Thing #5

     Web 2.0 refers to social interaction on the internet as opposed to simply gathering information from an internet source.  You could say that it is similar to having a conversation with someone as opposed to sitting in a corner with an encyclopedia.  The main thing that I took away from the short film was that Web 2.0 is about people and would not exist without their sharing/interaction.  It is also about enhancing our lives by making information and socialization easier for all.
     School 2.0 is an extension of Web 2.0.  Students learn in and outside of the classroom and both of these environments can be enhanced by the internet.  They can take a trip to the Smithsonian through classroom activities or at home.  They can communicate with a pen pal or visit a classroom across the country immediately.  They can work math problems without a pencil and read a book without an actual book............wait a minute..........is that a good thing?  Well, I said enhance, not replace!  Nothing can replace real face-to-face interaction, a good balance between this and the web is essential in a child developing into a well-rounded member of our society.  Integration and exposure to technology in real-life is essential.............and so is reading a "real" book!
     I envision future schools to be very technologically advanced.  Funds (and maybe old ways of thinking) are some things that hold our schools back from this now.  How cool would it be for every student to have access to the web and be provided an ipad?  How great would it be for students to not have to carry a 50 pound backpack around?  I also have to wonder if grade levels would disappear with each student's curriculum tailored individually.  That would really make more sense, each student at their own pace with personalized challenges.