Using Web 2.0 Technologies to Create Classroom Websites

Session 1

Did You Know? 2.0

• Video created by Karl Fish and Scott McCleod

• Intended to be a conversation starter

• Several versions created, initial by Karl Fish titled “Did You Know?”

While You Watch

• Jot down:

–What things shock you?

–What things worry you?

–What things have implications on the way you teach?

Did You Know? 2.0

You’ve Seen It, Now What?

• What are your initial reactions to what you saw in the presentation?

• How are these changes manifesting themselves in your personal lives? professional lives?

• Who's scared? Why?

Talking Points

• What do we think it means to prepare students for the 21st century?

• Do we need to change? If so, how?

• What kind of support and training will we need to move forward?

Key Question:

• Given the realities of our modern age and the demands of our children’s future, is it possible for a teacher to be an excellent teacher if he/she does not use technology?

Introduction to Web 2.0

How This Class Will Help

• During this class, you will:– be exposed to good models of blogs, wikis, and

podcasts that are being used to meet the various needs of learners, sharing information, and maximizing student learning.

– learn how to use RSS.– learn how to create a blog.– learn how to create a wiki.– learn how to create a podcast.– begin to develop your Personal/Professional Learning

Network.

Suggested Reading Material:

• RSS for Educators by John G. Hendron• web 2.0: new tools, new schools by Gwen

Solomon and Lynne Schrum• Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful

Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson

Web 2.0: What is It?

• Invented term coined in 2004 by O’Reilly Media• Can interact with each other• Manipulate content easily without knowing

coding (HTML)• Not just read content – can take part in creating• “Read/Write Web”• Transition from isolation to interconnectedness• Multiple users can participate

– Edit, comment, polish collaboratively instead of alone

Implications for Education

• According to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2004)– Students around the world outperform American

students on assessments that measure 21st Century Skills.

– Every student whether he/she plans to go directly into the workforce or on to a 4-year college or trade school, requires 21st Century skills to succeed.

– “Today’s education system faces irrelevance unless we bridge the gap between how students live and how they learn.”

• They live with Web 2.0 tools, but schools must help them use the tools to acquire new skills, not just play.

Implications For Education, Cont.

• Role of teachers– Guide students in using the new tools for

academically rigorous investigations and presentations

– Let students with specific learning styles use the tools that address their particular needs

– Provide access to the tools

The old way of doing things is presentation driven; information is delivered and tested – prepares jobs

that require following directions and rote skills.

Image by sarvodaya.org

To be literate today requires acquiring new skills – using technology, understanding science, having global

awareness, having the ability to keep learning (including gathering, processing, analyzing, synthesizing and

presenting information as well as communicating and collaborating.

Image by chippenziedeutch

Making It Stick

• According to David Jakes, the following are the characteristics of school culture that are required for an innovation to become seamless and transparent:

1. There must be a high degree of organizational readiness for the innovation.

2. The innovation must have multiple entry points for a spectrum of usership; each of these entry points must support effective use by teachers and students.

3. The innovation must clearly address an instructional need, with benefits for both teacher and student.

4. The innovation must add value to an instructional process.

5. There must be visible and tangible results indicating that the innovation improves student learning.

6. The technology has been taken out of the technology or innovation.

7. The teacher has become a confident, active, and visible user; use becomes seamless and transparent.

Out With the Old…

Web 1.0

• Application based• Isolated• Offline• Licensed or

purchased• Single creator• Proprietary code• Copyrighted content

Web 2.0

• Web based• Collaborative• Online• Free• Multiple

collaborators• Open source• Shared conten

First Steps: Ning

• Ning– What is it?

• Social network

• Members create profiles

• Event Listings

• Discussion Forums

• Shows Real-Time Activity

• Add Videos, Images, Widgets

First Steps: Ning Continued

• How you will use the Ning– Respond to Discussion Forums

• New topic will be posted each week

• Respond to at least 2 class members

• Meant as a way to share ideas and help each other through the course

• Way to contact the instructor and gain assistance between classes

Nings to Look At

• http://iconnectilearn.ning.com/• http://www.classroom20.com/• http://education.ning.com/• http://globaleducation.ning.com/• http://k12online.ning.com/• http://iste-members.ning.com/• http://necc2008.ning.com/

Week 1 Assignment

• Join the Ning for our class• Post your individual response to the KWL

Discussion– Respond to two other participants

• Join another Ning– Respond to the Ning Discussion telling what Ning you

joined and why