The implementation of web2 tools in the classroom.

[Sharon Singleton]

What are people doing out there to do this? I would like to hear from people who are currently engaged in changing the poedagogy and the teachers to embrace technology and the inherent changes implicit in such a union.

[NatB]

I am very interested to know how people are transitioning from an old infrastructure whilst at the same time trying to explore 21st century pedagogy.Also, using "old" tools in new ways.

[Peter Woodhead]

The question is what is 21st pedagogy?. I hear lots of claims but when I talk to teachers who use new technologies pedagogy was the main motive for adoption of technology!

[Terry Lindeman]

I taught BC-before computers so transitioning to web 2.0 tools was difficult. However, my motto is fail forward and I changed my teaching strategies to teach Old Testament survey to 9th graders using a wide variety of tools.
The biggest change is that I am no longer responsible for the information, the students are. They have to find the information in a variety of sources, share the information via web 2.0 tools share the information in the most creative ways and even create the assessments based on the objectives and the information they have.

It is difficult to let go of the control, but some amazing things have happened in a subject that has a high boredom potential. The learn more and are actually engaged.

[Shamblesguru]

Sharon .... I have a number of lists with links to websites that try and answer this .... have a look at the page http://www.shambles.net/web2/

[Sharon Singleton]

Thank you. I will look at the links that you have suggested. I really appreciate any assistance as we are endeavoring to shift the paradigm in our learning and teaching.

[Jutka Czirok]

Thanks for the link, great to find a new fresh assortment of sites, particularly liked the Amaztype - could be used as banners on websites, etc, even grab several screen shots and make an annimated gif.

[Wesley Fryer]

For the past 3 years we have been collaborating on a statewide oral history project in Oklahoma. We now have a learning community with over 500 members and over 300 shared videos created by teachers and students. Our focus is "empowering digital witnesses," using a digital backpack including a digital audio recorder, headset and mic, digital camera, and flash drive. Our 2.5 day workshops focus on editing audio with Audacity and putting images with narration using either PhotoStory3 or iMovie. Our learning community is on:
http://lc.celebrateoklahoma.us

More info about our project is on:
http://wiki.celebrateoklahoma.us

Although this project is not specifically focused on "web 2.0 technologies," educators learn a great deal about web 2.0 tools and collaboration possibilities as a result of our phase 1 workshops. Teachers learn to create and post a video in a moderated learning community, are encouraged to comment and participate in the learning community (not just "lurk" as most do!) and also collaborate with others electronically. This project has led to the creation of a non-profit organization called "Story Chasers Inc." of which I am now the executive director. I've got more info and 2 slideshare presentations about this work on:
http://handouts.wesfryer.com/storychasing

We're continuing to gain momentum and I'm very enthused about the continued expansion of this project in 2009. I think we're opening a lot of doors of learning with digital tools for educators as well as students as a result of this project.

[Peter Woodhead]

Hi Wesley

Something to add to the references for use of Web 2.0 are the examples from my practice where I deploy a variety of solutions within a learning platform. You can take a look by going to the LP's home page a log in as
GSIS_year3parent with password as password.
The kids did some really interesting stuff when we had the Swine Flu outbreak last term.
http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupHomePage.asp?GroupId=391487
It's very much a working platform so nothing pretty but we do lots of learning!

Peter

[Peter Woodhead]

Hi Sharon

I teach primary in HK and regularly use Web 2.0 apps along with a learning platform. I have also just finished my Masters dissertation which was on how my kids managed to use learning technologies ( such as Web 2.0) when they had to work at home. It proved to be a good way to test the the claims of Prensky and others about digital natives.
I have lots of examples which I'd be happy to share with you about my use of Web 2.0

Peter

[Peter Woodhead]

you might like extract from my paper based on what I do in the classroom -

[Lowell Thomson]

Peter,

Thanks for sharing that resource. I use a forum for my classes. For now, I grade this based on effort. But at some point, I'd like to use a decent rubric. Would you be willing to share the rubric you mention in this document?

Thanks.

Lowell

[Susan Walker]

Hello everybody! I am a new member and I don´t know very well how this works, if I ma doing something wrong, please let me knoww, ok? =) =)

I am writing from Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America and I would like to share with you a wonderful experience which was extremely successful last year. I teach English as a second Language to 10 year old students at a bilingual school.

I am sending you a link to be able to see it. I hope this can contribute to the discussion.

http://www.sanandres.esc.edu.ar/ver_documento.asp?id=1622

This year thank to Mis Cofino and Miss Chrissy Heyller enthusiasm, we have been able to start a Collaborative Project called
" Breaking Boundaries" with a school from Thailand. The unit of Study is Map Skills which has been planned with Backward Design, using a Learning Management System called ATutor where all the videos are online for children to watch them and take notes and the final outcomes are planned with a Differentiated Instruction approach based on Thailand and Argentina. We are in the middle of the project and our students are highly engaged. We wiil be uploading and downloading files from the Virtual Campus so as to share our activities. I am really enjoying every minute of this project.
Thanks for letting be part of this group discussion.

Kind regards

Susan Walker