If you attended my “Social Networking for the Blissfully Unaware” presentation at NETA April 24, 2008… you are in the right place! Just check out the PAGES section for the “Blissfully Unaware” links and resources.
Also, I’ll be adding the “Tips for Parents” page soon! Come back and visit me again… leave a comment if you wish! I’d love to hear from you.
A not so recent, yet interesting article about social networks– if you’re not sure which one is for you, you might read Jim Louderback’s impressions of MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc.:
“…In fact, social networks are just like posh nightclubs, swanky lounges, and dive bars. But how can you tell what’s real? Here’s my guide to the best—and worst—of today’s social networks…”
A question was posted regarding how the home-to-school connection (I also like calling this “teacher-to-home communication”) is coming along with new technologies and schools. Talk about a “rock and a hard place.”
I think there are a few factors that make the seemingly simple act of communicating through Web 2.0 more difficult than we would like to think.
1) TIME- yes, teachers in a lot of school systems have access to their own teacher web pages (or at least a building web page). However, how much time and money has been allotted to teaching the teachers how to use those pages? For some, this won’t be that big of an issue. For others, this is a very, very steep learning curve.
Also, it takes time to populate that web page, even when it’s a template-based system. If I want to make sure students can see a copy of the assignments we did in class, whether the student was absent or just misplaced the assignment, that will take time for me to add to the web page. Teachers already have minimal planning time for instruction. When do they find the time to add to their web pages? And what about Wikis? Blogs? Photo-sharing sites? TeacherTube?
2) INTERNET SAFETY- like it or not, it’s a federal requirement that schools keep kids safe . In some districts, that means blocking most of what we consider Web 2.0 tools. Our district blocks a lot of blogs, wikis, and photo-sharing sites because they aren’t regulated or moderated. My personal opinion, which I’ve posted many times, is that we can’t teach kids to use the internet safely when we block everything, but federal funding speaks louder than those of us “trying to make a point.” Regardless of my opinion, the situation is some Web 2.0 tools simply aren’t available in public schools.
3) USE by Parents & Students- if a teacher communicates through Web 2.0 tools ( for this example, let’s assume the teacher uses a wiki published on the web), will the students use it? Will the parents use it? Maybe a better question is: will the parents and/or students who need this communication MOST actually use it? There are so many factors here, it’s nearly impossible to know. Important questions to consider: do the families have internet access? if they do have access, will they check the wiki page every day? If they don’t have internet access, then what?
On top of all those issues, there is a HUGE divide between what some parents know and are able to do with Web 2.0… compared to what their kids know and are able to do. Web 2.0 education for the families is another need. Do parents and kids know they can add to a wiki? Or leave a comment on a blog post? Or comment on an instructional video on TeacherTube? Again, this is another learning curve that requires attention.
I don’t have any magic answers or solutions, but I do see some issues that we could begin to tackle. Dialogues need to occur amongst learning communities about how we should/could be communicating with Web 2.0.
Short side note: As a parent, I appreciate Web 2.0 as communication… and I use it. But a) I understand how to use it, b) I’m not blocked from using it, and c) I have access at home to it. How many of your students’ parents are like me?
When attempting to define “Web 2.0” for educators and administrators, I sometimes find myself coming up short. How does one define something so abstract? So huge? Is it important to define? YES. We can’t understand its importance to our students if we don’t know what it is.
Sharon Peters has a great definition: “How to describe Web 2.0 to Administrators“– it’s well worth reading!
I’m taking a break through December and will be back in January. In the meantime, see what Will Richardson has to say about media and civic education:
“…we have an opportunity right now to engage our students in meaningful participation around the causes they are most interested in. And this is especially apparent as we enter the long stretch to the November presidential elections here in the US (as well as the compelling causes ongoing around the world that students might undertake.)”
I’ve posted about this before on another blog… but it’s worth re-posting. As an educator, I want to always be empathetic to the needs of students (note, I didn’t state “always SYMPATHETIC.” There is a difference.), and part of being empathetic also requires a mutual respect.
Wondering how something as simple as a newspaper has evolved with Web 2.0? Check out David Warlick‘s comments and communication with a reporter regarding the wildfires in San Diego.
Online news (formerly newspapers) don’t just provide NEWS. They provide an area for up to the minute communication. Read on:
Well, here it is… over a month into the school year. There’s still so much to do and things to consider for technology and education.
One topic to mull over: what’s the best way for schools to teach kids about internet safety and responsibility?
The “Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act” was introduced in the Senate on January 4 of this year. It has only been referred to committee, so no further action has been taken. Depending upon which article/blog/journal you read, this “act” will either be more hard-nosed when it comes to internet blocking and monitoring in the schools… OR, it might be a slightly more relaxed version of previous legislation.
One of the requirements that may come about is mandatory internet safety classes for students in all schools receiving specific eRate funds (see this August article from eSchool News).
How do you feel about even stricter requirements imposed on web blocking in schools and public libraries?
What kind of plan could be implemented in schools now that could help kids learn more about internet safety?
So long, 2006-2007!
The 2006-2007 school year has come to an end. Over the summer, while students are taking their well-needed break, what do you think they’ll be learning? My guess is that those with access to the internet are going to be spending a lot of time on their social networking sites, blogs, instant messaging, podcasting, online gaming… and probably a few things I don’t even know about yet.
The point I continue to make in nearly every post is that we, as educators, need to know what are students are doing and understand what draws them in to those activities. The students we’ll have returning to our classrooms again in the fall are digital natives. We need to teach them in their language (“digital”), and we can’t do that effectively if we live outside that world.
Spend some time this summer learning something new… maybe you’ll read an education blog, or subscribe to a podcast, or start your own MySpace(tm) page! Whatever it is, be sure to keep an open mind about your experience, and try to see the world through your students’ eyes. The digital experience isn’t going away any time soon, and our students will be expected to think, produce, evaluate, and be creative in a digital world. Will you be able to help them?
Have a great summer!
Alan November was the keynote this morning, and he talked a lot about Web 2.0. I’m thrilled to see that he is sharing much of the work we do in our Net Detective/Net Savvy and Digital Literacy in-service sessions! I learned a few new tips from Alan to add to our sessions as well.
My favorite part about both sessions I attended with Alan November is that he almost begs educators to be more open-minded about Web 2.0. Of course Wikipedia shouldn’t be the end-all-be-all for resources, but we shouldn’t discount the information it stores just because some “expert” hasn’t blessed it. He notes the “power of the collective” is something our students understand, but our teachers have yet to grasp. Most importantly, November notes that we need to teach our students to be responsible users of technology… we can’t just block them from everything. I wholeheartedly agree, but I think he may have been preaching to the choir at NETA. The majority of attendees feel the same way, but aren’t able to make much progress back at their schools.
If you want to know more about Alan November, check out his site… he’s over in the Blogroll, too.
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Another noteworthy session today was led by my good friend, Dan Schmit. Dan’s session was titled, “You Can Do That?!” Dan introduced a lot of fun, new technologies that are available via the web. Rather than recap it all here, I’ll just point you to his pbwiki page, You Can Do That?!— where he’s listed and briefly described everything he discussed in his session.
I’m off to more sessions… probably won’t post anymore about NETA 2007. I will say, though, that this has been one of the more enjoyable NETA conferences!