Comments on Web 2.0

Having lived over 5 decades in the 20th century, watching the video clips of how learning has changed sort of “boggles” my mind! If I had been much older, it might be science-fiction! The speed in which learning in school has changed means that if we don’t embrace this technology, our students will very quickly be at a disadvantage. Even though I have taken many classes, you can’t get away from it for any length of time or you forget it…or at least I have to do it on a regular basis. I am a queen with email! I can google anything! I actually “think” about going to the internet to look up addresses, directions, medical information, and everything for school ! Here’s the deal… at WA we have resources at our fingertips! But when I go home, I’m lucky if the internet /computer does not screw up for a variety of reasons! I have even offered to cook dinner for Brian Sorrow to get him to come work on our computer….we’re pitiful! But that’s a personal problem! If I want to be a “life long learner”, I have to be able to do it outside and beyond WA!

One way the internet (web 2.0) has changed my school is that I may not see other teachers for weeks at a time, but I get email from them and keep in touch. I am very glad that WA upgraded all of the GradeQuick/ Edline and other programs so that teachers can work from home and not be at their desk. (None of this technology may be connected to Web 2.0 but it sure is nice to be able to work from home!)

Web 2.0 has already effected the way I plan and teach my students. I have focused on my 8th Honors class in this endeavor as we did our projects for Animal Farm last year in a wiki. I was David Widener’s guinea pig and reorganized the project so the student’s designed power points, illustrations, and timelines instead of posters, charts, and presentations. We posted everything we learned on the wiki along with comments, a course outline, handouts, and an explanation of the project. I facilitated the project, but David actually did the technology behind the scenes. The students did a great audio podcast of the song in Animal Farm. At the time, I didn’t know what I would do the next year to beat the wiki, but we used the wiki as a learning tool. This year my 8H students returned to the wiki and added visual interpretations and edited the work from last year. Their names were added to the work and we had many “teachable moments”. Check it out!

Up to this point, I have used the internet to “surf” and look for information and have spent hours with little results. With RSS, Delicious and other kinds of connections, the information now comes to me—not the other way around! That’s cool! I just have to wrap my mind around that concept! I understand that everything a student can do on paper can be transferred to the web. Discussions can take place in a variety of settings—not just the classroom. But then again, Middle schoolers are just not there! I believe using technology at the middle school level needs to be directed and coordinated/ teacher in charge kind of thing. Being a reading teacher, I have always taught students to read different kinds of materials at different rates and speeds. Web 2.0 opens up a whole new can of worms! Our new Elements of Literature textbook teaches how to read websites, and computer books. We are incorporating a webpage with questions on the exam this May. Lots of interesting ideas and not enough time to feel comfortable with it. Just about the time I’m feeling proficient, there will be some cutting edge idea that I will need to learn.

Working with honors is one thing, but how do I get my prep classes to buy into using the web to learn? They are masters of games, videos (and I don’t mean didactic in nature), chat rooms,etc. but as a whole, they do not necessarily see the web as a learning tool. I have met with a lot of frustrated parents and students this year who have the opportunity to use the computer in all of their work (accommodations), but refuse to do it. I keep trying to help them see the future and how the computer would make learning easier, but they are focusing on today. When more of the population in middle school use laptops, I think the negative connotation of using one will disappear. In SAT PREP, I have tried to encourage those with poor handwriting to make vocabulary cards on the computer…..they could even design an SAT BLOG where all of the cards could be held until they need them in 9th grade for the PSAT! They could pull together websites, practice test,etc. WOW! But will they do it?

One way we are trying to incorporate web 2.0/podcasting with our prep students is to integrate it into the Independent Reading class in Carlos Library. Students spend 9 weeks reading and conferencing with teachers to promote leisure reading and review literary skills learned. The librarians have traditionally given “book talks” to the students the first day of class, along with an extensive book list, to familiarize them with what is on the shelves. We are creating a link on our MS website for podcasts that will be another resource for students after those the first day! Teachers and students will be podcasting about their favorite book and create an interest. As this website grows, we want the students in the class to share their favorite book by podcasting. The site is set up by genres so students can quickly find something they are interested in reading. Check out our website.

All of this information on web 2.0 for individualizing, yet connecting with people, interacting, collaboration, etc…….where is the personal touch? I want to actually talk to someone once in a while and not be “held up at my desk”! Of course, I know you can carry your handheld computers. And another BIG question which plaques “my house”….what happens when the power goes out? the signal goes down? Well…we will grab a book, light a candle, and remember the good ole’ days!

Looking forward to learning more about web 2.0. I feel very fortunate to work in a place that values this kind of learning and facilitates the process.