blog 5

I personally think that all Web 2.0 Technologies can be useful to classroom learning and to teachers. The podcast describes these technologies as similar to Web 1.0, but “more sophisticated” and discusses how they “allow users to interact and share with each other” (Web 2.0 Podcast). That is perhaps the largest benefit of internet tools, is the ease with which students can communicate and share online. This eliminates the difficulty of scheduling group meetings out of school, and allows students to interact with other kids from different schools, or even different locations. Teachers also benefit from this aspect of Web 2.0 tools, because they can share lesson plans and discuss different technologies they too utilize in the classroom. “Social networking tools, blogs, wikis, twitter, and youtube” are some examples of the tools, and they are just a few of the options out there (Web 2.0 Podcast). All of these, as well as the others, are awesome resources for any classroom or teacher. 

A cool Web 2.0 tool that I think could be extremely useful to classrooms is VoiceThread. I personally used this technology in my Spanish classes all through high school. It allows you to record yourself speaking, and send that to your teacher. Of course this would be an awesome resource in any language class to work on pronunciation and such. VoiceThread also allows for teachers and students to post presentations, videos, and comment on all these options. They also include many regulations to make sure it is a safe online environment for classrooms. https://voicethread.com/products/k12/ is definitely a Web 2.0 tool that could improve any classroom. 

I think Google Glass, discussed in Chapter 12, is going to be an amazing new advancement in classroom technology. “The device, which is worn like a pair of glasses, provides a heads-up display of information or services delivered through its internal WiFi interface. Much like any other mobile device, it allows you to conference, communicate, take and share photos and videos, and find information” (285). This sort of thing has been needed in classroom for a long time! Students all learn in different ways, and a device like this would cater so strongly to all the diverse learning types: tactile, audio, and visual. A technology like this could bring attract, far-away ideas right to the students ears and eyes. Imagine being able to see the Amazon rainforest while learning about it instead of just reading about its wonders in a textbook. Google Glass also has a communication element which is a great way of exchanging ideas and learning through other students.