Thing #2

After watching the provided You Tube videos on Web 2.0, I was filled with possibilities and doubts. I have had the privilege of getting to see the Shift Happens video once before, and it moved me to tears, both times. I can see myself utilizing Web 2.0 in the future, not because I want to, not because I have to, but because I need to, and my students need me to. Web 2.0 is full of all sorts of possibilities. Yes, there are so many chances for misuse by our students, but that just requires us, as professionals, to stay on top of what our goal for ourselves and our students is. Yet, on the same note, how can we, or our district, even define what "misuse" is, or what an unauthorized site its. Yes, we may not always necessarily agree with ALL of the content being offered on that site, or it's appropriateness, but what about the useful and helpful content, why should we then filter that? I think that in a perfect, economy where teachers were given and provided everything that we needed, Web 2.0 would be THE way of learning, however that simply is not the case. We as teachers need to find avenues and ways of utilizing what we already have, to provide those same opportunities to our students. The videos do an amazing job of showing us that books simply aren't the way of learning for most kids these days, they don't go to the library and find a book to check out and research a topic, they Google pictures, they look on Wikipedia for information. We NEED to be providing those same opportunities in our classrooms. Just today, my husband and I wanted to rent movies, but didn't want to drive to Blockbuster and not find something we wanted, so we "Googled" new releases and found movies we wanted, BEFORE we went. We had our "end in mind" (Habit #1), we researched it ourselves (Habit #2), we responded to the problem of wasted time, and solved it (Habit #3), we had confidence in ourselves (we were sitting at the dinner table, and I jumped up, "I'll Google New Releases", Michael looked at me crazy, and "You do that. (with doubt)" was my response. 10 minutes later we are checking out with our movies. Habit #4) I used my toolbox: internet, paper, car (Habit #5) we used our computer to our advantage (Habit #6) and now, I'm sharing with you (Habit #7). All in 15 minutes time. Isn't it amazing how technology is affecting our learning!?

So is the case with our students, they know what they want, and need to learn, and how they need to learn, without our pushing. They are inquisitive in their own nature. It is in our, and our student's benefit to 2.0 teach to our students. Our world is changing, they will be provided and will use these technologies when out in the real-world, why not start with them now? Let's make them knowledgeable, inquisitive, and technologically savvy now!! Isn't education our job? We should educate them in all aspects of leaning, not just BOOKS!