It is pretty cool that I don't have to carry around my list of favorite sites any more or have to search the web to find them. What a tool to be able to access your favorite sites from any place. I have bookmarks on my school computer & home computer - now I can access them both using delicious (who comes up with these crazy names). My del.icious.us username is cshipe.
I find the ability to tag to be beneficial in respect that I can access what other sites people have found beneficial to them and I can incorporate it too. It will save me a ton of time searching the web for school stuff. For example I can network with Mr. Zilligit and see that he has tagged quite a few math sites that he thinks are worthwhile and can use them for my benefit too. The sharing & exchanging of information is incredible.
Another point I like is the ability to sort the sites according to your tags. That will make life a lot easier especially as my bookmarks grow. If I want to access my finance/money sites I can simply click the money tag and only those bookmarks will be displayed - no more looking through long lists to find stuff. On my school computer it would take me longer to find the bookmark Ias looking for than it took to get the info I needed from it. It is great that you can see what other people have access to to see which sites are "good" so you don't have to waste a lot of time searching the endless number of sites for info you are looking for.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Thing 5
The first thing that comes to mind in thinking about web 2.0 and learning in the 21st century is what a shift from the traditional way of learning. I feel somewhat illiterate in terms of web 2.0 in all that it involves. I feel a bit behind the eight ball and that I need to really start to take a closer look at it (hence why I am taking this 23 things course) because a lot of students are into it. The old saying is "You have to reach tem to teach them" and the traditional styles of teaching are reaching the students less and less and its time for an upgrade.
My understanding of the articles and videos allowed me to realize that web 2.0 is an active, involved service that allows people to get, create, share, and build information that can be published for the world to see. Students can reach out to people in different schools, communities, states, countries, etc... Do students really understand the power of web 2.0 and can they harness it? I think that is where educators have to step in and help guide the students through the various aspects such as blogging, wikis, etc... As educators we need to think outside the box a bit (even though change can be scary especially if you have done the same thing every year the same way for the past x amount of years). Don't be afraid to dive in and try, remember we ask our students to do this on a daily basis.
I like Steve Hargadon's quote "The wisdom of the group replaces the expert." In school I find that we need to shift the focus from individual projects and learning to more team approach. We need to integrate the web 2.0 aspects into our classrooms instead of banning them from the school because we feel to uncomfortable or don't know enough about it so we shun it. I would like to introduce students to blogging or wiki but what would be the proper age if any? I could easily see myself using it when I taught the middle school age kids but what about 1st grade. The safety issue always concerns me when students are on-line. Are there "things" (pardon the pun) in place to help protect students? I always in the back of my mind think of liability issues when it comes to my students being on-line at school and how safe is it for them to blog, wiki, etc...
Overall I believe Steve Hargadon hit the nail on the head when he said that "The factory model is dying and the new wave is the ability to customize, collaborate, and be creative. " That's how we have to structure the way we present and teach our materials to students. We have to let the students be actively engaged in the process. The world will continue to evolve and the education system can't stand pat, it must grow and change like everything else.
My understanding of the articles and videos allowed me to realize that web 2.0 is an active, involved service that allows people to get, create, share, and build information that can be published for the world to see. Students can reach out to people in different schools, communities, states, countries, etc... Do students really understand the power of web 2.0 and can they harness it? I think that is where educators have to step in and help guide the students through the various aspects such as blogging, wikis, etc... As educators we need to think outside the box a bit (even though change can be scary especially if you have done the same thing every year the same way for the past x amount of years). Don't be afraid to dive in and try, remember we ask our students to do this on a daily basis.
I like Steve Hargadon's quote "The wisdom of the group replaces the expert." In school I find that we need to shift the focus from individual projects and learning to more team approach. We need to integrate the web 2.0 aspects into our classrooms instead of banning them from the school because we feel to uncomfortable or don't know enough about it so we shun it. I would like to introduce students to blogging or wiki but what would be the proper age if any? I could easily see myself using it when I taught the middle school age kids but what about 1st grade. The safety issue always concerns me when students are on-line. Are there "things" (pardon the pun) in place to help protect students? I always in the back of my mind think of liability issues when it comes to my students being on-line at school and how safe is it for them to blog, wiki, etc...
Overall I believe Steve Hargadon hit the nail on the head when he said that "The factory model is dying and the new wave is the ability to customize, collaborate, and be creative. " That's how we have to structure the way we present and teach our materials to students. We have to let the students be actively engaged in the process. The world will continue to evolve and the education system can't stand pat, it must grow and change like everything else.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Thing 4 How things change
In terms of technology, teaching and learning has changed quite a bit since I was a child. I remember a lot of rote memorization, drill and practice, and testing. Everyone had their own desk in rows facing the almighty chalkboard. There was not much collaboration or group work as compared to individual work. I do not remember receiving any formal computer class until 7th grade and that was done on Commadore 64's. Wow how have the times changed!!!! I'm not that old but boy do I feel like it when it comes to technology.
Now a days students enter Kindergarten knowing more about computers than I did when I was that age. Sthudents have formal computer classes beginning in Kindergarten. Students are learning Excel, Powerpoint, Word, how to search for information, post messages, email, etc.... Students today can take virtual field trips, take on-line classes, use the IVAN room at their school to take a class offered at a different school. Students communicate information and process it at a faster rate thanks to email, IM, texting, cell phones, etc...
In terms of staying the same, the physical buildings are much the same and how things are taught remains much the same. Students still use textbooks for most of their learning even though some texts are really old and out dated. Some things are still really strongly emphasized the same as I was in school. One example is cursive handwriting. In my opinion a lot of time is wasted teaching it and when the students get to middle school and high school much of the major work is done via computer software such as Word and Excel. Like the old saying goes the more things change the more they stay the same.
Now a days students enter Kindergarten knowing more about computers than I did when I was that age. Sthudents have formal computer classes beginning in Kindergarten. Students are learning Excel, Powerpoint, Word, how to search for information, post messages, email, etc.... Students today can take virtual field trips, take on-line classes, use the IVAN room at their school to take a class offered at a different school. Students communicate information and process it at a faster rate thanks to email, IM, texting, cell phones, etc...
In terms of staying the same, the physical buildings are much the same and how things are taught remains much the same. Students still use textbooks for most of their learning even though some texts are really old and out dated. Some things are still really strongly emphasized the same as I was in school. One example is cursive handwriting. In my opinion a lot of time is wasted teaching it and when the students get to middle school and high school much of the major work is done via computer software such as Word and Excel. Like the old saying goes the more things change the more they stay the same.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Thing 3 blogging
I have blogged before but not very often. My wife recently got a facebook account and I have been connecting with friends I have not seen or heard from in many years. I have written some blogs on some teacher sites asking for some classroom advice on different issues. I do read blogs quite a bit. I find myself reading blogs at some of the news sites such as CNN and FOX News. I also read blogs posted on the financial guru Dave Ramsey's website. How does it feel to share your thoughts so publicly? I usually blog in response to a article or topic and I feel comfortable sharing my view point with whoever cares to read it. As for blogging personal info or airing any dirty laundry to anyone who wants to read it is a different story- I choose not to. I have read several blogs or postings on facebook or other sites where people tell their life history, marital problems, etc... I think thats a bit to much info to share with people. As for some of the blog sites I enjoyed so far I mentioned them in my Thing 1 and Thing 2 blogs. I am looking forward to learning about the rest of the 23 "things" and how I can use them in my personal and professional life.
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