Web+2.0

As technology has rapidly increased we have gone from just an information age to an interactive age. Web 1.0 allowed people to access information through the internet, but they were not able to interact with the information. Web 2.0 takes the next step and allows users to interact with the websites data and information. For example, many people are now familiar with Facebook, an interactive website that allows for social networking through interaction with user profiles and provided. Teachers are able to harness the abilities created by Web 2.0 to provide their students with a greater ability to interact with their communities and challenge them academically through interactive interfaces. There are thousands of programs available to teachers at no cost to help them facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and the use of technology. I would like to review Prezi, Podcasting, Bookr, Gliffy, and Quizlet. All of these programs would be valuable assets for both teachers and students in the classroom. Prezi is an interactive website that takes Power Point to the next step. This program allows users to create a large interactive work-space without the constraints of a linear program like a slideshow. This product would be great for classroom use, as it allows users to easily manipulate text and pictorial devices. I could see using this program in my classroom on a regular basis. I think it could be an integral program for students to use in mapping concepts, as a pre writing step or as a presentation device. I think the ability for students, especially those who think eclectically, to be able to manipulate thoughts, by moving text boxes to different locations and to be able to create transitions is invaluable. This product used in conjunction with a Smart Board would be incredible. Podcasting is another Web 2.0 product that could be vary useful for teachers to use. The term Podcasting was created through the combination of iPod and broadcasting. Users have the ability to record audio and then post or upload it online. Its application in the classroom would depend upon the age group being taught. As an elementary teacher I would find it particularly useful in recording your lessons and being able to post it online. This would be beneficial for other educators, but also students who were not able to attend class. Imagine being able to put a days worth or a lecture’s worth of recorded material that either students or parents can access and then learn on their own. Bookr is a program whereby students are able to create electronic books that are even capable of page turning transitions. This program would be great in a classroom by allowing students to create books for projects or assignments and as a creative way present a story. The technology gives even the least artistic the chance to create aesthetically pleasing creations, and could be an enjoyable project for many students. Gliffy is a program that enables the creation of user friendly interactive graphing devices such as charts and diagrams. While it would seem this program would be more appropriate for business people, I find it would be an integral program for students to use and practice pictorial representations of information. If students could easily create graphs they could use them in a variety of presentations, including Prezi applications, math problems or even to represent information learned from text. I think being able to create a graphical devices electronically has great applications for the classroom and will also provide students with useful skills for their future endeavors. Quizlet is another exciting Web 2.0 product. I am an avid consumer and creator of flashcards, so I was very exciting to find Quizlet. This product already has thousands of flashcards in its bank of words and concepts, but also gives teachers the ability to create individualized programs for specific information. I am also quite enamored of the quizzing ability that is combined with the flashcards. Once a student feels competent in their knowledge gained by the utilization of the flashcards, they can then quiz themselves to see how well they understand the information. As a teacher, I could see using this as a helpful tool for students outside of class, especially for those that learn well with the use of flashcards or to use the flashcards as a gaming device for spare time in the classroom. All in all, I think it is a great product. Web 1.0 gave people the incredible power of having information at their fingertips, just a click away. Web 2.0 has taken information acquisition to the next step, as it allows users to interact with their internet community through website data and information. The possibility for academic enhancement through the use of Web 2.0 is incredible and integral in future education. I hope to be able to utilize many of the great programs that can used with Web 2.0.