Week 4- Readings

Educational Networking:
The important role Web 2.0 will play in education
http://info.elluminate.com/Edu_Networking_edweek.html Accessed 12:59, Sept 26, 2010

This white paper focuses on how web2.0 tools help teachers become better at what they do by collaborating with other teachers through these tools. Up until this point, the only way teachers could be published was through academic arenas.Now, we can post through blogs, videos and other social networking apps. How we as teachers now approach our profession and how students approach learning has vastly changed since the explosion of social networking and web2.0 tools.

Supporting 21st Century Learning Through Google Apps
Nevin, R. (2009). Supporting 21st Century Learning Through Google Apps. Teacher Librarian, 37(2), 35-38. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database

This article reviews how Google Apps will support education in the next one to five years. Cloud computing is the buzz word, meaning saving data on a server on the web. By using Google apps, many complications that occur when using disparaging software from home to school will be solved. By using Google docs, students will be able to access their work from any computer, home or school, and it will be in the same format. Teachers will be able to edit drafts of student prior to the student completing it. Beyond word processing, the free apps include presentation and video as well. It continues with an overview of the steps to become what is called a "Google App Educational Site".

Don't Be Afraid to Explore Web2.0
Thompson, J. (2008) Don't be afraid to Explore Web2.0.  Education Digest, 74(4), 19-22.  Retrieved from Education Research Complete database

This article summarizes the different types of web2.0 tools and cites some of the more popular apps. Many if not most apps are free. It gives a simple description of what cloud computing is and why it will be so important in the future. It mentions Google Apps as one of the most well known tools, as well as different social networking sites, blogs, and video sites. Many schools are concerned with allowing such sites on their network, but the author believes such sites could produce more learning through collaborative note taking and group discussions.


Technology: Web Applications and Google
Van Horn, R. (2007). Web Applications and Google. Phi Delta Kappan, 88(10), 727-792. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database

Yet again, another article extolling the virtues of using Google Apps in the education arena, with cost savings, common platforms, and improved productivity as reasons behind it. The versatility of the Apps, the wealth of gadgets to aid you in your duties is unsurpassed by any other collection of apps out there. Google specifically targets educators with special apps designed for them, along with online training sessions available free for professional development.