Thing 6

Thing 6

Instructions:

• select any site/tool from the list of GO2Web2.0 tools
• Explore the site you selected
• Create a post about your discovery.  Be sure to create a link back to the site where you found your tool.

Tool Chosen/Link:

Little Bird Tales

Questions:

What did you like or dislike about the tool?

• Whoever invented this tool was an absolute creative genius!  I say this because not only can it be used by teachers, but parents can use it as well.  This tool is called "Little Bird Tales," and the description says, "Little Bird Tales was created to help nurture children's creativity and imagination while simultaneously creating one of a kind childhood treasure that can easily be shared.  It is dedicated to providing a safe web environment for children, free of advertising, merchandising and links to other sites."  I went ahead and signed up for an account just to meddle with different things that the app offered.  What I really like about this tool is that it can be used in elementary classrooms, which is in the direction of my profession.  I love how it allows teachers to capture moments that will last for lifetimes on end.  

What where the site's useful features?

• Once I created an account for this app, I found that it had many useful features.  It has a similar template to any popular social media, a home button and menu options on the side.  One of the menu items it "Create a Tale," this allows a teacher, parent, or student to create a project; giving out helpful instructions along the way.

Could you see any applications for its use in a school or library setting?

• The app that I chose would have a great use in school, especially at the elementary levels.  A teacher could have a child write a short story, draw pictures, then create a short video about the story.  Children can show their parents online, or enjoy looking back on memories in the future.  I also think that this would be perfect for a library session, especially for children who like pictures to go along with what they are reading.  Another thing about this app that is so great, is that it does not have to be used at school and a library specifically, but parents can use it as well!

Thing 5

Thing 5

Question 1: What does "School 2.0" mean to you?

Question 2: What does it mean for schools of the future?

Answer: 

To me, School 2.0 is a wonderful, well-thought, and brilliant idea!  When I say this, I take into consideration how my generation and the generations to come are acquainted to technology, especially the World Wide Web.  The classrooms that we once new are changing on a daily basis, they are becoming more modified to fit the standards of children who were born during Generation Z.  Those children will be accustomed to a completely different classroom atmosphere compared to that of their parents.  The proposal of School 2.0 is to allow children to take what the learn at school and incorporate it into their lives at home and out into their communities.  With this children will be able to learn in a variety of different ways, whether it be tech savvy or the pencil-and-paper method; they will be able to integrate everything they are learning and use it out in the real world.  

The idea of School 2.0 is a great opportunity that children should take advantage of, however, it all depends on the teacher, and how he or she will introduce technology into their classroom.  There was a great, headlining quote in one of the articles I read from NMC Horizon Report, The 2012 K-12 Edition; it stated:

"The future is already here -- it's just not evenly distributed." 

                                                                                        -William Gibson

This follows along with my statement above; not only must teachers introduce technology to the class, but there are chances that the school system or home do not have the opportunities to hand out tech-savy items as much as others.  This is perhaps why School 2.0 works for some areas more than others, not only in the United States, but around the world.  Hopefully, sometime in the future, School 2.0 will be integrated into almost all classrooms.  One thing I know for certain is: the outlook for the future will be a million times different than what is happening right now.  Perhaps in fifty years it will not be called School 2.0 any more, instead it might be called School 5.0.