Web 2.0 technologies are definitely useful in a classroom; these
could allow students to use each other as resources. I remember being in middle
school and having classmates coming to class all the time saying that they
didn’t do the assignment because they couldn’t figure out how to do it. By
having class groups for students to interact with online, it eliminates some of
the excuses because the student could easily just post their question and move
on. Web 2.0 technologies are great ways for students to learn extra material
and also extra points of view outside of the classroom. Social networking was critical
for all of the clubs I was in during high school. It was impossible to be part
of multiple clubs and honors societies without having Facebook tell you when
all the meetings were. These Web 2.0 networks are a great way to keep students
involved on campus, which is linked to better classroom outcomes.
There was an example of a Web 2.0 app mentioned in the article
that I was meant to read for class called Edmodo. This app has many functions
intended to be a sort of personal assistant for teachers and help them
with assigning work to students, allowing storage, and maintaining groups all
through one site. Teachers, students, and parents can create free accounts that
can also be linked to a smartphone app to allow parents to keep up with their
child’s learning from home. I think this is a really incredible resource
because I strongly believe that the parents’ role in a young child’s education
is critical to the student learning at their maximum potential. This app allows
for parents to monitor and work at home with young students in an easy and
convenient way, which is become a necessity in this rapid paced society.
I think that VR is becoming much more popular each year, and I
think it is underused in the classroom. This could transform the way children
learn about science and geography, and so many other subjects. From the
elementary level looking at butterflies hatch or a college medical student
interacting next to a surgeon and being able to look closer or turn their head to
see the tools that the doctor is using. It could give thousands of students the
opportunity to experience a surgery that only a few students could watch from
the back of a room or just on a screen. It would also be amazing for field trips that not everyone could afford to go on, or explore a different city
or cultural marketplace across the world. It could be a fantastic way to help
students become well-rounded individuals, even in an area where that wouldn’t
before seem possible.
Wow I completely forgot about edmodo! I used to use that all of middle and high school! I agree that it is a useful and helpful tool for out of class assignments and for the teacher to easily remind the students to do things without them physically being in class. Your blog is great and really shows how web 2.0 technologies are making a change and huge impact on our world!
ReplyDeleteHey Kaley! I really enjoyed reading your post about different technologies in the classroom. I totally agree with what you said about VR. Implementing that new technology in classrooms will really open the door to so many new experiences for students. It will give them the ability to see another planet or country without leaving the classroom. It is also exciting. I believe that learning should be exciting and when students get to use a new piece of technology it will make them want to learn!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all three of your points! Social media is becoming more and more beneficial for classroom use. It is an easy, quick way to communicate with a lot of people all at once and it would be perfect for a teacher to use. I also used Edmodo and loved it! It ties back into social media and I think it is a even better tool for teachers to use because it can be more regulated than Facebook can. Like you said, the VR is a great resource for the classroom. I definitely see a future for it too and it's only a matter of time until some schools start purchasing them for classroom use.
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