Customer Reviews

Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools

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People no longer just search for information on the web. Now they provide information, too. These people include our students. The world has changed; students have changed, and traditional schools are no longer up to the task of educating young people for the future.

This is the argument of the book Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools. Although we're still in the early days of bringing together education and Web 2.0, there are good models of learning and technology use that point us in the right direction.

The authors provide examples of teachers who have guided their students to use Web 2.0 tools in creating a collaborative math solutions manual, an independent literature circle project, a collaborative guidebook about online security, for example.

Solomon and Schrum observe that, although young people may be ahead of their teachers in using these tools, teachers can help them use the tools in educationally appropriate ways.

Although the content of the book is excellent, you can't read about 20 percent of it on the Kindle because none of the sidebars and graphics and appendices work with the Kindle. I had to get a refund and buy the hard copy. Very disappointing for an ISTE (Internation Society for Technology in Education) publication. I hope they fix it soon. I was very surprised to see it even still available for download. I was told that it would be taken down until it was fixed. So, if you want to miss about 20 percent of the content, buy the Kindle version. If, however, you want the full meal deal, buy the paperback.

Recently, I purchased this book Web 2.0, New tools, New schools by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum. Currently I am enrolled in graduate school taking a technology course and this book has been life changing. As an educator, I have learned tremendous information on how to use digital tools to maximize teaching and student learning. My vocabulary in terms of discussing technology has changed. I find myself making statements such as - web resources, virtual learning experiences, digital tools and so forth. I believed that I was technically challenged and avoided doing anything remotely involved with technology. Now, I have conquered that fear and challenges myself on a daily basis in learning something new in technology - due to this book. It is beneficial to me as a career educator and has changed my life personally. Kudos to authors Gwen solomon and Lynne Schrum!!!!

(TED550)
A great tool to get educators familiar with the terminology and various aspects of Web 2.0. Written in a friendly manner for anyone who has an idea of 'Net terminology to begin with. For example, if you "get" computer references, you will very much enjoy the 1st chapter list of the evolution of "The dog ate my homework" excuses. Geared toward educators in nature, it covers everything from safety on the 'Net to specific tutorials for different 2.0 tools, as well as ideas on how to integrate them into the classroom and visions of where "cool schools" or "smart schools" are going in the future. A good read for those interested in using 2.0 in the classroom, or even in personal use. Well done.

Solomon and Schrum provide an insightful look into some of the new and exciting capabilities of the internet that are available to our students. These new capabilities have been designated as Web 2.0 tools, hinting at the fact that they are the "newest releases" of internet tools out there. Some of these include blogs, wikis, podcasting, video conferencing and more. These tools are revolutionary in so much as they not only allow the users to search the web but interact with it. This is something that generations before our students have never had the ability to do.

Solomon and Schrum cite some of the reasons for this paradigm shift as a changing global climate. Businesses have changed and become more collaborative and cooperative, communication has increased dramatically in the last decade, and the world's economy has changed as well. All of these changes have led to a change in the technology because of a need for it. Technologies must keep up with the fast paced climate of the globalized world. Therefore, it stands to reason that our education system should change as well. If it does not, the American education system may be in trouble.

Solomon and Schrum discuss many of the Web 2.0 tools and their uses and provide people with a practical approach of how to use them. This book is a great choice for any educator who is looking to bring their class into the 21st century.

In this book the introduction to new classroom tools is amazing. This book breaks everything up into sections. First giving a history about the technology and then explaining how the web 2.0 tools can be used and implemented into your classroom. The book explains everything to the reader as if the reader had no prior knowledge of this technology. However I also found this book suitable for someone that was more advanced in their technological skills. The authors present different vantage points of the tools. Such as how an administrator could use it, or how a math teacher would incorporate web 2.0 into their classroom. I really enjoyed the section on how to incorporate Professional Development and this book is suitable across all content areas. You rarely find a book that describes how you can better implement your curriculum across all subjects. I highly recommend this book and it will be in my library until it becomes outdated with new technology.

I think it's a useful books for those who want to know more about web2 and desire to start using web2 in educational contexts especially in classes which creative writing and written collaboration is desired.

Enjoyed this book immensely and well worth the price. A very nice balance between concepts and practical ideas. After reading it, you will no doubt be eager to get stuck in and try some of the suggested tools.

Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools By: Gwen Solomon. This book is a great resource for anyone wanting to add more web 2.0 tools into their curriculum. Web 2.0 tools are programs that you no longer need to buy and install onto a computer because all the software is online and easy to use and access. The book tends to offer a view that web 2.0 tools allow students to easily create and share ideas with each other and any educator will know that being able to create and then share content with others is the ultimate form of understanding. I would recommend this book to any teacher that is looking to change their paradigm or the paradigm of their school, it offers many great tools and points of view to help you get started down the path of web 2.0 tools and a teaching tool and resource.

Are you an educator interested in learning how to use Web 2.0 tools in the classroom? If so, this is the book for you. Solomon and Schrum have created a wonderful resource for educators interested in learning more about Web 2.0 and how to use it to prepare our students to be global 21st century citizens.
Key concepts include:
- The theory behind using technology in schools, including how to prepare our U.S. students to keep up with the rest of the world in terms of learning technological and thinking skills for the 21st century.
- What is Web 2.0? Clearly defines what web 2.0 means and how it works.
- Some examples of Web 2.0 tools that are useful in the classroom and encourage learning, including blogs for writing, editing, and reviewing, podcasts for creating multimedia or listening to a teacher's lecture, wikis for collaborative writing: constructing collaborative documents, study guides, and portfolios, and others.
- Professional Development: suggestions for incorporating instructional technology into pre-service programs and professional development.
- Leadership and using Web 2.0 tools
- Issue of safety and security when working online with Web 2.0 tools, including copyright and intellectual property, security and legal considerations.
- Systemic issues, such as access to speakers of other languages as well as addressing the digital divide.
- New schools that encompass all of the above and use tools to create classrooms with seamless teaching and learning through technology.
- Wonderful tutorials that walk the reader through some excellent online tools for use in the classroom.