Way back in the 90's when the web was in it's infancy - those who knew html (hypertext markup language) were able to create web pages to share information with the world. The information was static.. it was there, but couldn't be changed by anyone but the web master. There was no way to interact with the information, or with others who read the information.
The introduction of Web 2.0 changed all that. So - what is web 2.0 exactly?
According to Wikipedia, the term was coined by Tim O'Reilly, as a way of differentiating between the initial static web pages and the new potentially interactive sites that were appearing in the first part of this decade.
Web 2.0 is the term generally used to describe the up to date web applications that allow us to interact with the information on the web, with the author and with each other. Today, there are very few websites that don't have some sort of space for interaction... a place to leave a comment about the topic, or a response to another reader's topic. A review of the product - or even a complaint. This technological step has taken the initial sharing of information to a whole new level. No longer do we just read the info - we have the opportunity to write our own websites, blogs, create videos and post them to you tube. We can create our own podcasts.. or we can comment on the work of others. We can create wikis to share info with others - with Wikipedia being the most famous of those.. but certainly not the only one. There are myriad pros and cons to this mass of interactivity and it although it is easy to be jump in and start sharing of info, I can also see some pitfalls and traps that should make us wary... as educators and as parents and even as school adminstrators.
Businesses have hopped onto the bandwagon -making sure that they are talking with their customers to improve customer service, product design and ultimately sales.
Sites such as Myspace and Facebook have embraced this technology to allow us to link with everyone we know, and many people that we don't - We have made connections across town and across the world...and in doing so have seen much information being made public that perhaps ought to have remained private...
So- as an educator - the question begs to be asked... Can this amazing interactivity improve teaching? If so, how? If not, why not? What are the reasons for embracing the interactive web? What should I avoid and why? Do parent's have concerns and fears - and can I as the teacher allay those fears? Is it worth it for an increased, heightened educational experience for their students? Or is this just a cool way of doing exactly the same thing that I'm doing now? What concerns do principals have about this technology and its use in the classroom? According to our readings this week, we should be "creating learning opportunities for our students" (Bates & Poole 2003). Is the use of blogs, wikis, web site creation and commenting etc really an improved learning opportunity for all of our students? Or is it just a way to get our students excited about coming to class without any additional learning...?
What are our students doing on their own time? Are they using the web 2.0 applications? Is our goal simply improved reading, writing and comprehension skills? Or is our goal also to teach them to use the technologies that will very obviously be a part of the 21st century?
I have always believed that if true learning is taking place in the classroom, the exam scores will take care of themselves.... Over the next week or two, I'll look at the different types of web 2.0 applications and how they can be used in the classroom to improve student learning. I'll try to examine how they can help the student, how they can help the teacher become a better teacher... and how administrators can support the teacher/parent and student. I'll also try and be honest about the fact that something may be not be appropriate for the K-12 classroom in it's present form.
Bibliography
Bates, A.W. and Gary Poole. Effective Teaching with Technology in Higher Education. CA, Jossey Bass. 2003. p41.
Many companies have implemented computer technologies to improve customer service. Hospitals are being forced by the government to shift into high gear with computer technologyin order to be reimbursed for medicare services.
ReplyDeleteMy hospital has eICU, a technology for patient safety and better patient outcomes.
(see link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kSQ5LDhcZY&feature=player_embedded
The system works very well.
The children today are subjected to electronics immediately. Look at all of the new toys talking, blinking, walking, etc... Except for Maslows basic required needs, children can learn via the Internet and become successful having never sat in a classroom.
I agree. Formal education in a classroom is only one way of learning. I do wonder about all the electronic toys. I think that parents should still sit down and read to their children. However, the world will require students /workers to be proficient with technology and that will have to be taught in the school and at home, especially if we are to avoid the "digital divide" and exclude students whose parents don't have money to buy all the technology at home.
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