Web 2.0: Helping Reinvent Education http://thejournal.com/articles/21907_2

Web 2.0 is a "perceived" second-generation edition of the world wide web. "Perceived" because the celebrated features attributed exclusively to Web 2.0 are based on ideas that were present in the development of the web from the beginning. It just took this long for the proliferation of computer access and some modest technological advances to make these features attainable. Web 2.0 in its most ideal form refers to any web communities that "facilitate creativity, collaboration and sharing." Blogs, wikis, and podcasts are all examples of these kinds of sites. The article identifies a resultant paradigm shift in peoples' thinking process. The participatory and collaborative nature of Web 2.0 assures that "knowledge is gained through bottom up, individual methods, rather than top down, traditional forms." The article goes on to correctly(I think) conclude that new forms of knowledge and learning demand new ways of teaching. It's time to retool our education system so that it compliments the new knowledge acquisition technique of our next generation learners.

Ideas for Today & Tomorrow

This is a power point on the "future classroom". It is a quick reference with key points about the capacities of our classrooms now and in the future. It is the precursor to the "Did you Know" presentation!

Implications of New Media for K-12 Education

After reading the article, I was most intrigued by the four new forms of expression predicted for 2015:

1) knowledge webs
2) virtual communities
3) synthetic environments
4) sensory immersion

The fact that our society can follow the technology path and predict where it's going is somewhat scary, but relieving. As we study to become teachers we can focus on today and how to incorporate technology in our curriculum, but we can also know what's coming and start to prepare for these new forms of expressions.

The article touches upon teaching our students how to handle such a vast array of information as well. I think this is going to be important for teachers to have a handle on this themselves because we have access to a plethera of information and we have to pick and choose what works for us, our purporses and which resources are truly rich and which are not. How do we teach this to our students? The quote below is from the article and touches upon that these expressions will not just make students smarter with greater knowledge by themselves. They need to make connections.

"However, access to data does not automatically expand students' knowledge, nor will the mere availability of information intrinsically create an internal framework of ideas that learners can apply in real world settings. While presentational approaches transmit material rapidly from source to student, often this content evaporates quickly from learners' minds. To be motivated to master concepts and skills, pre-college students need to see the connection of what they are learning to the rest of their lives and to the mental models they already use. "

The Future of Learning in a New Free World

http://www.newhorizons.org/future/dryden.htm

Summary: The author notes that millions of teachers and billions of students continue to work mainly in isolation, yet in today's world of instant communication, collaboration is essential in order to make the most effective changes.

The author gives these three choices/solutions for the problem he presents:

· A world where only two billion rich people share the benefits — and two billion live in poverty?
· Or a new sharing, caring world?
· A new world of cooperative enterprise and mass innovation?

He states his choice as, "the new free world of cooperative enterprise, where all children are the leaders of the new free world. And where we all share the benefits of a new World Wide Learning Web."

I agree with a lot of what he states in his article, especially when he talks about how it's unfair that such a large group of students are being "left out" by high-priced computers and high-priced software.

Linking Students with Their world

The article I read was "Linking Students with Their World: A Good Day in French Class" by Nancy A. Bacon. This article was about a French class in Washington state that was able to be video connected with a class from Dakar, Sengal. The class talked to each other and learned about issues that each class was dealing wtih. They were able to give power points and presentations together at conferences. They talked about issues such as education and even serious issues like AIDS. The connection between Foster High School and Senegal began in 1996 when returned Peace Corps volunteer and Tukwila School Board member Mary Fertakis visited Sue Pike's French class to talk about life in Senegal.

The questions that were asked back and fouth were:
From students at Lycée Thierno Saïdou Nourou Tall in Dakar, Senegal:· Do communities try to find solutions to the increasing violence in schools?· Can you speak about a true American culture if you consider the different ethnic groups who make up the population?· Don't you think that the attitude of the USA toward China may be the beginning of a new cold war?· How do you feel about the Bush presidency?
From students at Foster High School in Tukwila, Washington:· How do you feel about the spread of AIDS and other diseases? · If there were a civil war which broke out in Senegal, to which country would you go and why?· If you had the chance to visit the USA, where would you like to go and what would you like to visit?· What do you worry about?

I feel like this is a very interesting article about techonolgy in the classroom.

Students with disabilities and computer technology

I found this article interesting because as future educators we need to be aware of how technology can help our students to reach their potential. They can communicate, participate and achieve academic and personal goals.

Virtual Reality in Education

Virtual Reality in Education is an article written by seventh grade science teacher John Shaffer. Some of his ideas to incorporate virtual reality in education are as follows:
-development of "VR math flash cards" (vision, color, touch, sound)
-bilingual math VR flash cards
-bilingual reading; imagine, walking into a VR room, touching items and getting feedback.
-social studies; imagine, looking at a VR globe, where a country and information can pop up when pressed, on a world geography map filled with experiences of geography, culture, peoples daily lives, language, and founding history.
-science; demonstrating cells, photosynthesis, space, chemistry, geology, physical and environmental science.
John Shaffer hopes to become involved in any of the following areas:
participate directly in research regarding Virtual Reality benefits.
This would include all areas of program development, data gathering and analysis.
Working with a facility or school test site that would be willing to participate in program development.
This would involve developing Virtual Reality learning experiences for application in the classroom content curriculum. One such area to develop, mathematic programs and follow data for student enhancement.
Direct involvement with a commercial venture.
This area would pursue all data and concepts in developing programs including education, sports training and entertainment.

I feel like this is a very interesting article about technology in the classroom.

T. Clark - Role of Technology in Education

An effective use of technology can co-exist with a demanding curriculum with technologically savvy, highly-trained teachers. Technology is an important tool to use within the classroom, it is not the end – it is a means to assist students in achieving significant improvements in students’ performance and achievement.

Technology should not be used in the classroom to overshadow the importance of academic results. Interactive learning resources are critical components that should be available in every classroom. Students using technology and research in a controlled environment and under instructional conditions tend to learn faster than those students who do not have classroom access to technology.

Different Types of Technology and their Educational Applications

This article presents ideas on how technology can be used to enhance learning in the classroom.

For example;
- word processing and e-mail promotes communication
- spreadsheet and database programs promotes organization skills
- modeling software promotes the understanding of math and science

It is important to identify what technologies are being used in the classroom, and for what purpose. Each technology is likely to play a different role in student learning and should not be treated as the same.

The article emphasizes that educational technology, "compliments what a great teacher does naturally," extending their reach and broadening their students experience beyond the classroom.

Take Back the Afternoon: Preserving the Landscape of Childhood In Spite of Computers

This article is to try to get teachers and parents to encourage the old way of learning at least a couple times a week. Like playing outside at recess, feeling the air touching the trees, faling down scuffing thier knees etc... The point here is that computers should follow, not lead. Dynamic, real life engagements that build skills, self-confidence and a sense of purpose in life are the motive force of education. The computer has a role to play in this drama, but it should be a supporting cast member, not the star. Right now, the computer is too much of a prima donna, attracting attention away from the rest of the players and the technical crew. And if an increasing percentage of the school budget is spent on computers, then not enough will be spent on pianos, art materials, laboratory equipment, land acquisition for the nature center, bilingual education specialists and a new sound system for the theater. Childhood is short enough; there is no need to hasten its demise with exposure to soul-depleting electronic media.


Take Back the Afternoon real, old-fashioned play, at least a couple of days a week.

Technology in Environmental Education

major points of this article:

• Integrating technology into our educational programs provides students with additional tools to enhance their learning
• Technology supports our efforts to appeal to different learning styles
• Technology supports our multidisciplinary approach to learning
• Technology gives us a way to connect with each other and extend the learning experience
• Technology aids our efforts in supporting teachers
• role of technology in education is that technology is an "amplifier"

examples of technology integration at IslandWood

• time-lapse movie of a caterpillar metamorphosizing into a butterfly
• spreadsheets to display data graphically
• showing how things work through simulations
• handheld computers to collect and analyze data

http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/environmental/wolf.htm

My reaction:
I agree that technology is an "amplifier" for education. Using technology can be very advantageous and there are many ways to reinforce the content that is being learned through using technology.

Mr. Coulter's Internet Tendency: to Infinity and Beyond

so mr. coulter started publishing his students writing on the internet. he is a fourth grade teacher. he has them write everyday in their journals for fifteen minutes. after the fifteen minutes, they get together and share what they've written. after they do a lot of rewriting and the teacher helps them edit, they type them up in a simply formatted word processing document. the students pick out their very best writings every month or so. the teacher then publishes the students writings on the internet. he adds pictures when he thinks they will accent the writing.
he doesn't let the students embellish their writing with crazy text or pictures in the beginning. so the writing that they do is just about the writing. i think its a great idea. encouraging students to write helps them find their place in life. they will become better readers. they will be better writers in all the different ways you can write. writing everyday will help them evolve in all the subjects of their school day.






http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/literacy/coulter.htm