EMERGING+TECHNOLOGIES+AND+SCHOOLS

Of the emerging technologies viewed -- blogging, wikis, nings, social bookmarking, shared online documents (Google docs). Which do you think will be the best fit for schools? Why? Which do you think will be the least suitable for schools? Why?

All of the technology listed above has a place in schools. All must be monitored when being used by students.

Google docs are definitely something that can be used in schools. Google Docs is a free, Web-based [|word processor], [|spreadsheet], [|presentation], [|form], and data storage service offered by [|Google]. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users. The intermediate students can most definitely benefit from this. Documents can be saved in a variety of formats.

Wiki is the simplest online database. It allows students to create and edit web page content using any Web browser. Wiki supports hyperlinks and has simple text syntax for creating new pages and crosslinks between internal pages on the fly.

Blogging is reading writing and editing a shared idea. This can be educational for children as long as safety is foremost. There are many blog sites for children. Some are:[|http://edublogs.org] and [|ClassBlogmeister]

Social bookmarking is a method for Internet users to organize, store, manage and search for [|bookmarks] of resources online. Unlike [|file sharing], the // resources // themselves aren't shared, merely bookmarks that // reference // them. This seems to be of value to students. Delicious is the mort popular. You can create a site and add favorite websites.

Nings are another social network. Educators have used it in many ways such as a book study.

While these all have a place in school, we have to educate and monitor the children. Social networking allows kids to share pictures and plan events so we need to constantly watch the kids on these sites as best we can. We also need to educate the parents about Internet safety. Listed below is sa site on safety that we can share with the parents.

[|Online safety & civility | SafeKids.com]