Blog Post #5

1. I think a lot of the Web 2.0 technologies that allow for some control over the environment are positive for students. For example, a platform like Twitter can be used for educational purposes in the classroom. Twitter allows other users to see who one user may be following so it would allow for teachers to see which accounts their students are actively following. Unfortunately, teachers would not be able to control who students are not actively following but they would still be able to slightly control the environment. This platform would enable for students to easily interact with each other and for teachers to easily communicate with their students as well. A Web 2.0 technology that would not be beneficial for the classroom would be something like Wikipedia or WikiHow. These platforms allow for incorrect information to be dispersed, under the disguise of being correct. 
2. The Web 2.0 tool Scribd seems like a wonderful tool to use in the classroom. Throughout high school, I had to lug heavy textbooks around because my school didn't have enough money to fund textbooks to leave in the classrooms and books to leave at home. So in order to have a book for class that day, we would have to bring the same one that we had at home. My school also didn't have lockers so we would have to carry the same book throughout the whole school day. An application like Scribd would allow students to access their textbooks or any books for class with any internet enabled technology. I think electronic books are much cheaper so instead of a school having to purchase two complete sets of hard cover textbooks, they can purchase as many rights as they need to the electronic books and save money that way. Electronic books would also last much longer because they wouldn't experience the wear and tear the students bring after using a book every day for multiple school years. 
1. Link to Scribd
3. After my experience today in the Tech Sandbox, I was extremely intrigued by the VR technology. We've talked in class about how you can use the VR to take a tour of another place without having to go there and that was also brought up in the Tech Sandbox today as well. There are so many places that are essential to our country's history that are not able to be part of a field trip. A classroom in Florida can't go to California to learn about the gold rush as a field trip. Instead, they can transport there virtually with the VR. Today in the Tech Sandbox, there was a flight simulator and that would be a wonderful asset for a flight school. It's not also exclusive to one subject area or grade level. It can be used in virtually all subject areas and anywhere from grad school down to elementary school. Unlike other technologies that can be used to transport to foreign lands, a VR headset is relatively inexpensive.