Things 2/3: Thoughts about Web 2.0

Web 2.0 – Hooray!

Web 2.0 is changing the way I think about my teaching. While I have always had a classroom abounding with active learning, now I have the opportunity to take that to a new level.

I know that my students are very different learners than I was at their age. Through exposure to a variety of technologies, students have an even greater need to interact with what they are learning. They have grown up with cell phones, email, video games, and Google. They will grow up with opportunities to communicate easily with people around the globe, to create news, and to publish their own work. Students have really become more active in their learning, and this is very exciting for me. By tapping into their interests, I can provide exciting educational experiences and inspire them to take ownership over their learning. In addition, I can help my students to learn the valuable tools they will need to succeed in the future.

My teaching has already changed as a result of Web 2.0. I realize that the definition of literacy and what it means to be literate is changing. To be literate, my students must be able to communicate using a variety of methods related to Web 2.0. My students have experimented with Skyping, and they have many suggestions of ways we can use this to enhance our learning. My students are enthusiastic bloggers. They have shared art work, book reviews, and podcasts. We have written to authors to invite them to blog with us about their books. My students’ conversations through the blog demonstrate their comprehension, their higher level thinking skills, and their understanding of their audience. Blogging accomplishes curriculum goals and gets my students excited about writing and sharing ideas. I used to remind students, “You are authors, too!” Now, my students are the first to say that they are authors. Blogging makes the world a much smaller place. We eagerly look at the ClustrMap to see the new dots pop up! My students will never be satisfied until the entire map is covered in polka dots!

I know that I will have to continue to learn and grow in order to provide the best education for my students, but I am excited about that prospect. I believe that everyone should be open to life-long learning. While I am familiar with some Web 2.0 tools, I can’t wait to learn more. I love this stuff!