Light, D. (2011). Do web 2.0 right. Learning and Leading, 38(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-february-march-2011.aspx
Daniel Light is an expert on Web 2.0 and has gone around the country to observe how teachers are using Web 2.0 in classrooms. Many classrooms have different experiences with Web 2.0 activities, but the general knowledge is that most teachers have found a way to appropriately incorporate Web 2.0 into their classrooms. Daniel has come to find three seperate topics that demonstrate how teachers use effective communication with Web 2.0.
The first topic that Daniel has seperated is the daily practice of Web 2.0. Some classes only use blogging and other Web 2.0 as "special projects" while others have instituted blogging as a daily practice. Communication through these daily blogs are very effective because children are using them daily. Through these daily blogs, two seperate blogs have come about. Classroom blogs where children get to interact with their peers or their teacher, and individual blogs that are monitored and sometimes blocked from public view. The most successful form of blogging was the individual blog because it is only accessable between the student and the teacher. Without being in the public spotlight, students are more comfortable to express how they really feel.
Carefully understanding the audience is another key aspect for Web 2.0 activities. Students are often nervous about posting on a public blog website. Athough it may be linked to the class, outsiders often have access to view and post if they want as well. Teachers need to be consciencous of this to monitor through unwanted postings or comments. This is needed to ensure student safety.
The last important topic to use Web 2.0 effectively is to teach and enforce appropriate behavior. This is needed to ensure that students are not insulting eachother or web bullying. Students are taught to effectively give critical feedback to their peers through commenting on eachothers blogs. Web 2.0, if used correctly, offers a different type of community for classrooms and students. It is important in a community to behave properly in order to have it function accordingly.
Web 2.0 offers a virtual community as opposed to the typical classroom community. Web 2.0 allows students to get more engaged into a classroom through virtual attendance. Students are often more attracted to virtual assignments on blogging because they are able to use the same computer to look up pictures, data, etc. The computer provides a new fresh way of learning that allows for some differentiation in the classroom. Daniel Light supports and is an advocate for Web 2.0 as long as it is used correctly. Following the three guidelines, Web 2.0 can be a pleasureable learning tool for teachers and students.
Article Questions:
1. How do teachers properly monitor individual student blogs?
Individual student blogs are in control of the student. As much as the teacher can obtain information and contact the student through their blog, they are completely in control of what is posted. In order to monitor the student blogs, teachers can actually make each student their blog and create the password needed to log in to the blog itself. This way, if a student is not posting proper comments, the teacher can access their account and delete the post. As much as this may cause some trust issues with the students, monitoring is needed.
2. What amount of time should be dedicated to blogging and how much time should be dedicated to regular class work?
Many teachers may face this dilemna on how to prioritize time and make sure that state standards and schedules are adequately being followed. The truth is, in my opinion, there should not be a huge amount of stress on what time should be assigned to both aspects of class. Some classrooms have gone 100 percent virtual and even classroom homework assignments are submitted online. Classrooms can easily implement Web 2.0 into their classroom as children need to learn and understand technology. Using Web 2.0 allows for children to not only complete their required classwork assignments, but it allows them to learn more about technology.
3. How should we accomodate teachers who never had the experience to take a technology class or learn about technology? Should it be required?
With technology booming and taking over much of everything, technology is needed to adequately survive and live in today's society. While many people have denied technology and tried to live without it, it is getting harder and harder to avoid. Teachers should be required to take a technology class to ensure that their students are being taught to the best of their ability. As money is sometimes an issue, schools should offer teachers technology classes. Some teachers who are older never got the chance or were required to take any technology class when they were in college, so they should be given a fair opportunity to learn as well.
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