Comments on: Are nifty websites the future of education? http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/03/12/are-nifty-websites-the-future-of-education/ A web site by Joshua Sowin that addresses culture, books, technology, ecology, religion, and other topics. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:53:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Steve Hargadon http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/03/12/are-nifty-websites-the-future-of-education/#comment-66260 Steve Hargadon Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:44:29 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/03/12/are-nifty-websites-the-future-of-education/#comment-66260 Joshua: Your points are well-taken. However, I think my post communicated something that I didn't intend: that I'm talking about the current tools of Web 2.0 as a solution to education. What I want to communicate is that what we are calling Web 2.0, or the framework of the Internet which has extended the democratizing of publishing and expanded the ability for dialog, will be essential both for changing our perceptions of education and for addressing those changes. It's something I'm still trying to wrap my head around. Classroom 2.0, the social network you've quoted from, is an example of how teachers can now network with each other in ways that weren't really possible before. Whether the discussion is on collaborative tools in the classroom, or specific aspects of teaching 4th-grade US history, these tools allow and facilitate connections and dialog that will impact students and teachers. A student interested in something esoteric will now be able to study it, find others interested in the same thing, and potentially participate in the creation of knowledge in that area. The particular discussion that you saw may not represent your highest ideal for this dialog, but that doesn't mean there aren't other conversations of great value. Hope this helps the discussion. Since I hate how hard it is to follow conversations on blogs (Blogger now has a great feature allowing you to ask to be emailed any follow-ups), you may have to consider this a "drive-by" response and ping me if more takes place here that I can respond to--which I'd be glad to. I'm at steve@hargadon.com. Cheers. Joshua:

Your points are well-taken. However, I think my post communicated something that I didn’t intend: that I’m talking about the current tools of Web 2.0 as a solution to education.

What I want to communicate is that what we are calling Web 2.0, or the framework of the Internet which has extended the democratizing of publishing and expanded the ability for dialog, will be essential both for changing our perceptions of education and for addressing those changes.

It’s something I’m still trying to wrap my head around.

Classroom 2.0, the social network you’ve quoted from, is an example of how teachers can now network with each other in ways that weren’t really possible before. Whether the discussion is on collaborative tools in the classroom, or specific aspects of teaching 4th-grade US history, these tools allow and facilitate connections and dialog that will impact students and teachers. A student interested in something esoteric will now be able to study it, find others interested in the same thing, and potentially participate in the creation of knowledge in that area.

The particular discussion that you saw may not represent your highest ideal for this dialog, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other conversations of great value.

Hope this helps the discussion. Since I hate how hard it is to follow conversations on blogs (Blogger now has a great feature allowing you to ask to be emailed any follow-ups), you may have to consider this a “drive-by” response and ping me if more takes place here that I can respond to–which I’d be glad to. I’m at steve@hargadon.com.

Cheers.

]]> By: Laurel-Anne http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/03/12/are-nifty-websites-the-future-of-education/#comment-66093 Laurel-Anne Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:50:52 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/03/12/are-nifty-websites-the-future-of-education/#comment-66093 You might enjoy Ted Oppenheimer's book "The Flickering Mind: Saving Education from the False Promise of Technology". You might enjoy Ted Oppenheimer’s book “The Flickering Mind: Saving Education from the False Promise of Technology”.

]]> By: Josh Sowin http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/03/12/are-nifty-websites-the-future-of-education/#comment-66084 Josh Sowin Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:45:49 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/03/12/are-nifty-websites-the-future-of-education/#comment-66084 Hi Allison, I agree students should have web skills. But from what I've seen, most students know how to use the web much better than their teachers! It's like teaching the kids to use a television or remote control. They've grown up with it. Josh Hi Allison,

I agree students should have web skills. But from what I’ve seen, most students know how to use the web much better than their teachers! It’s like teaching the kids to use a television or remote control. They’ve grown up with it.

Josh

]]> By: Allison from Pageflakes http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/03/12/are-nifty-websites-the-future-of-education/#comment-66082 Allison from Pageflakes Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:27:03 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2008/03/12/are-nifty-websites-the-future-of-education/#comment-66082 It is essential for students to use the web in the classroom, due to the fast-paced environments and constant developments in web on college campuses and in the working world. Students would be very behind when reaching the college campus without having extensive web and computer background. It is, however, another thing, to be using the web instead of teaching students proper communication and writing skills. There isn't anything more unnerving when a co-worker is lacking communication skills- especially in meetings or discussions. It's as though they have been emailing and texting their classmates and teachers back and forth opposed to having a face-to-face discussion. Web tools need and should be used in the classroom. It shouldn't take away from the learning experience, just enhance it! It is essential for students to use the web in the classroom, due to the fast-paced environments and constant developments in web on college campuses and in the working world. Students would be very behind when reaching the college campus without having extensive web and computer background. It is, however, another thing, to be using the web instead of teaching students proper communication and writing skills. There isn’t anything more unnerving when a co-worker is lacking communication skills- especially in meetings or discussions. It’s as though they have been emailing and texting their classmates and teachers back and forth opposed to having a face-to-face discussion.

Web tools need and should be used in the classroom. It shouldn’t take away from the learning experience, just enhance it!

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