8) Research Paper

I wrote my paper on how technology is transforming education, with specific focus on Web 2.0, Social Media, and Blogging.  The best way to summarize what I wrote about in my paper is to read part of my introduction:  As humans, the greatest trait we possess is the ability to be able to adapt to the constant changes around us.  The same should be said about education.  The times are rapidly changing as are our methods of communication and the environment we work in.  So it only makes sense that our education system adapts and changes with our society.  Technology is an extremely important aspect of our society today and in order for our education system to stay afloat and succeed, we must bring that technology into our classrooms.  Technology is not a fad.  Whether everyone likes using technology or not, it is definitely here to stay and its prevalence and importance in our world will only continue to grow as time goes on.  It does not matter if a teacher or an administrator agrees with technology being used in the classroom.  Education is and always will be about the students, and if technology in the classroom engages them and helps them relate more to the content, then who are we to deny them that opportunity.  There is no doubt that technology is transforming education, and there are major components of technology in the classroom that are revolutionizing the way we teach and learn.  This is where I dive into talking about Web 2.0, Social Media, and Blogging.  Basically, I talk about how Web 2.0 is changing the way we use the internet and how it can be utilized in the classroom.  That leads into the sections on social media and blogging.  I discuss ways that social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter could be used in the classroom and then how blogging can be used as a writing and reflective tool in the classroom as well.  I also warn that in order to be effective, they must be used correctly.  To end my paper I stated:  Generations of students in schools now and students to come will rely on technology as part of their everyday lives and it is time to bring that technology into the classroom and to the forefront of education.  Technology is here to stay and it is all around us.  Of course critics will argue that every type of technology related educational tool has a chance for problems to occur, but they are worth that risk.  The benefits of technology in education will always outweigh the issues.  Web 2.0, Social Media, and Blogging in the classroom create tremendous possibilities for education.   If incorporated into the classroom effectively, these technological tools will engage our learners, revolutionize the way we teach, and transform the future of education.