Thing #5 Web 2.0

Thing #5: Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is essentially a makeover for the Internet. Before Web 2.0, the Internet generally consisted of web pages that web designers created for the general public. These web pages contained information but were not interactive. However, Web 2.0 came along and revamped the Internet. Instead of web pages, interactive social media pages were created. Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and chatboards allowed users to interface and interact with each other virtually. Eventually these interactive avenues infiltrated the school systems and School 2.0 was born.

School 2.0, to me, is the virtual aspect of education. For example, distance learning has exploded in popularity and was made possible with tools such as APSU's Desire2Learn system. High schools have also embraced the School 2.0 mindset by allowing students to participate in "Credit Recovery" programs. These programs are online and allow students the opportunity to earn credit for classes they had previously failed by completing lessons and tests online. Of course, this is just one example of how Web 2.0 ideologies have been implemented at both the college level and the high school level.

Judging by the popularity of distance learning, I can imagine that Web 2.0 will continue to change education in the future. Eventually, children in poor parts of the world may have access to the same caliber of education as students in more prosperous parts of the world through distance learning programs. Students may even have the opportunity to attend lectures by logging into the virtual "classroom" through web cams. In fact, it might even be possible now! The possibilities are endless and I cannot even begin to imagine how drastically technology will change the education system in 30 years.