Web 2.0 - Look for it at St. Paul this year

Have you heard of Web 2.0? I think many of us have not - we assume that the Internet is simply a place we go to find information. Although I can't imagine what I did B. G. (Before Google), the Internet is a living organism, constantly evolving and changing. It can be hard to keep up with the speed and the direction of that change. Wikipedia describes Web 2.0 as "changing trends in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aim to enhance creativity, information sharing, and collaboration among users."

In school, we want to make sure that our students know how to properly use the tools of Web 2.0 so that they're prepared for their future. It's one of the reasons I've started writing this blog - to show our students one small way that technology can enable us to build bridges with others, to communicate in an authentic voice, and to share our faith with the wider community.

Wikipedia is a great example of Web 2.0: an encyclopedia, completely open, edited by millions around the world, it has far surpassed any published encylopedia for depth and breadth of information. Blogs, social networking sites, and podcasts are all other ways that people connect and share information. The Whispers in the Loggia blog (see the link on the right side of this page) is a great example of a blog that provides current, relevant, high quality information for Catholics around the world. I read it every day!

Five of our teachers were selected to participate in the Michigan Tech Champions project this summer. They'll be sharing their new knowledge with their students this year, in a safe and secure environment. Look for the good work they'll be doing (and sharing with their colleagues) during this school year. I know you'll be as excited as I am about the possibilities.