WEB 2.0 MUSINGS

Today’s students are definitely immersed in a digital world.  I have only two look at my two daughters (Kelsey who just finished her freshman year at ‘Iolani and Elisa who just finished her freshman year at Western Oregon University) to see that reality in my own home.

My kids constantly multitask (although yesterday on Oprah I learned that according to brain science, the idea of multitasking is actually a myth) when sitting at their computers at home: sending IM messages, talking on Skype, watching a video, writing a history paper, shopping on the web all at the same time.  In addition, although they don’t have the much coveted I-phone, they do use their cell phones in a myriad of ways that I have not even begun to touch:

• a camera
• a calendar
• to text message
• to play games
• and yes, every once in awhile, to speak to another person

This concept of the interactive web, however, has been all new for me.  It seems to shift power into the hands of individuals rather than to keep it in mainstream institutions such as schools, newspapers, and the government. It does this by providing the tools to actively collaborate and workin real time on content that really matters and issues that affect the heart.  So the challenge is to teach students how to channel that power and their digital fingers/minds into productive outcomes.

Where to begin? Sometimes I see clarity … but most times I just feel a bit overwhelmed at all that is available.  As the weeks progress, I hope that the vision becomes clearer, and that practically speaking, I will be able to start by taking one small step.  Still … where do I begin?  A web blog, a wiki, google documents, classroom 2.0 … these are all still swimming around in my head.

Blog writing is very much linked to blog reading.  So after reading a number of blogs, here’s what I learned.

• Brevity can be challenging, but powerful.  Just try keeping your comments <42 words.
• You can learn from students.  Some students like ten-year-old Laura Stockman are actually making “a difference.”
• To turn blogging into collaborative teaching and learning, you have to create the Ripe Environment.  Don’t be so focused on the tool, that you forget about the content.
• Some people have found ways to use blogs in mathematics.

There’s a lot out there to read, reflect upon, and write about.

I have a confession to make.  I’M AFRAID OF BLOGGING.  OK, I said it.   It’s not that I’m afraid to write, or that I’m a math teacher (and more analytical than prosaic), or that I don’t have any ideas (although sometiems my brain feels rather empty.)   I think that I’m afraid that somebody else might read this (which might happen sooner or later), and worse yet, that somebody might disagree with what I write/think/believe or even have the audacity to respond critically to my musings.  So while others might just be waiting for someone to respond/interact/comment, I’m just hoping that my musings stay mine and help to challenge/encourage/critique my own wanderings about this giant 2.0 Web.

Of course, that’s not really the point, since this adventure is supposed to be COLLABORATIVE, so somewhere deep inside I am secretly wishing for someone to comment upon this post.  Maybe.

There should be a lifelong learning step that reads:  BE UNAFRAID TO TAKE THE PLUNGE.  You will make mistakes.

OK … so as a lifelong learner, I am most willing to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY OWN LEARNING.  After all, I am not in a standard classroom, nor am I being graded, nor is anyone checking over myshoulders as Icheck off the “things” completed.  I am grateful that there is a support group here at ‘Iolani that can help me stumble through the technology frustrations, encourage me to try new tools in the classroom, and keep me on the straight path to Thing 23.

I know that there will be times when I will lack CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF.  The older I get, the harder it gets to learn new things.

But I will keep the END IN MIND.  The goal is simple:  to learn about Web 2.0.  Nothing lofty.  Success will be in the journey, and the journey hopefully will open my mind to new possibilites.

 

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