knowing it. I don't think that as an educator you should approve any website for research information that could potentially have false information on it. It is very important that educators give their students strong and reliable learning resources, not ones that could potentially have faulty sources on them. Wikipedia is very informational, the only problem is that it can be changed at any point and you never truely know whether or not you are obtaining true information.

I learned a very important skill this week that will be extremely helpful in my career as an educator. I learned about powerpoint and how to present one to a class. As a teacher, powerpoint will be very useful. I will be able to present material to my class in an exciting and creative way, instead of just reading it to the class. I can also teach my students (if i have age apropriate students) to read and then present what they learned to the class through a powerpoint. This will allow them to be able to use technology while applying the material that they just learned. Not only will I be able to use this skill a lot when I become a teacher, I will also be able to use it through my college career. If you don't know what you're doing, then it is going to take a lot more time to create a powerpoint presentation. I now know how to effectively create a powerpoint presentation. I really like all that powerpoint offers and I think that it will be helpful in many areas of my educational and professional career.