After watching the lecture on Web 2.0, I can't say I was too impressed with the information presented. While there were some good ideas presented, most of the suggestions were dependent upon other aspects of a school. If you are working in a low income area, then making the busses wireless for students to work on their laptops is never going to happen. Not to mention that in inner city schools a laptop, cell phone, or expensive piece of technology is easily stolen.
I do like how David Jakes explained encouraging students to work at non traditional work spaces. The students meeting up to do calculus homework was a great example of how everyone can do work online..... as long as you have a portable computer. Many cafe's and fast food places do offer free wi-fi. This can be such a useful tool for students who may not have good internet connections at home, or a way for group projects to be completed.
Another idea that was presented that I liked was blogs. Like this class, other classes can require blog posts and comments on others. The blog post serves many purposes. It makes you learn a new skill, and how to adapt a skill you already know to another one. When saying that, I mean that if a student already knows Word, then once they understand the general basics of a blog, the rest will be easy because they already know how to navigate the toolbar and what each symbol means. The repetitive icons help students learn and adapt to a new technology. While it is more updated and interpersonal then a word document, it can be used the same.
The third thought that I thought could be useful for me as a teacher to use in my classroom was moodle. I had never heard of moodle and after the lecture went to the website to get a better feel of what it was. I think its such a useful tool for educators. It is a free service, which is very important for most schools. It is a good supplement to a regular class. Since it is an online course setting, it would be great if in the classroom you did work face to face but if all homework was completed on moodle. I think that blended learning is a positive aspect to teaching that should be implemented into a schools curriculum.
2. blogs
3. moodle
I was also struck by how many of the things that Jakes talked about were dependent on having a particular environment. He is working in a large public school district and is able to do many of the things he talks about because of the envirnoment. There is no way that many of those things could happen in the incredibly small private school where I teach. Being aware of the environment and logistics is something that needs to be addressed before things things can be implemented.
ReplyDeleteMoodle and other learning management systems can be good resources. We do not have one in place at my school at the moment and some of the parents have asked for it. I was at a school that used Moodle and I found it hard to use from the student end but I wonder if there might be ways to customize it that my school hadn't figured out yet. I like having Blackboard for this class and being able to access course information from anywhere. Having these online systems can be helpful for both students and teachers.
I appreciate that you never overlook the demographic that could most benefit from such tools and yet most often can't -inner city schools. Jakes does overlook the notion that great new techniques call for great new budgets that are a luxury for many. What you should note is his push for timeless skills not simply innovations solving problems. Jakes urges teacher to remember that technologies are not meant to overshadow skills that children should be gaining in the classroom. The web 2.0 educator's guide does list a number of cites and applications that can be used to meet such skills and help add value to learning practices and classroom practices. One of those resources being Moodle. I think the added value of Moodle would be organization via a single hub. Rather than having a bin of homework, agenda on the board, encyclopedia sets and books on a shelf, teacher's email listed on the syllabus, it can all be on the single Moodle page. As you're aware Moodle is a free web 2.0 resource and one of the 8 c's of web 2.0 is "cost-free." So even when thinking of the underserved demographic, a change in the infrastructure, providing computers and internet access, would then allow for a whole host of cost-free technologies in line with the web 2.0 collaborative movement. Betsy I admire your awareness of those you hope to teach, I imagine your next great mission might be advocating for such school being granted the same privileges of their wealthy counterparts.
ReplyDeleteBetsy,
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see you reflecting upon the Digital Divide. This is an important consideration when we consider infusing technology into teaching and learning spaces. Equity is huge. I caution generalizations though as many inner city schools get grants that allow for excellent technology funding and many urban areas are trying to provide free wireless access to residents and commuters. Boston's Wireless Task Force produced a 2006 report in which they proposed a plan for free, open access to wireless networks throughout the city. One of the goals of such an initiative was "ameliorating the digital divide." Having said that, I think it imperative that all teaches have an awareness of and sensitivity about digital divide in their classrooms and school.
I agree that many technology tools are a one step up from something students and teachers are familiar with. Their use makes learning experiences richer when the technology provides added value and/or enhances the learning.
Aimee