Web 2.0 Final exam Paper

Technology has become one of those things in life that are necessary and unavoidable. Throughout the ages, advances and changes have come and gone. Some are met with acceptance and others with skepticism. The forms of technology that have appeared over the last few years are a force to be reckoned with. Web 2.0 applications are changing the world as we know it.

For young learners, learning is about more than a teacher standing in the front of a classroom speaking. According to Steve Maher in an interview given to Frontline Magazine titled Growing Up On Line, students need learning to be interactive. Students require hands on learning not just verbal information. (www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/interviews/maher) Maher cautions one to remember that children are exposed to vast amounts of technology at a very early age and in return need the same stimulation in their learning environment.

Humans have a much greater capacity for learning while young. Now that children are spending much of their childhood and adolescence mastering modern technology, it only seems natural that they will take the use of new technology into the workforce. While there are many benefits to this new world of technology, one must not overlook the downfalls. Any time that anything new is introduced into the daily routine of workers it will be met with some resistance. Often times it is simply fear of the unknown. Older less tech savvy employees need to be instructed on the benefits and proper usage of any form of technology that is being implemented. Careful implementation should eliminate problems down the line.

There are many web apps out there that will allow a business or individual the ease of combining multiple apps to one convenient location on a web app. This has become known as cloud computing. Although this sounds like a really good idea, there are several points to consider. If police wish to search your house or office including your computer’s hard drive, they need a search warrant. To view your web places they need only obtain a subpoena. Some web sites have very minimal security in place according to an article written by Gina Trapani on Lifehacker (www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/interviews/maher) Trapani also warns of issues with locked out servers and server downtimes.

It is no mystery that Web 2.0 apps can and will change the way that education, business and life will be conducted. The one true statement is that technology is something to embrace. With some careful thought and management of available applications, modern technology can be used to its fullest potential and for the benefit of all.


(www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/interviews/maher)
(www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/interviews/maher)