Web+2.0

Web 2.0  Whenever addressing technology and education one must speak to the lack of accessibility. Until technology integration is a primary goal for all schools technology must serve as a complimentary tool in the classroom. Growth in technology like web 2.0 makes technology integration and accessibility easier. Technology in the classroom like web 2.0 supports four key components of learning. The first is active engagement, when students are engaged learning takes place. This day and age teachers must create lesson plans that appeal to different learning styles. Second is participation in groups; learning to work with others can serve as an important function of learning. Third is frequent interaction and feedback; student centered education is an approach to education focusing on the needs of the students. Teachers guide the student more than leading requiring frequent interaction and feedback. Because this approach has many implications for the design of curriculum, course content, and interactivity of courses, technology provides tools for teachers in creating a student centered classroom. Last is connection to real-world experts; students need to use primary sources and technology helps bridge the gap between real world and the classrooms. Below are some sites I believe could benefit myself and other educators in integrating technology in the classroom. ** Google Sites  ** -Google sites are a way to share webpages -Easy to use -Displays all collected information in one place -Control editing privileges ** PreZentit  ** -Presentation creating site -Create/edit presentations anywhere -Offline capabilities -Easy to use ** Prezi  ** -Creates presentations in a nonlinear style -Incorporate text with images, videos, PDF’s -Manipulate information in a non-traditional style ** Seesmic  ** -Record yourself -Comment on videos ** Reading resource  ** ** - **ebooks -Reproducible books -Reading games ** __ Google Sites __ ** Google sites can be used to create a website for your class. Students as well as their parents can stay informed. Posts on the website could be future projects, suggested readings, monthly calendars, and an area where students can ask questions or post comments. Providing information and feedback is essential for a successful classroom. ** __ PreZentit __ ** PreZentit, a website which assists with the creation of presentations is ideal for students for its easy to use interface and offline capability. Students could work on presentations at school and home. The ability for multiple users to edit at the same type is ideal for group work. Considering PreZentit can be used offline, students without internet access can still work on their presentation. ** __ Prezi __ ** Students have different learning styles therefore teachers’ lesson plans must be diverse. Prezi assists the user in the creation of nonlinear presentations. It also incorporates text with images, video, and PDF’s. Instead of a traditional lecture assisted by PowerPoint sides, presentations will have videos and PDF’s to highlight main points of the lecture increasing the student’s engagement. ** __ Seesmic __ ** With Seesmic teachers can record their lecture and post on class website for students. Seesmic also allows one to make comments on videos; teachers can embed comments that highlight main points in an uploaded video on the class website. ** __ Reading resource __ ** ** - **Ebooks can be one approach to the lack of textbooks in schools. At Bruce Randolph, a Denver public school, text books remain in the classroom and only a few students can check them out at a time. With ebooks students would have greater access to text. Reading resource also has reproducible books and reading games. Technology has had a profound impact on our education system. But technology integration is still lagging compared to other industries. Teachers must continue to implement technology in student’s curriculums ensuring it supports the four key components of learning mentioned in the introduction.