Thing 5 (Perspectives on Web 2.0)

To me, School 2.0 means that my career change into education will be nothing like I thought it would be.  A little naive to be sure, but when I decided to transition from my old career to teaching, I didn't consider the changes since I was in school or the impacts that technology will have on teaching today and in the future. Recently, I have taken two college courses which used Smartboard and iClicker technology.  I immediately thought both technologies were awesome and I see them having great value in my High School Geometry class.  On the other hand, technology just for the sake of technology can become a distraction, both to the teacher and the student.  A new teacher spending too much time on the technology may produce a lesson lacking in substance of content knowledge.  In the early stages, I think teachers will have to balance how much technology is introduced, or at least how quickly it is introduced.  Availability of the technology in the schools and at home will also needs to be taken into consideration.  It is the future and it has endless possibilities to engage students who's entire lives have had the existence of computers.  School 2.0 will be a challenge for me, to put myself back "in the know" of today's technology.  This class certainly has opened my eyes to that...and here I am only on Thing 5.  Lord help me, there are 18 more eye-opening "things" to come.