Thing 5

If I had to make a definition for School 2.0, I would make it based of the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 in the Atomic Learning video. Web 1.0 was read only; whereas, Web 2.0 is read and write, so it is more advanced and is easy for everyone to use now. School 2.0, to me, is already in the making. Schools are already becoming more technologically advanced. I observed in a kindergarten class that had an overhead projector and two computers, which I felt was a little excessive since they were only in kindergarten. School 2.0 makes me think of schools having all textbooks online or on something like a Kindle or Nook and no longer using paper by replacing it with something like D2L. I imagine that to be an improvement for older kids; however, I do not think that will be appropriate for younger children who spend too much time on electronics is. With technology being "second nature" to kids, like techlearning.org says, it won't hurt to wait until students are older to make it more prevalent. Advances in technology are great, but I believe it should be saved for the older kids because the possibilities are endless with what they can manage. Younger children need to focus more on their social, emotional, phyisical, creative, and cognitive developments first. When it comes to teachers, the web is an amazing thing with endless possibilities as well. Finding things like activity ideas, discussing with other teachers what was successful and unsuccessful for them, and things of that nature become easier immediately. Also, when I observed the kindergarten I noticed she had a mic like most of my high school teachers did. I felt that was definitely a great use of new technology because younger children can get loud fast.