Web 2.0 Chapters 7 & 8

I found Chapter 7 on Online Safety and Security for the most part review. I didn't know about the Creative Commons License though. I'm guessing more people will make use of the Creative Commons License- it seems very user friendly and common sense like. I also appreciated getting the websites www.getnetwise.org and www.myspace.com/safetytips/ these will be useful places to send parents who want more information on internet safety. After teaching I-Safe over the years I found the Cyber Awareness Survey to be a bit too simple. The administrative restrictions were a bit daunting but on closer scrutiny I decided that there really wasn't anything unreasonable asked of the teacher.

In Chapter 8 on Systemic Issues, most of the web 2.0 uses for Learning Disabled, English Second Language and other special needs students I found to be worthwhile and even exciting. I can see how having some of these tools can make a big difference in reaching these wide ranging needs. The point about equal access is very valid and I would add the argument that you are probably saving money by providing technological tools which could bring these learners up to a point where they can be in a regular classroom environment and hence save money on teacher assistants and specialists. I wasn't impressed with the assessment part of this chapter although that is probably because most assessment done at my school is project based so none of the ideas mentioned in this chapter seemed that progressive.