Chapter 9 of Web 2.0 discusses what schools need to do in order to create a learning environment that supports commuter and information literacy. It seems the most important thing is that schools be willing to try new things. Rather than relying on the teaching methods that have always been used teachers and administrators need to embrace to new crop of technology that is so influential in our world. An image of a world where every teacher keeps a blog and podcasts their lessons seems like an unlikely scenario right now but it is certainly not an impossibility. I think more in service education is needed to help teachers who feel skittish about new technology make the transition into the digital age.
Chapter 7 of Web 2.0 goes hand in hand with the article “New VA law: Teach Web Safety.” Since I have been working on the Information Literacy and Safety page of the wikibook this issue had special resonance with me. I feel that while there are lots of horror stories of harm coming to children who did not know how to protect themselves on the Internet most people still do not worry to much about educating their children or students about being web safety savvy. I am glad to see that it will be required for Virginia schools to make this important issue part of their curriculum. As I noted in an earlier post Internet safety should be taught the same way other aspects of safety are (danger of drugs, talking to strangers, etc.)
Chapter 5 of Web 2.0 and the article “The New Literacy Crisis” both focus on the need for comprehensive education in information and technological literacy. One of the major hurdles in making this a reality is having teachers who are not only willing but able to pass these skills onto their students. Many teachers did not grow up with the technology their students now have access to and are nervous about using this. Web 2.0 rang true for me with the quote, “Computers instead of transforming education were often shunted to a “computer room” where they were rarely used and poorly maintained. Students mastered the wonders of the Internet at home, not in school. Today’s students of almost any age are far ahead of their teachers in computer literacy.” (Solomon & Shrum 2007) This description mirrors what I saw as a student in elementary and secondary school.
To relieve this problem large steps must be taken. Teachers need to be given the tools to master new technologies as part of thier own education both before they enter the teaching force and after. I think the most important thing for teachers to do it reamin life long learners and continue to master new technology as it comes along.
I really enjoyed chapter 4 Web 2.0 because it gave concrete, hands-on ideas about how to use new technology in the classroom. I really liked the idea of having students keeping blogs as they learn the writing process. Hopefully, one day I will be able to try it out in my own classroom. I was also intrigued by the concept of digital storytelling–having students use flikr to create a multimedia project.
It was fascinating to read about the New Tech High School and New Technology Foundation. It is unfortunate that this program is not more widespread. If schools want to prepare students for life in the 21st century programs like this that reinforce the use of technology and the skills needed to use it are invaluable. I hope to see more New Tech type programs popping up at the local level.
Chapter 3 of Web 2.0 focuses on the wealth of new tools that are available to students in the digital age. These range for blogs and podcasts to social networking sites and websites where you can share your personal photographs. These tools provide many outlets for students to communicate with peers and share information.
I was interested to read that software specifically for an educational setting is being developed. This new software would allow teachers to have more oversight into what students are reading and posting on the web. I think the development of this new software should definitely be a priority. I think teachers are often afraid to let students utilize some of the new technological capabilities available because of concerns about safety and having so little control over what students access. These new educational software applications would make it easier for teachers to use these new resources without fear. Students will get a chance to learn about safety and practice making appropriate choices about what to post in a safe environment before being set loose in the “real world.”
Chapter 2 of Web 2.0 explores how deeply immersed in technology the current generation of students is. The majority of students spend substantial amounts of their time online. The technologies they use are active rather passive; they interact with friends through mediums like facebook or AIM, they investigate topics that interest them, they create their own webpages for others to see. These students are used to being able to personalize their experience using technology. This generation of students is often more comfortable using technology than their teachers and needs new methods of teaching to to prepare them for the world.
One quote that stood out to me in this chapter was, “today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach.” (Solomon and Shrum 26) I think as teachers we must be aware of what changes have taken place in technology and the world in general when planning what to do with our students. Today’s students need to be prepared to enter a workforce that is very different from the past. They will probably change jobs several times and not stay within one field. Critical thinking skills and adaptability are of paramount importance. Using technology with these students will also allow them to interact with material in a way they are comfortable with. Teachers should be sure to think about the new needs of this new group of students rather than being stuck in what has always been done before.
I now have a social bookmarking site. Here is the URL:
I now have a twitter account.
My URL is www.twitter.com
Web 2.0 by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum raises some interesting questions and issues about how schools are adapting/ need to adapt in the digital age. The first chapter addresses the fact that the skills that current students will need to be successful in their future jobs are different than the skills schools have emphasized in the past. The dramatic development in technology, especially information and communication technology has created a demand for workers that are computer savvy and can adapt to new technology as it is introduced. The rise of globalization also requires that students be prepared for a “flat” world where new technologies and new ways of doing business are influenced by people all over the world. It is no longer enough for students to simply master content knowledge. They must be able to use the “21st century skills” such as information literacy and technological literacy in order to succeed. It is imperative that schools and educators adapt to this changing climate in order to give students the background and skills they need to be active members of the digital age.
Chapter 7 looks at the important issue of Internet safety. Horror stories about children running into predators on the Internet are so common they barely raise an eyebrow. It goes without saying that schools must do everything in their power to protect their students while utilizing new technologies. There are many products available that serve as shields to block students from objectionable content but they are of course far from fool-proof. While these products may be a good start I think it is most important to start teaching students as early as possible about Internet safety so that they can make responsible choices. In the same way that kindergarteners are taught about the importance of not getting in the car with a stranger or what to do if there is a fire in their house they should also be taught not to give out personal information on the web.
Web 2.0 is well-written and easy to read. The authors choose thought-provoking quotes from authors that have done research o the topics at hand and work them into their narrative. As a future teacher I think it gives me some important insight into new skills need to be taught in the classroom beyond what I may have experienced in school. It is reminder that we need to prepare are students for the world–including teaching them how to use new technologies in safe and effective manner. I look forward to reading more of this book in the near future.
I have created a wiki on wikispaces. It can be found at: http://digitalagewiki.wikispaces.com/