THING NO.5- Thoughts on 2.0 and its Future in Schools

Understanding Web 2.0 as employing opportunity for any given idea or concept through technological means is my understanding of 2.0's relevance. Taking new or old age tasks and making them readily available, assessable, or constructable is what I am visualizing as an important fact to keep in mind. Rather than taking 2.0 on as "technology derived," I see it as "technology driven" outlook to identify where we currently stand as a population concerning elements of our daily lives. Such and how we go about completing said task today compared to the past and how technology has expanded means to be able to do so in more vast, expansive, and simplified ways. Richard MacManus discusses in his article, "Web 2.0 is not about versions or Betas" the best answer for this conception. He reiterates Ian Davis' words that "Web 2.0 is an attitude and not a technology." Thus, we are able to understand that Web 2.0 is about everyday people with little and even no structured learning of technology and their acknowledged ability to use a web base to prosper in countless areas of life.

Web 2.0 for me is a breath of fresh air when I consider the technology based tools that allow my life to be simplified in a very demanding society. I have many responsibilities and at the same time need outlets of communication to be driven in so many directions at once while remaining balanced. Facebook is an outlet for me to restore myself within what seems real to me and seems meaningful because I communicate with people I know and love. I am able to continue relationships that would have been lost along the way if it were not for social media. Shopping from the comfort of my home and not having to limit myself to local markets is so important for me. I travel often and sometimes when I arrive at my desination I do not feel like it is NOT the first time I have been there in some ways. The internet has allowed me to reach places and their resources before arriving. Also, I recently established a music publishing company. When it comes to music publishing their are many pros but just as many cons that Web 2.0 delievers in this aspect of my career. Illegal downloads and itunes and how music is purchased as an individual song in comparison to the days of CD sales incooperating all writers and songs are challenges. Yet, today independant labels such as mine are being more and more successful. I do not believe that would be possible without Web 2.0.

Web 2.0's place in the future of classrooms depends on how lawmakers respond to change. Realisitcally, we have the resources to reinvent schools and education in ways that allow students to have an exchanged virtual education between teachers and students. Funding placed in the hands of parents to access more feasible entities of how their children recieve an education can be a lot to think about. I favor change and some schools I have seen in the state of Florida have already went to virtual elementary schools and high schools. I consider the ways of our nation compared to the French. We live to work and they on the other hand work to live. Meaning, most have family dinner time and take several weeks off of work to spend with their family in order to enjoy life and what it has to offer.While we work and work and then spend more money trying to keep up with the Jones' that inevitably we work to keep paying off...we work nights, weekends, and somehow earn a week off for vacation within a years time. So, what if Web 2.0 gave life a new meaning for people to integrate education into a natural living environment that meant children could be active in school while being across the country for a family vacation. It seems that careers and education could use the web as a base to live more freely in life without structured walls and limitations. We know it is possible...look how many adults now have the ability to get their colllege degree that would not be able to without Web 2.0. And how many of those have very little experience with technology yet are very successful in the virtual classroom? Many!