Thing #5: School 2.0

According to Wikipedia - Web 2.0, the term "Web 2.0" has existed for the past decade. It was coined by Darcy DiNucci to describe the "new version" of the internet developing. However, Web 2.0 is Not About Version Numbers or Betas clarifies that, contrary to many people's assumptions, "Web 2.0" is more of an attitude than a new technology. Unlike the original version of the World Wide Web, which was characterized as a passive transfer of information, the internet has become an active "participant-oriented" (Web 2.0: A Guide for Educators) entity.

This is very similar to the transformation taking place in classrooms around the world, a phenomenon called "School 2.0" by many. Educators that once relied on lecutre and "content bulimia", as I've heard it called, are shifting to a mroe collaborative format. Students are becoming more responsible for their education, just as everyday, non-technological people are taking responsibility for what is available on the internet.

Furthermore, schools are become more global than they ever have before. This is in large part due to the ever-increasing availabilty of these new technologies; people are connecting in a way that was never previously possible. Classrooms on opposite sides of the world are able to not only share ideas, but collaborate with each other and create a unified product, without ever meeting face-to-face! The possibilities for this in education are endless.

One final note: it was mentioned in Web 2.0: A Guide for Educators that 55% of all online American youth are using social networking sites outside of the classroom. I think it's imparative for educators to harness this technology to enrich their curriculum and keep up with a rapidly changing culture.