Monday, October 15, 2007
Article Assessment #2
The Educators Guide to the Read/Write Web
Will Richardson
Overview
In this article, Will Richardson extensively maps out how the ever changing digital world is making its mark on the world, students, and the classroom. In the past, the internet was only a tool for researching the vast resources of the the world wide web. It was a tool for learning, and nothing more. However, it has become increasingly easy to publish, and add to the internet, regardless of age, wisdom, or internet savvy. This article also emphasizes the opportunity for teachers to use these new abilities to further the classroom experience. The Read/Write Web is challenging teachers to take another look at curriculum and what happens in the classroom. They are no longer content experts in their field, because true experts are just one click away. It is becoming the role of the teacher to serve as a "guide" to help the class best utilize this new technology.
Reference Points
This article spells out many new technologies in easy terms, and gives ideas as to how they can be put into practice. He explains how things are changing, and how teachers are taking a different look at all aspects of their jobs. From curriculum, to their role as experts, the internet and its capabilities offer new solutions to old problems. Much of it is exciting, such as actually publishing student work, as opposed to saving it in filing cabinets, or simply discarding it altogether. Of course, with this new freedom to publish, and communicate across the internet, safety is an issue. Teaching kids appropriate behaviors online is important as we enter this new digital age. Another downfall might be that even though most students are fluent in these terms and practices, it does not include everyone. I have helped numerous students with the very basics of computer competence this year already. These students are in the minority, but they must be accounted for.
I thought the article was interesting, and offered helpful explanations on how to implement such technology in the classroom. So often the internet is seen in schools as a technology beyond most teachers. Either that, or something so full of danger and filth, that it need not be accessed. Here, it seems obvious that resources are out there, and engaging formats for students abound.
Will Richardson
Overview
In this article, Will Richardson extensively maps out how the ever changing digital world is making its mark on the world, students, and the classroom. In the past, the internet was only a tool for researching the vast resources of the the world wide web. It was a tool for learning, and nothing more. However, it has become increasingly easy to publish, and add to the internet, regardless of age, wisdom, or internet savvy. This article also emphasizes the opportunity for teachers to use these new abilities to further the classroom experience. The Read/Write Web is challenging teachers to take another look at curriculum and what happens in the classroom. They are no longer content experts in their field, because true experts are just one click away. It is becoming the role of the teacher to serve as a "guide" to help the class best utilize this new technology.
Reference Points
- Weblogs have become as common as they have are easy to use. Anyone who can type can easily publish their writing on the web. Many people simply use blogs for online journals, but students and teachers are using them to teach reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. As well as to form an online community to interact and share with each other outside the classroom. Blogs can be used to communicate with experts or students outside the class, school, and even country.
- Wiki is the term used to reference a website that anyone can edit. There is nothing that can stop someone from posting incorrect information, but according to Richardson, the constant editing process has proved the integrity of the information at a high level of truth.
- RSS (really simple syndication) feeds send information to whoever requests it. Thus, eliminating the time spent searching for news, or current events on the web.
- Social bookmarking allows users to subscribe to the RSS feeds that other people subscribe to.
- Podcasting is a way to download audio recordings that are usually aired one time over the radio in order to listen to them at your leisure. Podcasts are not limited to radio broadcasters, though. Anyone can record something, turn it into a podcast, and others can have access to it whenever they would like it.
- Publishing has been made so simple that students and teachers alike can communicate with each other, the class, or world.
This article spells out many new technologies in easy terms, and gives ideas as to how they can be put into practice. He explains how things are changing, and how teachers are taking a different look at all aspects of their jobs. From curriculum, to their role as experts, the internet and its capabilities offer new solutions to old problems. Much of it is exciting, such as actually publishing student work, as opposed to saving it in filing cabinets, or simply discarding it altogether. Of course, with this new freedom to publish, and communicate across the internet, safety is an issue. Teaching kids appropriate behaviors online is important as we enter this new digital age. Another downfall might be that even though most students are fluent in these terms and practices, it does not include everyone. I have helped numerous students with the very basics of computer competence this year already. These students are in the minority, but they must be accounted for.
I thought the article was interesting, and offered helpful explanations on how to implement such technology in the classroom. So often the internet is seen in schools as a technology beyond most teachers. Either that, or something so full of danger and filth, that it need not be accessed. Here, it seems obvious that resources are out there, and engaging formats for students abound.
# posted by Timm : 7:38 PM
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