Web 2.0

I originally did not know what Web 2.0 was because I am apparently too young, which is one an example of how technology changes so quickly! 

This video claims to describe what Web 2.0 is in about 5 minutes. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g

So now that I understand it a little bit better, briefly, Web 2.0 describes the way we now communicate with each other using technology and the Internet. It is the instant sharing of information - picture, video, or text. Facebook and MySpace are two primary examples; people around the world can communicate with each other quicker than ever before and with ease (provided that you understand the Internet and basic computer functions). Web 2.0 has seen the transformation of how we give and receive information. Instead of magazines and newspapers and word of mouth, although all of those things are still widely in use, our world has become one of digital technology. Our information comes from the Internet and we give our information through the Internet. 

This kind of digital technology can have impressive impacts on education today - both positively and negatively. Utilizing the current technology, teachers can interact and respond with students, parents, and other educators in an instant. Teachers can pull ideas and resources from countless websites, and students can research quickly using digital technology. 

However, classrooms need to avoid becoming so dependent on computers that the relationship between teachers, students, and parents is lost. Relationships can often be facilitated and encouraged through on-line interaction, but they can also be drowned by it. We need to be careful to maintain face-to-face relationships, to be personable and available for our students and their parents. And if we want our students to be balanced, healthy individuals we often need to pull away from the digital screen.