The+Wonderful+World+of+Web+2.0+-+Where+Will+it+Lead+Us?

=The Wonderful World of Web 2.0 -- Where Will it Lead Us?= [|How Will We Survive?]
 * See the discussion questions in the discussion tab (pin):**
 * **Where will Web 2.0 lead our educators?**
 * **Where will Web 2.0 lead our students in the workforce?**
 * **Where will Web 2.0 lead us globally?**

The growth of the internet and technology in general over the last several decades has been nothing short of astounding, and the prospects for its potential impact in the various sectors (business, education, health/medical, environmental) is hard to fathom. Please take a look at the well done and entertaining You Tube video link below.

[|Did You Know?]

__**BUSINESS**__ As the originators of the You Tube video indicate, we are educating students today for jobs of tomorrow that do not even exist. One thing is for sure, however, that technology will play a significant role. The internet allows corporations to establish networks with "parent" or "sister" companies across the globe, suppliers of raw materials, components, or simply collaborative relationships for developing products with companies on any continent in any country regardless of language. The impediments of mail, travel, and language have come crumbling down. After initial expenditures in infrastructure, business can look forward to many cost savings and boons to productivity as a result of the age of technology.

I see technology transforming education when every student has a mobile device in his/her hands, either a tablet or a laptop. When I read in Richardson about Google's on-going project to digitize more than 50 million books from the five largest research libraries in the world, I got very excited. On top of that, the founder of Archive.org, Brewster Kahle, is attempting to do the same with the 500 million volumes in the Library of Congress. But the reality is, unless someone who is very influential pushes schools and teachers to change the way they deliver instruction, business will go on same as usual. I sit in meetings, and I hear teachers pan Wikipedia. I hear students espouse the same things that their teachers tell them. These students are struggling readers and writers, yet they are reluctant to take advantage of things like Bookshare.org, Kurzweil, and Dragon Naturally Speaking.Yes, some of it takes work on the teachers' parts, some of it takes work on the students' parts. Anything new does. However, effort has its rewards. That is how it is with technology. The learning curve is sometimes steep. However, once you learn, you wonder how you did without. With the pressure for accountability and emphasis on high-stakes tests, unfortunately, I am concerned that educators will not venture into more unchartered, unfunded technology waters.
 * __EDUCATION__**

There are people who are dead set against having medical records available in electronic format. Frankly, I do not feel comfortable with it either. Unless, medical records can truly be encrypted and pass coded so that only your health care provider is capable of viewing them. Insurance companies in my opinion should not have access. Anyway, I am more interested in the technology of improving quality of life and saving life. I am fascinated by the biomedical equipment in the hands of a skilled surgeon performing delicate operations. I am also intrigued by the computers that pinpoint malignant or suspicious cells so that they can be targeted with a probe and removed. There is no doubt that technology has and will continue to play a huge role in health care.
 * __HEALTH/MEDICAL__**

For many people, the environment is a significant issue, as well it should be since we have only one Earth to live on. With the advancements in digital technology, we have the opportunity I believe to become a paperless (more or less) society. This would certainly have a positive impact on the environment. But more important than even that, is the technological advancements in automobiles, energy efficient appliances and homes, and green energy. What I would like to see is more American job creation in the area of green energy. It is unfortunate that like so many manufacturing jobs that have gone over seas or belly up, there is only one American solar panel manufacturer left that has not gone out of business. Like health care and business, technology can and should continue to be a major contributor to environmental improvements and developments.
 * __ENVIRONMENTAL__**

__**WHERE WILL WEB 2.0 LEAD?**__
 * So, where will Web 2.0 lead us as educators?** The answer to the question, requires a two pronged response in my opinion. Prong one, at this time, in my humble opinion, Education from what I hear and see is still many years away from reaping the technological benefits that business, healthcare, and the environmental sectors are already seeing. Whether the reason is fiscal, fear of change (on the part of all stakeholders - that includes parents, teachers, administrators, and yes I have even heard some students), or political, education has too many mountains to climb to implement the kind of infrastructure, policy, pedagogy, and training upgrades that are needed for Web 2.0 to really make an impact on the learning outcomes of students. Add to that, the current research has apparently shown that technology integration has not affected negatively or positively the learning outcomes for students.

Prong two, when the technology giants the likes of Google, Apple, and Microsoft have succeeded in making the world almost impossible to function in without the use of technology, and I believe the day is coming, the institution we call Education will have no choice but to succumb to the pressure to change. Education will be so out of step with society that education will become so irrelevant that students and parents will make things so unbearable, educators will finally have change. Textbooks and English class novels will be digital. Even elementary school-age students will look at teachers like they are dinosaurs when they had them tattered, stained, well-loved worn books rather than color e-ink versions. More and more curriculum will be available digitally. So as an educator, if you're not technologically savvy, Web 2.0 may lead you to the door.

[|Money US News]
 * Where will Web 2.0 lead our students into the workforce?** I think I am going to try to coin my own catch phrase. Here goes . . . "No technology No work." As you know, there is not a lot of work available and unemployment has been at record highs for years. The sectors that will be hiring, at least according to the most recent 2012 Money US News report (See link above), almost always are in some area of healthcare and/or involve some kind of technology use. With our current cookie cutter, one size fits all educational system, it is very difficult, almost impossible to **truly** differentiate to meet the huge variety of learners in American classrooms. I had a discussion today with a Special Education teacher who has taken on some general education math students in need of RtI and is using KHAN with them. He said, "The ability to differentiate with it (KHAN) is amazing." His words, not mine. I am so grateful to this teacher for taking this on because it has been very difficult to get teachers to try something new when I am facilitating an Instructional Support Team meeting and biting my nails off in the hopes that the teachers will take the bait to attempt a Tier II strategy.

In order to prepare students for the future workforce, educators need the ability to work more individually with them to find out what skills and concepts they have and what they don't. Technology allows teachers that freedom. At some point, someone/people in authority must realize that the same common curriculum and common assessment for every student is not going to meet the needs of all or even most learners- not the ones who we should be challenging, not the ones who are challenged, and not even the ones in the middle. There is no wiggle room for investigating and experimenting with one's interests and more importantly making the curriculum authentic and relevant. Web 2.0 has the power to do that, to help educators make learning authentic and prepare students for jobs of the future.

[|Finland Phenomenon] (Watch this second)
 * Finally, where will Web 2.0 lead us globally.** We continually hear in the news how the United States has declined in various rankings, education, economically, manufacturing and consequentially exporting goods. So, how can Web 2.0 positively influence this nation's standing? Well, the Web itself cannot. Creativity, ingenuity, collaborative communication and problem solving skills can. The Web is the vehicle to develop individual creativity, ingenuity, collaborative communication and problem solving skills.

[|Finland Phenomenon] (Watch this first) It begins with a culture of pride, responsibility, and inquisitiveness (Please see link of interview with Bob Compton). This culture must permeate schools and society. Perhaps you have heard discussion about the "Finland Phenomenon." That country over a decade ago was on the brink of bankruptcy with a very low standard of living, high unemployment, and a stagnant economy. However, Finland is now a model for other nations. Finnish society values education, and there is a sense of pride in country, growth, opportunity, and acceptance of responsibility by all stakeholders to do their part (educators, parents, government), and due to the structure of the educational system a natural inquisitiveness and enjoyment in learning.