Week 2: Blog #2

The first chapter of web 2.0: new tools, new schools by Solomon and Schrum does a nice job of simplifying the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0.  In simple terms, Web 1.0 being more desktop application and Web 2.0 offering free tools for collaboration and social networking.  Although schools lag behind (pg. 17) in the use of technology and I believe many teachers are very reluctant to integrate technology into their daily lessons, I wonder how many teachers actually use some of these Web 2.0 tools unwittingly while promoting the essential skills students need for the 21st century.  I have struggled to wrap my brain around what exactly 21st century skills are and appreciated the reference to The Partnership for 21st Century Skills.  I have found this site very helpful as well as two others, the New Hampshire DOE ICT Literacy Standards and enGauge 21st Century Skills, in helping me come to an understanding of 21st century skills.  I believe these skills are twofold; first, the skills needed are collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking. Second, the tools needed to format and showcase collective bodies of work - that’s were the digital tools of Web 2.0 are essential.   

This text appears reader friendly and covers topics that are relevant to me as I design a new course for the next school year for 5th and 7th grade students.  Another book I recommend for beginners like me is K-12 Teach Like a Techie: 20 Tools for reaching the Digital Generation, by Lori Elliott. This book allows the reader to go directly to a chapter on a tool, a gadget, or a gizmo without having to read the entire book. This class covers most of the tools in the book so I'm thinking I'm in good hands!

Week 2: Blog #1

As a digital immigrant, technology has often been challenging for me.  Most digital immigrants are proficient with Web 1.0 tools, such as finding information, writing papers, and sending e-mails.  It’s Web 2.0 that is bringing me into the 21^st Century kicking and screaming like a newborn baby!  The digital natives in our classrooms live with technology and its tools are second nature: Web 2.0 skills have become an action verb that digital natives do.  Today’s students need twenty-first century skills in preparation for a future of unimaginable opportunities.
 

Today technology is growing exponentially compared to what the previous two generations experienced.  The average age of today’s teacher is 42.5 years old, this means it may be harder for the ‘average’ public school teacher to embrace and implement the technological skills needed for students to be globally competitive.

According to Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum, authors of web 2.0 new tools, new schools, the most important skill for the future is adaptability.  For teachers this means being willing to learn and implement the digital tools students already use outside the classroom and integrate these tools into daily lessons inside the classroom. But it doesn’t stop there – as technology continues to change and evolve, teachers will also have to be flexible enough to learn newer tools and address the next set of challenges.  Whew!  

 

Four days ago my first granddaughter, Lillian, was born.  She and I share the same birthday but 52 years apart.  Fifty years is a long time.  I could not have imagined the advances in technology I have experienced in my lifetime.  I’ve shared her pictures on Facebook with friends across the country and around the world and with her 100 year old Great Great Grandmother on e-mail.  It’s exciting to think what this world is coming to and how technology and social media can transform our classrooms!

Beginner

This is my first blog and although I don't know what I'm doing - I'm definitely jumping right in!
My SIGNIFICANT news is that my first granddaughter was born yesterday on March 12, 2012.  I was also born on March 12th; however, the birth year was a little earlier!  I was blessed to be allowed in the delivery room and take part in the celebration.