Welcome

I'm glad this is a blog with a purpose. I'll be focusing on Web 2.0 tools, their possible uses in education, and commenting on the professional writing on the future of technology and education. Having worked with Blogger for a while, I'm comfortable in this medium. I considered working with a new platform, but decided against it due to time constraints at this point in the school year. That lead me to think about blogging in general and why I have never immersed myself in this technology.
In part, it seemed very vain to post about my experiences and thoughts. I couldn't imagine that many people, if any, would want to read about my life. I also struggled (and continue to do so)with the nature of what constitutes a valuable post. Perhaps this is what daunts teenagers, who don't seem to be interested in blogging. (See article in sidebar.)While the research on this topic is limited, teenagers (in my experience)don't blog and don't tweet. Does this mean that the educational applications for these tools are limited? On the other hand, the professional development applications are endless for these tools which are more frequently used by educators.
If teachers want to encourage Web tool use by students, it's more likely that teens will flock to tools that allow them to socialize as well as work. Even more importantly, they'll use tools that are demonstrated by their teachers that will also be useful in their social network sites.
I look forward to learning about more tools and using them! I'll be a better teacher, but I'll also be a better family member and friend because Web 2.0 tools are ultimately about easier communication and collaboration!