What does a Web 2.0 Classroom look like?
A web 2.0 classroom should be centered on every day technological gadgets and tools that are available to students such as cell phones, lap tops, iPods, as well as other tools. A web 2.0 classroom should have access to the internet without restrictions, because filters restrict student’s access to information that facilitates the learning process. The Web 2.0 classroom should look like a super highway that links students, parents, and teachers together. A web 2.0 classroom uses technology as its core for instruction. Why should students and school restrict themselves to information? We are no longer dependent on textbooks or even teachers. With the internet all students need is a facilitator guiding them through the curriculum and their learning process.
The internet is revolutionizing the curriculum and the ways that teaching is implemented in the classroom. In a Web 2.O classroom the professor has the ability to check homework, add, delete, or modify assignments. In a dynamic class environment the students and parents have easy access to the assignments and grades. Parents have emails that link them to what is happening at school and in the classroom. Everyone has access to the information and sharing information is common in a Web 2.0 class. Sharing helps the student develop partnerships with fellow classmates and led to cooperative groups.
Creating a technological rich constructivist classroom is easy. Simply allowing students to use the technological gadgets and tools in the classroom is one way. Most students have cell phones. Cell phones come with internet access, email, texting, and video and cameras. As a teacher I can use these gadgets to provide assignments and communicate with the students; image that some of the world’s greatest leaders have been toppled by persons with cell phones. I am sure that I can find a way to use it in the classroom. Sharing information is common to everyone. Everyone has shared a photo to a song with someone else and still sharing has evolved to the more complex sharing of files, data, and programs files. By breaking down the barrier that educational institutes have imposed to protect the student’s privacy and rights have restricted the learning process. Learning has taken a new direction that is yet to be charted and defined. A technological rich environment is students using technology throughout the day. Before the day began the teacher in the article read the news, updates information, emailed students, check weblogs and shared information with students and colleagues. The information was readily accessible to everyone and to me this is how a technological classroom is created and sustained.
I appreciate how easily you implement technology in your classroom. I agree with you that there are many resources for educators to use that involve technology and learning!
ReplyDeleteNot knowing anything about Web 2.0 or the technology rich classroom, your posting has given me hope. Technology can be used in very different aspects of learnng, and not just as a tool to use the various purchased educational programs. Technology should be used to explore, and share information by all students within the classroom. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI really like what you said about the Web 2.0 classroom being a super highway to connect students, teachers and parents. It is so important to involve parents in their student's educations and to make them aware of how learning and the curriculum has changed from when they were in school. However, although there probably should be fewer restrictions, we cannot remove them all because the internet is such a dangerous place. Even when students do not mean to purposely search for or land on inappropriate websites, sometimes they do. And its very easy to on the internet. And although I agree we are no longer dependent on textbooks for information, I still think its important students learn at least the basics about what encyclopedias are and how to use them simply because with technology, you can never be sure. There are always malfunctions and technical difficulties, and god forbid we ever have a problem with our connectivity because then our students would be lost! So although the internet and Web 2.0 tools are essential to today's learners, we need to be careful not to make it the end all.
ReplyDeleteThere must be a balance of restrictions and supervision. There are many tools that can allow monitoring of computers, filtering and other tools. During my undergrad, I did research on Internet ethics. To teach a kid to walk across the street, they need to go out to the “real” street and cross with supervision. You teach them to look both ways before crossing, etc. The same must apply with technology. You teach them how to use it safely. If they disobey, then restrict their usage. The ones that follow the rules should be allowed to excel.
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