Post 8 - Reflecting on Blogging

Web 2.0 has great capabilities for use in the classroom, but the greatest weakness is static administration and rigid standards that do not allow the use of these collaborative networks. I would love for each of my students to have a blog, but they can't access blog or social network sites at school, making it impossible for many of my students to manage (as they do not have internet at home). Until there is a shift in mind-set, it will be a long time before I can fully implement all the tools I would love to use in order to make learning fun again.

Post 7 - Second Life

As I have come to explore it more and more often, Second Life is proving to be a valuable tool for educational exploration. Sometimes areas are only fantasy, but many institutions have created campuses in Second Life that are open for exploration. Drexel University has created an open area for learning with content from a vast variety of subjects. Everything from chemistry to composition is an available topic.

I found the Second Life campus by searching for groups, and later as I looked up information about figurative language and literary devices. I was pleased to find that creators had taken the time to build a beautiful area that appeals to the senses and inspires a visitor. I collected a great amount of useful information here, and plan to visit again in the future.

Though I would love to use Second Life in my classroom, there are still problems to be confronted. Administration is not always open to the idea of letting students romp freely through a "game" during school hours, and without spending time in Second Life, it is hard to explain to someone that it isn't really a game at all, so much as it is a virtual world. Still, even if it were possible to convince administration to allow students to explore Second Life, it is very easy to get to inappropriate areas, either intentionally or by sheer accident. My first foray into exploration landed me accidentally in a "night club" with scantily clad female avatars dancing around metal bars that extended from floor to ceiling...

And finally, even if it were possible to steer students away from the mature areas of Second Life, is it possible to make sure my students are protected from other people that might cause trouble? Although there are teen areas in Second Life, is there any guarantee that the "teens" there really are teens? And if I limit students to only the teen areas, will they miss out on the vast opportunities that await them in the bulk of Second Life?

There is no denial that there are great opportunities for students in Second Life; however, without more control over what my students are exposed to, it might be safer for now to keep my middle school students firmly rooted in the Real Life, as opposed to a Second one.

Post 6 - Networking

Texas A&M University has a long, rich history of traditions. Among them are the Aggie senior ring, which students obtain in the fall of their senior year. Students wear them with reverent pride; it is a physical representation of the shared experience of attending Texas A&M.

Graduates are also enrolled permanently into the Alumni Organization, commonly referred to as the Aggie Network. Networking was a skill very strongly stressed to students, and I didn't realize how important it would be until after I had graduated and moved away.

Former students quickly look for the distinctive ring on the hands of other graduates, and immediately there is a common ground for conversation. I've met a former student, class of 1944. His Aggie ring was so worn with age that some of the defining features were no longer recognizable. But, we had something in common and a basis for beginning a conversation, which eventually led me to a friend of his whos son was an employee of a district that had a job opening...

Social networking is similar, only now it is easier than before to find these links that were once hidden. Being open to networking and visible in networks such as facebook can increase the likelihood of making a connection that is mutually beneficial. So far I have only connected with former classmates and my family members, but through their pages I have been able to find OTHER classmates, some of whom I havent spoken with in almost ten years. There is a great deal of potential here if we are willing to use the tools.

Post 5 - Social Media

As I researched and learned about the topic of social media, I had an "Ah ha!" moment. Of course I am familiar with Myspace, Facebook and obviously blogging, but the real value of social media did not become immediately apparent until I watched a video about collective intelligence.

The idea that "two heads are smarter than one" has been long established. But, what happens when we now have the technological ability to put millions of "heads" together? Problems and problem solvers are able to find each other and work together on a common cause, multiplying greatly the potential thinking power of the world.

This has fantastic educational uses. Sometimes groups get off task when working together in the classroom. But, what would happen if you could set groups up across different class periods. Or in different schools? States? Countries? A simple history project can become infinitely enriched by bringing together students for a common assignment. We now have the tools to do just these sorts of things and it would be fantastic if school districts and administrators were open to the idea of sharing via social media.

That day will come, and I wait for it anxiously.

Post 4 - 21st century skill/literacies

Howard Rheingold makes an excellent point in his description of searching for information on the internet. Where once students would go to the library and obtain facts from published (and reviewed) sources, children now have access to all kinds of information on the internet. Students must be taught how to separate the junk from the gems and need to learn to think critically about biased authorship. Now that it has become so easy for anyone to put anything they want on the internet (indeed, even I have a blog!), students must be savvy enough to separate fact from opinion.

I also agree in that we need to dedicate ourselves to being perpetual students and encouraging our children to never stop learning. Learning something new every day keeps your brain sharp, but also keeps us passionate about learning. Equally important as learning something new is practicing what you've learned.

Post 3 - Media Literacy

As I begin my fourth year in education, it is evident already that the student of the 21st century is far different than those of the 20th, and indeed, my own generation. No longer are the "Three R's" sufficient for today's fluid environments. Students must be able to analyze, create, discover, present, and work in teams. These are only a few of the skills necessary, but obtaining them is not necessarily as difficult as it seems.

There is ample opportunity for play, performance and simulation in a classroom that considers roleplaying to be an active teaching strategy. An ordinary overhead projector makes the ideal tool for turning shadow puppet wars into teachable moments. By utilizing "play" in this manner, teachers can "sneak" content and assessment in on their children, much the same way a parent might trick a child into eating vegetables. We know what is good for our children, and sometimes have to fool them into acceptance, for their own good.

Group work should be an important component in any classroom. The topic and assignment can become almost secondary when it is compared to all the other valuable lessons and social skills a student is engaged in: division of labor, negotiating party roles, team work, and conflict resolution are just a few examples. These are skills that will directly translate to the workforce later.

Post 2 - Learning 2.0

The video assignments this week were exceptionally powerful. I have always enjoyed listening to Ken Robinson, especially this criticism of schools stifling creativity. Especially striking is his comment that in order for people to be creative, we have to be willing to risk failure. What was even more powerful, however, were the facts presented in the first three videos. I was astonished by the percentage of time students today will spend working with digital media. When contrasted to the amount of time our educational programs allow for our students to utilize those same programs, the results are dismal.

The school I teach at this year has a 1-to-1 laptop/tablet PC ratio. Every student is issued their OWN tablet pc for use in the classroom at home. Of course, though, virtually EVERY collaborative tool, web 2.0 program and proxy/workaround is blocked. I find myself asking "Whats the point of giving students a tool, but then not allow them access to the vast majority of the extensions". Its like having a hammer with no handle. You can get some things accomplished with the metal hammer head, but it really works best when combined with the handle.

Mission to Learn offers a free eBook on their website, and it is a great primer for people interested in providing online learning opportunities. Author Jeff Cobb goes into great detail explaining the difference between a podcast and a wiki, and also gives several examples on how they can be used.

An article was published last year about a school in New York that has also piloted a 1-to-1 laptop program with significant gains in literacy. However, the article states that their district also suffers from similar internet censorship from the district level. Though their networks appear to be less restricted than mine, many teachers are also advocating for students to be allowed to use cell phones and social networking sites.

I understand both sides of the argument, but it is my humble opinion that school districts need to relax the internet restrictions. Maybe allowing social networks will fail, but without being willing to RISK failure, districts can be neither creative or innovative. If we fail to allow ourselves that creative tool, then it is impossible to instill that creativity in our children.

References:

Cobb, J. Learning 2.0 for associations. (2008). Mission to Learn website. Accessed August 9, 2009 from http://www.missiontolearn.com/2008/02/learning-20-ebook-free/

Green, E. Learning 2.0 brings schools into the digital age. (2008). New York news. Accessed August 9, 2009 from http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-10-22/news/learning-2-0-brings-schools-into-the-digital-age/1