Blog Post #5

As explained in the podcast, Web 2.0 tools allow the students to interact and share with each other. Some examples of Web 2.0 tools include social networks, blogs, wikis, Twitter, and YouTube. One Web 2.0 tool that I believe to be very helpful is YouTube. As discussed earlier in the semester, each student learns differently; A YouTube video may be helpful for some students because many times the video will thoroughly explain a section that a teacher may not have because of lack of time. Although this tool does not meet the ELA standard, I know from experience that, indeed, YouTube is very helpful.  

A Web 2.0 tool that I would like to incorporate in my classroom is Prezi ( https://prezi.com ). This website is designed to enhance presentations. It is a large canvas, instead of slides or videos, that allow users to creatively create a 3D-like animation. From experience, I know this website is user-friendly and can make a presentation a lot more entertaining.

A technology advancement that holds the biggest promise to education is the Handheld Augmented Reality Project (HARP). HARP is an example of augmented reality, which combines real-world images with computer-generated imagery. This advancement is intended to help teach students math, language, and critical thinking skills through an augmented reality game or videos. The project is described to “be the next evolution of mobile devices for the classroom or a field trip.” By utilizing HARP in class, the students will be more engaged in the material because the students are actively engaged in it while being entertained at the same time. I believe that turning a math problem into a reality-like game would definitely help me learn the material quicker.