R/W Web Tools

The language that many students speak nowadays is not all that different than the language spoken when I was a student in middle school or high school. There are some changes, but I am familiar with the majority of the language spoken mostly because I am technically from the Net Generation. I would agree with students in saying that much of the language spoken is practical. Technology is for better or worse, so it is important for teachers to learn about it; the students will undoubtedly know what is taking place. I think my perspective is the same as the student perspective because I grew up with this technology as well.

EduCause discusses some of the ways technology changed our lives. Cash is disappearing since more and more people are using either credit or debit cards. This is definitely true for college students; we hardly ever carry cash. Instead of calling tech support for help, we look it up online. I also agree with this because when I first got my Blackberry, I learned how to use it by reading people's blogs. Instead of using the telephone to set up appointments, we email. I email everyone about everything; I am addicted to email. Even though I do not feel like I am from the Net Generation, I do believe that I am certainly a Digital Native.

There are many interesting Read/Write Web Tools. Some of them I heard of, others I have used, and some I never knew existed. I never heard of the term aggregators, but after I heard the description and saw "digital newspapers," I realized that I do use this R/W tool. I heard of social bookmarking, and I think it is a wonderful idea; I never created a social bookmark. I have used online digital photo tools. I have used Shutterfly to store pictures and make really great gifts. I never used the online rubric construction Rubistar. I think this is a great idea; it makes creating rubrics easier for teachers. I am interested in checking this out and seeing how it works. I am familiar with blogs, wikis.

I liked the article "Tech Tools for Learning." I especially was interested in the WebCam resources. I absolutely love having a WebCam, and Skype is amazing. I was amazed at all the neat things you can do with a WebCam. I am definitely going to have to check some of these things out. I will also have to look into podcasts because I think this is a great idea for the classroom. I think students would like having these aspects of technology incorporated into the classroom.

Google Docs is a free Web-based word processor, spreadsheet and presentation from Google. Google Docs allows its users to create and edit documents online while collaborating with other users. Google Docs is considered an R/W program because it allows you to both read and write documents, spreadsheets and presentations. I have never used Google Docs, but now I am curious to see how it works.

I think this quote is very true..."the Net Generation will be relics of the first generation of Internet youth, when the Web was still new, page loading still slow, and telephones still in use." (EduCause Chapter 5)