Moving web2.0 forward
1 03 2007As some of you may be aware I am in ’sunny’ Torquay at the NAACE conference, yesterday I delivered by session on web2.0 in the classroom (you can find most of the sites referred to here).
It has been great to have so much positive feedback and a little constructive negative feedback. This has left me thinking about how to improve and where I believe we should start to go next. What I believe is that it is good to see the practical uses of web2.0 in the classroom whether they be the best use or not, from the primary school blog to the geography tectonics podcast, my use of del.icio.us to the gallery of student work. Where I believe I need to take this next is to start to look in more detail about the effects on teaching and learning from using these technologies, to me it is obvious but that is not the case for everyone.
I think in Shropshire we could be at a tipping point, we have spent the last 18 months or so piloting and developing our use of these technologies but can we start to exploit them even further, using blogs to support boys writing, podcasts to support speaking and listening, del.icio.us to support research etc
I am keen to hear other peoples opinions and set up some collaborations to develop materials to support the use of these technologies in the classroom. Has anyone already developed teaching units, that don’t necessarily teach the technologies but exploit their use.
Interesting post, Steve. I’d possibly be up for developing something. Hopefully catch up with you next week.
Must admit i was left with the feeling “we should be doing this” but then i get back to base and think..”do i want to spend 2 weeks banging my head against the brick wall that is the literacy team for them to get bored and dump the idea at the 1st hurdle”
i suspect that most lit consultants etc are similar to ours in that they have a list of priorities that they MUST do and no time for anything else.
i think the way i will be moving is the try and target a few schools who i think will run with this and give it a chance.
Andy, there are some really good applications of these technologies in literacy, issues with boys writing - use a blog, speaking and listening - use podcasts etc. There is even mention of it in the new frameworks, see this page for further details : http://www.podiumpodcasting.com/primaryframework/index.html.
Steve
Is it not our resposibility to give an exciting creative curriculum to our children? How do we follow the primary frameworks with excellence and enjoyment? But I agree with Andy that one or two early adopters will probably not establish a longlasting momentum at a school. I believe we need to persuade senior leaders that creativity and enjoyment leads to successful achievement - has anyone come across any action research for this using web 2.0? - Steve A - Herefordshire