Week 4 - Blog #8 - Reflection on Blogging

I have really enjoyed learning more about Web 2.0 tools. I had not realized that I was even using Web 2.0 tools before, and I never heard of Web 2.0. The possibilities of Web 2.0 tools in education is enormous, and I am excited to have students begin using some of the things I have learned about. I find Web 2.0 tools good for work in collaboration and engaging students. I know the students will buy in to learning more when they see that technology is involved. I love the creative features that Web 2.0 tools have.

The major weakness I see is that many applications are blocked within school districts. Of course, many of the tools I have learned about are more unknown, and that is an advantage. Also, anyone can post anything, so students will have to be taught how to discern what is relevant.

I am very excited to use web 2.0 tools such as Zoho, Google docs, ning, blogging, engrade, etc. in the classroom. I am excited for my students. And an added bonus is when I get this all set up, is it makes life more easy on me as well!

Week 4 - Blog #7 - Second Life

Second Life is an experience that has been interesting these last few months. I can see possibilities for its use in the education world. Many people love it, and could spend hours in it. This video I watched helped me learn more about the possibilities of Second Life. I had not realized all the possibilities there are. This video shows how students can be immersed in various worlds they are learning about. They can learn to build, take quizzes, and watch videos. They can walk through tutorials. The possibilities are numerous. The aspect that stood out to me the most is going to the different worlds, such as the Renaissance world, and being inside a Van Gogh painting. This type of learning could be very valuable and engaging for students.

Personally, I have not really fully enjoyed using Second Life. I have experienced frustration when I am trying to find something, but not getting the results I want. Second Life would be best if a class had a teacher that was very experienced in it, and could guide them through the experience. I would be interested in checking out information on Second Life for kids also, as I know some of the content in Second Life now is not necessarily appropriate for children.

I came across a resource that was very interesting as far as education and Second Life go. At http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/educationaluses there is a list of places in Second Life that are appropriate for whatever area you are trying to teach. I actually wish I had come across this earlier as I was experiencing frustration about using Second Life. After finding this list, I am excited to explore some of the places and see what is available.

My conclusion about Second Life is that it could be a very useful tool in education with the right resources. The teacher must be willing to guide students through the experience, or the students will get nothing out of the experience. If the teacher is willing to do this, the students could engage in very productive and memorable learning.

References

http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/educationaluses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOFU9oUF2HA

Week 3 - Blog #6 - Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice is also known as CoP and according to Wikipedia, "refers to the process of social learning that occurs and shared sociocultural practices that emerge and evolve when people who have common goals interact as they strive towards those goals." We all belong to a CoP, and we belong to more than one. A CoP can be work related, hobby related, or just common interests. This video shows perfectly how communities of practice work.

Before the internet and Web 2.0 CoP was more limited. With all the social networking tools we have not, CoP can occur much more easily. We have the social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. where we can connect with different communities of practice. We have access to meeting so many more people who share like professions, hobbies, and ideas.

But what do communities of practice do for education? What influence do they have? First of all, communities of practice can only enhance education. Teachers can learn from each other, and students can learn from others. We can all learn to problem solve together and learn more about whatever community it is that we are a part of. The following graph shows what communities engage in and what makes them a community of practice. This image can be located at: http://www.ewenger.com/theory/communities_of_practice_intro.htm

Problem solving	"Can we work on this design and brainstorm some ideas; I’m stuck."
Requests for information	"Where can I find the code to connect to the server?"
Seeking experience	"Has anyone dealt with a customer in this situation?"
Reusing assets	"I have a proposal for a local area network I wrote for a client last year. I can send it to you and you can easily tweak it for this new client."
Coordination and synergy	"Can we combine our purchases of solvent to achieve bulk discounts?"
Discussing developments	"What do you think of the new CAD system? Does it really help?"
Documentation projects	"We have faced this problem five times now. Let us write it down once and for all."
Visits	"Can we come and see your after-school program? We need to establish one in our city."
Mapping knowledge and identifying gaps	"Who knows what, and what are we missing? What other groups should we connect with?"

All of what you see on that graph is exactly what we want our students engaging in. We want them to learn problem solving, and learning, and engaging in activities. Finding a community of practice for them to engage in will help them engage in learning. A community of practice could be found within students at the school and managed online via Web 2.0 tools. There are several ways that teachers could implement a CoP into the curriculum. And don't stop there. It is very useful for teachers to find their own CoP, and learn more from other teachers. A CoP can be maintained using many Web 2.0 tools. Blogging, wikis, social networking... all of these can further students' and teachers' learning within a CoP.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communities_of_practice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUXE9hRI1V4

http://www.ewenger.com/theory/communities_of_practice_intro.htm

Week 3 - Blog #5 - Social Media

Social media is the newest thing. Just about everyone has interaction with it. Most have a facebook, many people have Twitter, and interact with other social networks. Many people read blogs, and lots of people go to the internet to read up on anything of interest to them. But is social media a lasting thing? This video gives an idea of how much social media is influencing today's society. Media is bringing many together.

Clearly, social media is one of the most important parts of society. It is influencing everyone. And yet, social media in the realm of the education world is something that is a little feared. If educators embrace it, it could help out the education field in so many ways. According to "Twitter in the classroom" Roosevelt High School has been using social media such as Twitter and Facebook and has been getting excellent results. According to the video, there are two purposes to social media. Number one, catching the students' attention and engaging them in activities, and second, preparing them for communication in a media-driven world. This idea of using digital and social media in the classroom is working at the high school, and the students are engaged and loving learning.

There are so many different potential uses for social media in the classroom. Communication

is considered a big issue. These social media tools make it very easy to communicate with

parents and students. The video we just watched showed the potential social media has in

engaging students. Social media, if used properly could solve the biggest problems educators

face: communication and engagement. In my own classroom, I wish to communicate with my

parents and students about concerts and important dates through social media. I want my

students to be using social media to complete assignments. The issue of all the blocks is

important. Many of these social media tools are blocked. As educators, if we can show the

importance of these tools to other educators, then maybe our education system can change.

Social media has changed the world, and it can start to change the world of education for

the better.

References:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OxIz_3o3O0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8

Week 2 - Blog Posting #4 - 21st Century Skills and LifeLong Learning

The huge question every teacher faces is how to engage the student. As teachers we want to engage our students now, and even bigger than that, we want them to engage in lifelong learning. The first issue I wish to discuss is engaging the students. Our students are 21st century students. They are digital natives, immersed in and already learning from technology. We need to engage those skills they have already learned through technology and use those skills to engage them in education, and set them up for life-long learning. Times have changed radically, yet education really has not followed that change as drastically. To engage students we need to reach them through what they know. This video shows a little bit on that topic.

Today's learners are dependent on technology. And as they are dependent on it, of course they learn best through it. This next video shows how the 21st century student learns. They learn through social networks, blogs, email, etc. They read blogs, books, and magazines. If they are looking for information they go to the internet. Watch the video to learn more on that.

Obviously, it is important that teachers today learn to engage our students and teach them what they will need. The next video I wish to share with you speaks of that. It gives three steps in reaching 21st century learners. The steps are having a creative classroom, teaching students the skills of competition, cooperation, and collaboration, and introducing the students to their global peers. With the technology we have, our students will need to be able to interact with people from all cultures through technology.

Lastly, if we apply these technology tools, and excite our students about learning, we will set them up to be lifelong learners. They will fall in love with learning because it has been made exciting. It will no longer be a boring drudgery. Also, lifelong learning will need to be a necessity in order to succeed. With jobs being created that we cannot even imagine, our students will have to be taught to adapt and to be willing to constantly learn. This may seem a little intimidating, but it can be truly exciting to see students who love to learn and that are excited and prepared for their future.

References:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZkvmpE50GQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1srP6J7f9kY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yCB4i7GJuM

Week 2 - Blog Posting #3 - Media Literacy

Literacy is something that has always been valued. In order to succeed, one must be literate. For those that aren't, life is a harder place. Media literacy has now become such a prevalent part of our society, that it too should be valued just as much as literacy has been. Media literacy is a new term. We are all aware of media education. We need to teach our students to use media. But what is media literacy? According to Jane Tallim (Media Awareness Network), media literacy is as follows:

...the ability to sift through and analyze the messages that inform, entertain and sell to us every day. It's the ability to bring critical thinking skills to bear on all media— from music videos and Web environments to product placement in films and virtual displays on NHL hockey boards. It's about asking pertinent questions about what's there, and noticing what's not there. And it's the instinct to question what lies behind media productions— the motives, the money, the values and the ownership— and to be aware of how these factors influence content.

Really, media literacy is applying critical thinking skills to the media one comes in contact with. Teaching media literacy must be a priority. But why? According to Pat Kipping (Media Awareness Network), it makes us a better citizen. According to Len Masterman (Media Awareness Network), we are immersed in media and we must learn to recognize how it is used in commercialism, politics, and every other aspect of our life. Media is the communications system of today, and students must learn to critically analyze the forms of media they come in contact with.

Also, media literacy is about creating media, and not just analyzing it. Students must learn to create forms of media, and be comfortable with media. This video offers more insight on media literacy.

Incorporating media literacy in the classroom has become a must in education. While this might

feel a bit overwhelming, it is very doable. Having the students present will help them learn media literacy. Presenting

powerpoint presentations, video presentations, podcasts, etc. will engage them in media, and help them become media-literate. We need to teach our students what questions to ask about the media they come in contact with. This next video offers some pointers on how we can teach our students to become media-literate, and how the lack of media literacy can negatively affect our students.

Media literacy will help our students perform better now, and prepare them for a future that will be only further along in terms of media.

References:

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/what_is_media_literacy.cfm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m6grhWShNY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzeVjAM-drg

Blog Posting #2: Learning 2.0

We learn by doing. This seems to be an easy enough concept to understand. It makes great sense. And yet, many teachers, including myself, get caught up in passing along the information, and too often the info means nothing to our students. Web 2.0 can change this. With Web 2.0 tools, we can engage our learners, help prepare them for the future, and they will be learning by doing. As teachers it is important to not resist this, but to embrace it. We must first use the resources available in our own classroom, and then maybe educational reform can take place.

According to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVr5pokOVG0, most students are already using Web 2.0 outside of school. They enjoy it, and we should encourage the students by using it in traditional learning settings. This video also brings up the concern of public safety and such which should be considered just as any matter of public safety should. However, Web 2.0 offers the benefit of learners taking control of their learning. The learners can work through problems and such on their own and get feedback. Web 2.0 also offers learners help with the practicing of communication skills. This Youtube video shows some positive ways that some schools in Scotland are using Web. 2.0. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVr5pokOVG0

Todays' students are 21st century learners. They spend an exorbitant amount of time using Web 2.0 tools, whether they realize it or not. This Youtube video offers an idea of how much time the 21st century learner spends. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NzQqPH3JRw Of course this is a generalization, but the main idea is that Web 2.0 is here, and as teachers we should utilize this tool. It will only benefit our learners. By individually using Web 2.0 tools, we can influence our learners, and begin to change the tide of education.

I have thought of a great use for blogging in my classroom. In my orchestra class, I have always had the students keep a practice log. I can now have the students keep a practice log through a blog. They can add to it, by writing about the practicing experience, and explaining why they practiced what they did. This is an example of how a Web 2.0 tool can further engage students. Web 2.0 has many exciting learning options for the teacher and the student.

References

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVr5pokOVG0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NzQqPH3JRw

Week 1 - Blog Posting #1 - Web 2.0

I had not heard of Web 2.0 before last month's class. I had never realized the power of learning through the internet. Sure, research can easily be done on the internet, but to learn from one another? I had never considered this aspect of the web before.

Web 2.0 is a powerful tool for education that has not been considered in most places. It seems that technology itself is just now being encouraged within classrooms, and yet, the full possibilities of learning are still not being explored. Web 1.0 is being embraced, but the collaborative piece has not been explored. Yes, there is some worry and concerns to be considered within the world of Web 2.0. Privacy, safety, etc. are vital when exposing students to this world. Students should be educated about how to keep information private, and about how to discern what is scholarly. These issues hopefully will not deter educators from using Web 2.0 tools. Skiba (2006) offers some ideas on ways to use Web 2.0:

• Bookmarking, so that students can gather sources from one another and instructors, instead of being limited to what they can find on their own.
• Social Writing Platforms (to work collaboratively, or even blogging)
• Searching and saving information (ex. searching news stories over time)

This makes me consider the options for my own classroom. I can use social writing platforms for music history papers. Social networks for discussions on music theory, as well as posting tutorials and such. Web 2.0 has so much to offer in the educational world.

The benefits of Web 2.0 are not only furthering learning, but also motivating and engaging the learner. Barlow (2008) speaks of his success with this. Barlow is a science teacher and he used blogging and podcasts with his students. The students became active in their education and intrinsically motivated. Barlow also addressed the fact that even within Web 2.0, you have to make the information interesting and meaningful to the students. One cannot just

setup a blog and expect learning to take place. There must be a purpose. The article is definitely worth a read, and offered me ideas on what I want within my own classroom. To me, the important thing is to make every thing purposeful. All Web 2.0 tools must be made interesting and meaningful to the student, and then the student will be actively engaged. Barlow's experience with podcasting was exciting. He would often overhear students discuss something they learned from listening to a podcast. This would be the ultimate reward for me: to have students' talk about learning outside of the classroom.

While I enjoy embracing all of these ideas and thinking of new ways to engage my students, the subject of internet blocks comes up. Within districts, so many Web 2.0 tools are blocked from use within schools. As of now, I do not know what is available to me, as I have not started the school year yet. I will simply have to wait, and then see what I can do. I am sure that there is still a multitude of Web 2.0 resources that will be available, and it will be fun, exciting, and

interesting to learn new ways to further engage my students.

Barlow, Tim (2008). Web 2.0: Creating a classroom without walls. The Journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association, 54(1), 46-48. Retrieved August 4, 2009, from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=9&hid=3&sid=49b04d57-6e36-48ef-9706-45f0e2d22038%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=31324945

Skiba, Diane (2006). Web 2.0: Next great thing or just marketing hype? Nursing Education Perspectives, 27(4), 212-214. Retrieved August 4, 2009 from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=12&hid=105&sid=1be4bbb3-ea39-47c9-a4dd-c8296da24a68%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ehh&AN=21801702