Well, it's hard to believe that we've come to the end of formal posts to our blogs.
Several of us taking the Learning and Teaching with Web 2.0 Tool class have been posting each week as we explored the various content. In this class we answered questions such as "What is the Read/Write web?" We explored blogs, finding and organizing information on the web, wikis, podcasting, videostreaming, and came up with strategies for student safety while using these emerging resources.
This week our goal is to come up with a plan on how we continue using this blog beyond today. Well...at this time I don't have any plan other than to continue to explore these online opportunities and look for ways they support the curriculum.
I firmly believe that all technology integration is not an end unto itself. In order to be most effective, any technology application has to be the right tool for the right project. At this moment, I'm not sure where any of this fits well. I have glimmers. I'm willing to take chances. But I know patience may be the best thing...as it is important with all good change.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
This past week we spent time listening to various podcasts highlighted in this session of Learning and Teaching with Web 2.0 Tools.
I was particularly intrigued by the Conference presentations on Edupodder.com and how Steve Sloan used podcasts to record his Journalism coursework. Great potential here from an instructor perspective.
One question I do have...who"owns" this information? Does the University?
Podcasting may be one of the easiest web 2.0 tools to use. Coming from a k-12 environment, I especially like that students can create podcasts without revealing too much about themselves.
From another link, David Warlick is certainly a recognizable name. His Education Podcast Network offers an interesting selection of choices across the k-12 curriculum. It would be a good place for teachers just learning about how to integrate this technology to get ideas.
Enough for one night...
jane
I was particularly intrigued by the Conference presentations on Edupodder.com and how Steve Sloan used podcasts to record his Journalism coursework. Great potential here from an instructor perspective.
One question I do have...who"owns" this information? Does the University?
Podcasting may be one of the easiest web 2.0 tools to use. Coming from a k-12 environment, I especially like that students can create podcasts without revealing too much about themselves.
From another link, David Warlick is certainly a recognizable name. His Education Podcast Network offers an interesting selection of choices across the k-12 curriculum. It would be a good place for teachers just learning about how to integrate this technology to get ideas.
Enough for one night...
jane
Validity of Wikis...
There has been a lot of recent debate on the validity of articles and content posted in Wikipedia and Wikibooks. After exploring some of these educational wiki projects, reflect in your blog about the benefits and challenges of using this technology with students.
As I've said before, the curriculum needs to set the purpose for integrating technology. To me a wiki has the potential to be a powerful teaching tool, but it must be used effectively.
We had an interesting conversation in the library yesterday. A group of high school seniors were working on a project. One young lady commented that she didn't care...she loved Wikipedia. Another student agreed. They have people who watch the comments, so the information must be accurate...right? I couldn't help overhearing the conversation and decided to add my two cents.
She opened an entry for me and we took a moment to at the link to the most recent changes. While previewing the list of changes, many were simple grammar. Could this be the work of the one of the people who watch comments? Possibly.
It is entirely possible that the information my student found on Wikipedia was accurate. But if she were going to use the information she found either as a direct quote or as a paraphrase in a research paper, the question becomes would that site still reflect the original intention the next time we visit. Possibly not.
I am not opposed to Wikipedia. I have cited the source myself when writing a paper about a technology application that hadn't "hit the print books yet". There is definitely a welcome place for this kind of dynamic information sharing.
What I would rather suggest is to offer this as part of a balanced opportunity for students to learn from.
I think if students were given the opportunity to contribute to their own wiki...it might provide the exact type of teaching opportunity to learn how the contributions of many can lead to great things, but also that sometimes one rotten apple...
Just my thought...jane
As I've said before, the curriculum needs to set the purpose for integrating technology. To me a wiki has the potential to be a powerful teaching tool, but it must be used effectively.
We had an interesting conversation in the library yesterday. A group of high school seniors were working on a project. One young lady commented that she didn't care...she loved Wikipedia. Another student agreed. They have people who watch the comments, so the information must be accurate...right? I couldn't help overhearing the conversation and decided to add my two cents.
She opened an entry for me and we took a moment to at the link to the most recent changes. While previewing the list of changes, many were simple grammar. Could this be the work of the one of the people who watch comments? Possibly.
It is entirely possible that the information my student found on Wikipedia was accurate. But if she were going to use the information she found either as a direct quote or as a paraphrase in a research paper, the question becomes would that site still reflect the original intention the next time we visit. Possibly not.
I am not opposed to Wikipedia. I have cited the source myself when writing a paper about a technology application that hadn't "hit the print books yet". There is definitely a welcome place for this kind of dynamic information sharing.
What I would rather suggest is to offer this as part of a balanced opportunity for students to learn from.
I think if students were given the opportunity to contribute to their own wiki...it might provide the exact type of teaching opportunity to learn how the contributions of many can lead to great things, but also that sometimes one rotten apple...
Just my thought...jane
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