Anyone who has taught for the last ten years knows that today’s students really do learn and approach communication differently than their teachers typically do. Not only can this cause a gap in student-teacher interfacing, but it also can cause students to feel that “old style” pedagogy just isn’t relevant to them.

Fortunately, it’s never too late to learn something new, exciting, and really relevant-and that especially means using technology to engage and challenge learners. The Web 2.0 world of the 21^st century learner is fast paced, interactive, and potentially overwhelming if you don’t understand how to organize, evaluate, and deal creatively with the mass of information. Furthermore, the opportunity that Web 2.0 gives to create images, conceptual organizers, presentations, videos, collaborative documents and projects, wikis, podcasts, and more is staggering.

Teachers who model and teach their students to be responsible and considerate Web 2.0 users and creators will help equip those students for their future careers. As important as skills may be, though, it is the discussion of ethics and of mutual respect and computer etiquette that will help today’s students become the leaders needed for tomorrow.

I’ve learned so much this summer that it’s hard to pick only two top discoveries, but I’ll try. First, Delicious and tags are revolutionizing how I collect and search for resources. I don’t know which I love more-a way to access and organize my favorite sites from any computer, the ability to locate information quickly, or the ability to beg my friends to share their Delicious lists!

In terms of planning the year for my students, we will collaboratively create wiki pages to show comprehension and learning, present images, documents, and music from historic periods, embed student-made presentations and videos which answer open-ended essential questions, and extend learning through an assortment of student-created activities. Brainstorming, collaborative creation, negotiation, team work, deeper critical thinking–well, it sounds like student-centered learning to me!

I find, though, that I’ve changed this summer in a way other than simply learning how to apply 2.0 tools in education. I think I’ve become more deliberate and confident in my considerations of instructional technology.

Yesterday I surprised myself. A friend sent me an article from The Chronicle of Higher Education (think university professors), and I made a comment (#13). Me…7th grade teacher of English and honors American history. I weighed words with PhDs, and I felt confident.

Not arrogant. Oh no! I don’t know even part of everything and I never will–especially at the rate that the world of 2.0 is changing! No, I simply felt that I had a voice, and that my thoughts were valid and a part of a whole picture.

Isn’t that what we hope to raise our students to see–not one or two memorized trees, but the whole forest of possibilities?

]]> http://amy6dean.edublogs.org/2008/07/30/thing-23-web-20-reflections/feed/ 1 http://amy6dean.edublogs.org/2008/06/10/thing-7a-rss-rdng/ http://amy6dean.edublogs.org/2008/06/10/thing-7a-rss-rdng/#comments Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:12:15 +0000 Amy Dean http://amy6dean.edublogs.org/?p=9 Well, it’s time for me to quit my job and stay home to read my RSS feeds. Oh wait: it’s summer, so I can do this without guilt for 7 more weeks. I’m skimming, but I find so many fascinating ideas that I pursue more links. My RSS is the Pied Piper, and I’m the lemming!

Following links led me to the Mission to Learn blog, and I love it. I’ve always been interested in brain function and learning theory, so this one is right up my ally. Whether the topic is traits of super learners, or learning traits/themes that are common in web 2.0 learning, I found a lot to contemplate as I design learning activities for my own learners. Then the site led me to lots of widgets that I can add to my bog! I added a time and a weather widget (successfully, I might add), looked at the results, and deleted them because I didn’t want the blog to look cluttered. It was fun! See, I’m playing!

Then I hit Mission to Learn’s article about left brain, right brain, and learning variations in Is Your Brain in a Box. About two hours later I followed my last link, took my last test, and closed the blog. I can’t say I learned much that was new, but it was fun (and convenient) to see a number of resources brought together and available through one blog entry.

It was my trip to Cool Cat Teacher’s focus on Garr Reynolds’ post on Brain Rules: Twelve Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina that led me to Amazon for a purchase. Reynolds’ post criticized multitasking as a means of being busy without being truly productive–a position I have long held. (Oh dear, does that mean I like blogs that agree with my beliefs? LOL) What was most impressive were the science, brain theory, and examples used to make the point; thus, the discussion of Medina’s book. I opted for the slow boat and free shipping, so I’ll let you know how it is in a couple of weeks.

My eyes are tired! Time to go look at the trees and sky for a while!