Free Web 2.0 Tools?

Are free tools worth the price?

Free tools are definitely worth the price and should be used and brought into the classroom. Here are a few reasons:
*They provide an opportunity to enhance collaborations
*promotes positive communication
*creates a digital classroom
*meaningful to students lives, as they learn for their unknown futures
*teaches leadership and responsibility (global citizenship)
*teachers need to practice, be patient and engage in lifelong learning

Free web 2.0 tools not only support the ideas listed above, but are multidisciplinary, and can easily be incorporated into any classroom setting for any subject. Teachers will develop patience as the tools are learned, practiced, and taught to students and colleagues. Keeping up to date in the digital world, by continuing to collect and use valuable resources that are meaningful to students today will prepare students for their futures. When students use web 2.0 tools they are intrinsically motivation because their creation has a purpose since the audience could potentially be endless.

As teachers if we explore with new web 2.0 tools that are constantly developed and changing, we will be able to take information and apply it to new settings that affect not only student lives but the way we teach and learn with our students. There may be times when we learn from our students , as well. As long as the lines of communication are open and afford everyone in the learning community the opportunity to participate as they are comfortable, learning will occur. We can also communicate with teachers to give suggestions about what works best for which subject/grade level or just give a comment based on a tool we've learned enhancing what we do best as teachers -share ideas.

Conditions for Using Technology

Think different. Those two words define who a teacher is and what a teacher does to "teach." Sure we have curriculum and a plan to follow, but how we go about carrying that plan out is what makes us teachers who aren't afraid to change with the technology changes that are emerging as we enter into the future. Change is happening all around us and we need to accept it, embrace it, use it and teach with it.

But in order for teachers, new and seasoned ones, to accept the technology changes, I think technology needs to be easily incorporated into the daily plan; i.e. ease of use, time to practice and accessible on a daily basis (preferably in each classroom, rather than signing up for the lab). School administration also needs to be supportive of the changes teachers are facing and help in any way possible, as long as communication is open and occurs frequently.

If we are trying to teach the students of today for their own futures, we'll need to be willing to take on challenges, continue learning as fast as the changes are occurring, provide and seek resources and most of all be patient and encouraging to students and ourselves. After all, no one ever said change would come easy. So let's think different.