Not too long ago, our idea of teaching was standing in front of the class while lecturing to our students. Visuals were sometimes used and this was considered awesome! Now, our students are expecting videos, interactive learning, blogs, wikis, etc. By using these tools, we, as teachers, can better reach our students and teach them the way the need to be taught.
One of the hurdles that teachers face in using Web 2.0 technologies is learning how to use the tools themselves. As the saying goes, “teachers make the worst students”. Teachers are usually entrenched in their beliefs and ways of teaching. Learning how to use these tools is like trying to teach a old dog new tricks. Teachers need to open their minds to these tools and figure out how to implement them into their training.
Another hurdle that we face is the administrators and district leaders. While many teachers are trying to figure out how to use web 2.0 tools, many administrators are afraid of the possible repercussions and don’t want to take the risks to improve our schools. The Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) also threatens to make it difficult for teachers to implement web 2.0 into our classes. The premise of the bill seems good, but the wording and lack of descriptions threaten to block truly educational and valuable sites. You can learn more about this bill here. Once these hurdles are overcome, we can truly begin to implement web 2.0 and give our students what they need to learn.
So, how does a teacher use web 2.0? How can web 2.0 even be used in the schools? One of the easiest tools we have available is blogs. Blogs can allow teachers to expand their lessons in a more personal area with students. Teachers can also use blogs to have their students post their work. In an article here, written by Steve O’Hear, an incredible example of this is given: “Edu-blogging pioneer Will Richardson (author of a book entitled 'Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms') used the blog software Manila to enable his English literature students to publish a readers guide to the book The Secret Life of Bees. Richardson asked the book's author, Sue Monk Kidd, if she would participate by answering questions and commenting on what the students had written - to which she agreed. The result was a truly democratic learning space.” By getting the students to create blogs in a collaborative project, Richardson was able to enhance his student’s learning and bring their education to the next level. There are so many tools available to us as teachers, we just need to learn how to use them and implement them in our classes. Only then can we give our students what they need in their education.
Visit the below sites to find some great tools and more information on using Web 2.0 tools in our classrooms:
http://www.flatclassroomproject.org/
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