Journal #1: Do Web 2.0 Right (NETS-T 2 & 3)

Light, D. (2011). Do web 2.0 right. Learning and Leading with Technology, 38(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-december-january-2010.aspx

The use of blogs in classrooms is becoming very popular in classrooms today. One way blogs are helpful is they encourage students to participate in class. An online forum allows students the opportunity to be more outgoing than they would normally be in a traditional classroom setting. Also, when children work on their projects online, they are given more time to come up with a meaningful response to questions.

Another way blogs are helpful is they allow for students to prepare for what will happen in class. Teachers are able to post topics or questions for students to research before they begin the lesson. Students are able to get excited about the lesson before instead of later on.

Blogs can be for individual or classroom use. Individual blogs are important because it gives students the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings openly. Although, by working alone on an assignment makes it difficult to build a tight-knit classroom environment. Students will lose the motivation to complete projects if the only reason is to get credit. Classroom blogs can fix this problem. By assigning children into groups, they have to learn how to work together to accomplish a goal.

Question 1: How do teachers create a welcoming environment online?
A: One way teachers do this is by creating assignments that are appropriate for the student and limiting who has access to the answers. Privacy is very important when giving assignments online. Students need to know who is viewing their work or else they will not feel safe.

Question 2: Can I use web 2.0 in my own classroom?
A: Yes, I can see using web 2.0 in the future. There were many great suggestions on how to incorporate technology into the classroom. Technology is a way of life in today's society and teachers need to know how to incorporate it into the curriculum.