Over the last semester I have had a real opportunity to explore many of the Web 2.0 tools that are available for use in the classroom. Although I have always felt like I was ahead of the game in terms of technology for my school, I found that there were so many more things I could be pulling in for either my own classes or for colleagues.
One of the main goals I have set for myself as a result of this particular course is to create a way to expose more of my fellow teachers to the different Web 2.0 tools that are out there. I was inspired by the class Padlet that was created for us to each list one Web 2.0 tool that we enjoy using. As teachers we all come to the table with something different and Padlet serves as a great tool to house this information that can be accessed at any time. Most teachers I know would be able to pick one tool that they use with their students and give a brief description of what it is and how it can be used. I find that as a teacher leader with technology that one of the things that teachers are most afraid of is change. They are reluctant to try something out because they don’t know what it is or what it could be used for. By providing just that simple information and asking teachers to just explore one tool every few weeks or once a month I think the confidence and curiosity would be boosted tremendously.
As a teacher in the classroom I am working to incorporate more technology that is learner-centered. Many of the tools I have used in the past have been teacher-centered or directed and I want to make a shift in the other direction. The usage of Web 2.0 tools such as Padlet and Wikispaces has opened my eyes to the possibilities of collaboration and communication that can take place and really bring the classroom walls down for all students. The more I have my students using these tools the more I am aware of the need for a strong foundation in digital citizenship. I am currently working with my teammates to create a digital citizenship unit that we will focus on at the beginning to the next school year. I am anxious to see how that upfront knowledge will alter the products that are turned in throughout the year.
One of the main goals I have set for myself as a result of this particular course is to create a way to expose more of my fellow teachers to the different Web 2.0 tools that are out there. I was inspired by the class Padlet that was created for us to each list one Web 2.0 tool that we enjoy using. As teachers we all come to the table with something different and Padlet serves as a great tool to house this information that can be accessed at any time. Most teachers I know would be able to pick one tool that they use with their students and give a brief description of what it is and how it can be used. I find that as a teacher leader with technology that one of the things that teachers are most afraid of is change. They are reluctant to try something out because they don’t know what it is or what it could be used for. By providing just that simple information and asking teachers to just explore one tool every few weeks or once a month I think the confidence and curiosity would be boosted tremendously.
As a teacher in the classroom I am working to incorporate more technology that is learner-centered. Many of the tools I have used in the past have been teacher-centered or directed and I want to make a shift in the other direction. The usage of Web 2.0 tools such as Padlet and Wikispaces has opened my eyes to the possibilities of collaboration and communication that can take place and really bring the classroom walls down for all students. The more I have my students using these tools the more I am aware of the need for a strong foundation in digital citizenship. I am currently working with my teammates to create a digital citizenship unit that we will focus on at the beginning to the next school year. I am anxious to see how that upfront knowledge will alter the products that are turned in throughout the year.