Web 2.0 has changed the way I teach forever. I love being able to collaborate with my students and them with each other online. My students and I have used Wikispaces to collaborate with other schools throughout the nation and am currently beginning to explore the international realm of video conferencing. I feel that I am no longer confined to the four walls of my classroom. We can collaborate with other schools at the click of the mouse. My students love taking an active role in publishing content. I find that they are checking the Wikispaces site at night to see what is posted. They seem to think that it is not 'homework' if they are discussing a book online versus writing about it on paper. My wiki site is: mrsmcnall0809.barrow.wikispaces.net
I feel that I must incorporate as much technology into my curriculum as I can. Not only do they enjoy it, but I feel that it is imperative that they learn to use the computer and the 'new technology' available or the world is going to pass them by!
I loved the video students are changing! Oh, how true! :)
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Meggan, you hit on a couple of key points here : "I find that they are checking the Wikispaces site at night to see what is posted. They seem to think that it is not 'homework' if they are discussing a book online versus writing about it on paper."
ReplyDeleteTechnology can be a key component in engaging our students. They see it as "fun" even if they are doing their work because it's a medium they enjoy and are familiar with. Not that they aren't familiar with a pen and paper, but that isn't interactive, collaborative, and it doesn't have an audience.
"I feel that it is imperative that they learn to use the computer and the 'new technology' available or the world is going to pass them by!"
Amen! Employers want a work force that is capable of creative thinking and able to collaborate and these Web 2.0 tools help foster both of those. We also heading into an era where a resume and an interview won't be enough. What other contributions have they made? If you Google them, what will they find? Not only do we need to integrate the tools into instruction, but it's imperative that we instruct them on responsible use as well.