So, I haven't posted very much but I have been thinking about this stuff quite a bit. I was fortunate enough to hear Will Richardson speak when he was at Claremont (I got him to sign my book!) and I really think we are so much farther ahead here that many other places in terms of using Web 2.0 stuff. Here, at least, we are all willing to learn and from what Will Richardson said that is most definitely not the case everywhere. At one point I raised my hand to ask a question and started with "I am totally on board with you on this..." and he immediately chimed in with "Oh, I hear a 'but' coming next." Which, of course I assured him was not the case. Anyhow, even though I think we are doing fairly well in terms of willingness, personally I feel like I have so much to learn.
Today I accessed a couple of webpages for a school called Northwest High (not sure where it is) but they are doing podcasts in a way that I would love to do. To see what they are doing, check out these two links:
http://www.nisdtx.org/120820731141528687/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=70538
and
http://www.nisdtx.org/120820731141528687/podcasts/browse.asp?a=399&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=70101
I am hoping with Moodle I will be able to put some things like these on the library webpage. One of the things that I need to find out would be what the copyright issues are. I am fairly sure that I need to get permission from either the publisher or the author.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
paperless classroom link
for some specific info on creating a "paperless classroom" in English, check out this link sent to me by fellow teacher Amanda Wilson - http://buckenglish.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/paperless-tiger/
In it, the author discusses some of the ways she uses wikis and rss feeds with students. I think this is a great idea, but I have some concerns regarding unmotivated students who use technology for play and distraction rather than to actively enhance their learning- honours students would go for this but I'm more skeptical of less eager students doing so.
From a teacher perspective, I think we need to have time- lots of it- to gain experience and confidence in using these methods. As an 'oldster' I'm not sure I have the commitment necessary to change my methods of teaching and grading so drastically at the same time as I am teaching and grading! I am taken in by the Web 2.0 "publishing" opportunity aspects (such as using this blog!), and using something like Google docs (which I have not yet done) or Moodle, signing into wiki spaces (did that - once!) - all of these take time to explore, set up, manage, etc. there needs to be significant Pro-D time available for developing skills in these technologies - otherwise it is just one more stressor in already stressed teaching lives.
It may be that our best hope for such radical change is with our newer teachers who are already comfortable and experienced with these new methods of communication. You can teach an old dog new tricks (ie: "never to late to learn something new" - my motto in life), but old dogs are far more likely to revert to past behaviours!
In it, the author discusses some of the ways she uses wikis and rss feeds with students. I think this is a great idea, but I have some concerns regarding unmotivated students who use technology for play and distraction rather than to actively enhance their learning- honours students would go for this but I'm more skeptical of less eager students doing so.
From a teacher perspective, I think we need to have time- lots of it- to gain experience and confidence in using these methods. As an 'oldster' I'm not sure I have the commitment necessary to change my methods of teaching and grading so drastically at the same time as I am teaching and grading! I am taken in by the Web 2.0 "publishing" opportunity aspects (such as using this blog!), and using something like Google docs (which I have not yet done) or Moodle, signing into wiki spaces (did that - once!) - all of these take time to explore, set up, manage, etc. there needs to be significant Pro-D time available for developing skills in these technologies - otherwise it is just one more stressor in already stressed teaching lives.
It may be that our best hope for such radical change is with our newer teachers who are already comfortable and experienced with these new methods of communication. You can teach an old dog new tricks (ie: "never to late to learn something new" - my motto in life), but old dogs are far more likely to revert to past behaviours!
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