Welcome to my first post on this all-new blog. I’m excited that you’re here reading this and hope you’ll check back often.
I am an elementary school Teacher-Librarian who has developed a fascination (and perhaps a slight addiction) to Web 2.0 tools over the course of my wonderful Masters degree program through the University of Alberta. Web 2.0 tools are a terrific way of infusing technology into our teaching practice in a practical, engaging way that can help motivate students to learn. My final capping project for my degree will focus on how the use of these tools can hook reluctant-reader male students into participating in literacy activities. I truly believe they can. That being said, however, I see the benefits of integrating them into lessons with ALL of our students, in every subject area across the curriculum.
We need to consider that most of our current elementary students have been using computers for most of their lives – for some since they were still in diapers. They use technology as part of their everyday life for entertainment, information and communication. Media/technology guru Doug Johnson says it well when describing his own son: “The computer to him is about as remarkable as indoor plumbing is to me. He is constantly “connected” via iPod, cell phone, keyboard, digital videocamera, or game controller”. As educators, we need to recognize that students want – probably even need – to be using these tools as part of their learning at school. They need to be integrated into the curriculum in a meaningful way – not just using technology for the sake of using technology, but as powerful tools which can transform learning, driven by good pedagogy. If you don’t want to take my word for it, please watch this fabulous podcast/presentation by Doug Johnson from the 2007 NECC conference in Atlanta, Georgia. It is wonderful and speaks volumes!
My hope is to use this blog to introduce interested readers to some of the fabulous Web 2.0 tools which I have come across, and tell you about some of the ways in which I envision them being used effectively in classrooms. I encourage you to try them with your students, and reply to me through this blog to let me know how they worked. Share your lesson ideas, successes, frustrations, and excitement! We’re all life-long learners here!
Tags: Doug Johnson, education, integration, teaching, technology, web 2.0
Entries (RSS)
February 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Looks great, Tracy. I will try to participate and learn. This might be as good as taking a course. My first dumb question, but how do I describe the differences between commenting on a blog as opposed to facebook and similar products? In educational language – what are the defining/overlapping features of the many similar communication tools like this? Cheers, Marilyn
February 20th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Thanks for checking the blog out Marilyn! As a teacher you know that there are no dumb questions, so ask away…
Facebook and other tools that are similar (My Space, etc.) are called Social Networking tools. There are other types of online communication known as Forums, which would be similar to the Moodle discussions we started up for teacher-librarians last year. I found a great description of the differences between blogs, social networking, and forums on another blog: http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2008/01/28/understanding-the-difference-between-forums-blogs-and-social-networks/ He explains it so well that I won’t try to add my two bits.
My next blog post will be on blogging basics, as I know many people who I’ve asked to check out my new blog are not quite sure what a blog is or how they work. Stay tuned….
February 20th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I like it Tracy. I’m working at adding new things all the time. Check out clustrmaps. It’s really cool! Thanks for all the helpful links!
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Great name! This is always difficult, finding a catchy name for your blog. How did you come up with your blog name? Thanks Tracy for being such a wonderful inspiration to educators; this will be my new stop for good educational information. Andrea
February 28th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
You constantly amaze me with your new technological findings. I am sure that you will be excited to complete your Masters and what a super last course. When you are finished you will have an entire repetoire of Web 2.0 tools and you are helping the rest of us as you go! Thanks.
Jodene
February 28th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Hi again, I think I made an error in putting in the website. Hopefully I have done it correctly now. Jodene
February 29th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Thanks for the info. Jeremiah Owyang’s analagies are very clear and are in layperson’s English. Cheers, M
April 11th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Hi Tracy, It was lots of fun at the Mentorship dinner and at our blogging session. Thank you for giving of your time and expertise to help the rest of us get a better handle on these new technological tools.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I am glad to visit your website. Thank you for welcoming us. I am sure to visit your blog for new post.