I have been thinking of what to write about the different uses of web 2.0 in schools.
To begin with I started to think of how it could be used to comunicate with pupils outside of school.
Homework can be posted online as a reminder or as a way of giving it out without pupils having hundreds of peices of paper. This would also mean a parent note could be put on the homework to help parents with what their children should be doing. The pupils could also be able to write up any problems they are having and for the teacher to respond quickly.
Pupils could also have school, year or class forums where they pupils are able to discuss the work they are doing and any difficulties between them which will also help to consolodate learning.
Many adults will worry in online discussions such as this that there will be some misuse. Online bullying or it being used for other conversations may happen. However I believe that if the pupils are taught to use the internet properlly and taught about classroom respect stretching into only discussions like this that there would not be problems using this kind of technology.
During the school day the possibilities when using web 2.0 technology are endless. I like the ideas of using blogs such as this one especially with other KS2 pupils. The can write about what they have been learning, anything that has particulally interested them or information which they can bring to a topic they are studying. This is not only a way to inform those outside and inside of school what the pupils are doing, it can also help to consolodate learning. By telling other people what they have learnt the pupils are recalling and using that information. Teachers can use it to check there are no misconceptions or gaps in the learning and parents will be able to use it to help engage themselves in their childrens learning.
There are so many more possibilities to use web 2.0 in schools, but like Connor has said in his blog it is up to the teacher to feel confident and teaching the pupils how to use this new technology to aid their education. Teachers must not feel afraid of everything new, we should be trying to find ways to use it.
There are many good websites with information and resources about web 2.0. these are a few i liked:
http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=tl&catcode=ss_tl_dig_02&rid=15903
http://www.stevehargadon.com/2008/03/web-20-is-future-of-education.html
http://www.web20atschool.net/
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I think a lot of children are using this technology at home anyway so it should be introduced into the school. There are some set backs and bugs to be sorted out but there always is with ICT, software and hardware fail, but the more advancements the better the technology. School is a place for learning, by not using this technology we are stopping children learning about their world. Bring in some safety precautions, bring the teachers up to date and let's get those kids building the internet world.
ReplyDeleteMR B
I agree with Thom, the world that children live in today is an ICT one and ICt is going to have more of a focus as we go on so we need to let children use it.
ReplyDeleteMy sister has her homework online now in her secondary school and it is a great way to make sure that children do not lose it or their dog has eaten it etc. I think that if schools have something set up as hers do to provide those children who do not have access to the internet at home it can be great. The computer rooms are open at lunch time and after school for children to access their homework.
It is getting children used to the fact that the world they will be working in will be computer based and this is a simple way to get them started.