Innovation, it’s the name of the game right? Technology is all about innovation. To bring in something new. A new idea, a new method, or a new device. Education, as with anything else, has always benefited from innovation. From something as simple as whiteboards replacing blackboards, to document cameras replacing overhead projectors, all the way up to emerging web 2.0 technologies that allow new methods for individual lesson delivery and student collaboration. This continual innovation will hopefully help today’s teachers prepare students for the workplace of the future.
An interesting note on the web 2.0 topic. One of the attractive aspects of web 2.0 is that the applications are free. We all learned in Economics 101 that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Stu.dicio.us had good reviews but as of this writing the page reports that it will be back. Another application we have been using all quarter in our technology class was Etherpad. I thought this was a cool application and even chose to use it in a collaborative project in the class. Users have been notified that there is going to be a transition period as they do something with Google. My question is, with all the new free apps being put out, who is responsible for the support? Are creators of these apps simply hoping to be bought up by larger companies like Google. I wonder about the longevity of free applications.
