Journal 2

Breathing Fire into Web 2.0
By Justin Hardman and David Carpenter


The article talks about how one school wanted to create an online filing storage and calendar system, that eventually became a virtual community. Many of our schools do not represent the tech-savvy world that we live in. By not integrating technology into our schools we are missing out on the fact that "the social networking features of today's Internet can be strong tools for making a school Web presence relevant and useful to staff, students, and parents."
1. What can Web 2.0 do for students?
Web 2.0 offers congruence between life inside and outside the classroom. Students benefit from the use of online calendars that schedule events in their school and home life. Social networking represents the real world, and students benefit from being a part of online collaborations like wikis, forums, or blogs.
2. How can Web 2.0 benefit teachers?
Teachers will be able to track an individual student's progress from one grade to the next with a longitudinal portfolio management system. Teachers will benefit from the collaborative and integrated system, allowing them access materials and communicate with other teachers, parents, and students.