Richardson Chapter 9 (and epilogue)
So what does all of this mean? Let's try to make some understanding out of these types of tools as they can be used in our situations in education... Include other web 2.0 tools that we have looked at in you comments as well.
posted by Terry @ 2:17 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I'm in agreement with all of the above! Collaboration, along with the new literacies needs to be taught to teachers so we can get their buy in! I think all of our teachers are now using email Kathey, but we too have technical difficulties too Pam which slow things down in the computer world. We need more reliable computers and a lot more computers so that all students have equal access. Like Maren was saying, if students' only have access to a computer at school - then the library media center may be their only saving grace! Better yet, we need to give them a computer to take home! You know how costco gives back-backs to low income kids? It won't be too long before we can find someone to give kids laptops. Who wants to write a grant with me? I think the hardware is the first biggest stumbling block in this equation and then the teacher buy-in. The students are easy- they'll fit right into this new way of learning, writing, and being a part of the big world. I can see the teachers holding them back in certain cases, or even district policy... If we all had at least one enthusiastic tech geek on our compus (that's us!) then we can slowly influence the teachers and students and admin. But we'll need help - so start recruiting! It may take 10 years like Kathey said, but we will slowly move toward the teacher in the epilogue and conduct classes with a digital core.
For those that teach in an elementary school, let's realize this book is the goal, the way it should be in jr. highs and high schools. There are tons of things we can do with our little ones, but they first must learn the fundamentals of reading, writing, library usuage, etc and the fundamentals of computers usage. It's going to be a number of years before our Kindergarten teachers will be sending RSS feeds to their students, but I'll be pushing for it soon! We already have started our paradigm shift and do realize some of the new literacies are becoming more and more important. We have a long way to go but the big wheel of education takes a while to turn. Let's be the change agents that help this wheel turn!
Chapter 9 and Epilogue - Response
Jennifer S.
What it all means for me is a new educational tool box. Normally, the classes I take allow me to add a new tool or two in my already existing toolbox...but this whole Web 2.O/Library 2.0 means I have a brand new TOOLBOX. I love metaphors and that's the best way I can explain it. Richardson puts it best when he calls it the "Read/Reflect/Write/Participate Web" (133). I am thoroughly convinced that these read/reflect/write/participate tools are useful and I have become almost addicted to blogs and am afraid I might just have to attach a computer monitor to my head so I can continually be connected to the Internet. And if I've become this attached to these tools, I can only assume my students are (and will become) the same way. As enthusiastic as I am about using these new tools I am still a little leery of implementing them into education. I'm not saying these tools can't be extremely useful, but I know I will have a difficult time shedding the old idea of teacher as god and student as lackey. Now, I over-exaggerate when I say this, but the idea of teachers having to change the way they teach and become "connectors, collaborators, coaches, and content creators" scares me a tad bit. And I have a feeling it will horrify most teachers I know (they like to be in control). There is a hierarchy in the educational system and using these new tools may force it to come tumbling down. And I think that is a very frightening idea for most teachers. We are not apt to easily change our way of thinking...nor our way of teaching. Richardson calls them "shifts." Oh, what a simple notion, just a slight movement one way or the other. Uh, no!...I think when you have to list 10 of these so-called "Big Shifts" then you have to call them something else, like "avalanches" or "earthquakes." Both of those large events begin with shifting and then change happens....major change. I think that is the whole idea. So, what does that mean for me? Simple, I have to find those teachers to help me start the shifting and if we're lucky we may just create an avalanche.....an avalanche of knowledge.
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