Web 2.0 has sort of popped into my use of the Internet without me noticing. The presentations in Thing 5 describe the shift of web 1.0 and software-based information being a model where you receive and research information to the idea of the web being participatory, collaborative, and free. I never even noticed the changes but as I was reading and watching the presentations I thought "how could I have missed this?" The way I use technology is far different than the way I used it not very long ago.
Which leads to, how can all this "stuff" be used in my school? I love the idea of blogging, both with colleagues and as a way to students to post assignments and create dialogue about a topic. But how? Most of my students do not have a computer at home. How do I convince students and parents that it is not "unreasonable" to ask them to visit a public library or to stay after school to access the technology needed to complete an assignment or to get information about a class?
How do you get teachers to participate? Our media specialist has set up a MHS blog site that I have never visited. Have other teachers? I have no idea. Shame on me.
I have a lot to learn and a lot to try.
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It's unfortunate that we still have a "digital divide" in this country. And even those students with home computers may still be on a dial-up connection. Many of the best Web 2.0 resources are best experienced on a high-speed internet connection. As a parent, if I knew how important it was to be "connected" I would make sure my children had access, whether at home or at the public library. Do you think perhaps parents "don't know what they don't know?" or maybe they don't care?
ReplyDeleteI think the best way to get your blog out there and to share with other teachers is to send out a mass email with your blog address and that may prompt them to link out and take a look at what your students are doing. It works especially well within your department, because then you are collaborating and getting new ideas from each other. It is difficult when students do not have computers at home and unfortunately there are still some of those cases, which I'm sure you see more in special ed. Hang in there hopefully one day all of our students will have laptops!! :)
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