Beyond the power of what web 2.0 tools can do for our students in terms of connectivity, they are literally transforming our world, in their ability to help communicate news rapidly and at a grass roots level.

For example, this evening, I learned on Twitter that the Fort Worth schools had closed all their campuses due to swine flu, half an hour before CNN reported “Breaking News.”   I shared on Twitter what our school is doing regarding limiting extracurricular travel.  And I learned that a school in Alabama required a school bus bound for Florida turn around and return home with the students tonight.

Meanwhile, on Facebook, I found out that New Braunsfels school district had closed schools until May 11.

At the same time, I’m reading that Google has the ability to track pandemics before they even start(so far the feature is only active in the U.S.) by tracking the searches people are conducting.

These always on, grass-roots tools allow authorities to gather data that will be invaluable in dealing with a potential health crisis such as this.

Do we as educators truly harness or understand the incredible power of these tools to unify our world, to preserve our health, to share important news?  Are we modeling that for our students?  Because like the flu, our news now travels person-to-person via many means.   I know this isn’t any huge revelation but when you start seeing the congregation of data in circumstances like this and how important a part these tools can play, it’s like you “get it” all over again.

ARE WE SHARING this with our students??