Thing #5

Most of the articles I read in regard to this post were very interesting. I agree that students today are far more tech savvy than my generation and educators must find a way to include this resource in the classroom. Last year when I was subbing in a kindergarten class, I found it startling that many students could not write their name at the beginning of the year, but they knew how to work the mouse and use the computer! Even when putting their lunch number in the keypad, many student would pick it up and use both thumbs to type in their number instead of one finger at a time, as though they were playing a video game.

To me, School 2.0 means a new way for students to learn and a new way for teachers to teach! We previously posted about life long learners and the web has been a part of that learning for me. Using technology in the classroom may seem as different to some as when schools went from chalkboard tablets to paper and pencil, but a large part of educating our students is to help them compete in the global economy and using technology to do that would seem like a no brainer! Instead of buying expensive texts that become outdated frequently, schools should consider investing in Kindles. No student would then need to carry heavy textbooks home each evening for homework. Also, for high school students, investing in laptops for school use. Maybe used laptops could be recycled for use if parents could not afford to purchase them (at a discount through the school system) or scholarships awarded. Wouldn't it be wonderful if then upon completion of school and graduation, a new laptop was given to every student heading off to college? Or a scholarship toward the purchase of a laptop if your university requires a particular laptop of software.

In the article Minds on Fire: Open Education, the Long Tail, and Learning 2.0, information about how DVD's were used in places like India and rural communities to improve education really touched me. I believe it is every child's right to receive an education and where you live or your social economic status, should not dictate what education you will receive. Yes, I understand about the cost of education, etc. but if our country considers education to be important, than proper funding needs to happen and soon. It is not the fault of a child that he/she was born in the hills of Appalachia in poverty. They are entitled to what a child in a wealthy suburb receives for education. I do not have all the answers (or any really!), but maybe technology and School 2.0 can help offset some of the discrepancies.

My concern is making sure that our students are kept safe when working on line. While much progress has been made in that regard, there is more to do. Students need to understand the enormity of the web and the responsibility that comes with using it. Another concern I have is for those taking online courses, how do you know it is really that person doing the work? Are these just chances we have to take or is there a way to deal with these issues?