Too much commentary?

On my recent trip to Canada, I picked up a magazine called "WIRED," full of all kinds of techy information. This magazine was not geared towards an education audience, but it had many articles that were relevant. One article discussed commenting and rating systems online. The point of the article was that through all this commenting, and we slowly stripping away our own sense of self and opinion? Doesn't reading someone's opinion already start to sway and form your own? A fascinating article!

The Road to H-E-double hockey sticks is paved with,,,,

ideas like these! Ugh!  I am amazed that now web 2.0 tools that allow educators to engage students in academic studies are being made illegal because they are viewed as tools that allow predatory teachers to victimize students.  People, and I don't call them teachers, who do this are sick, need help, and certainly have no place in the realm of education... but I digress!  Why is the solution to take away potent tools and resources from teachers who are "teaching them well" or stripping the shy student of tools that enable them to interact with adults in an easier manner?  I think Missouri needs to take a second glance at these tools being used appropriately before they put the kabosh to the lot of them!

... but first,

I am finding myself agreeing more and more with the modern concept of learning through collaboration. However, there is one point in particular that keeps me from jumping in with both feet: I have an awful big curriculum and only 183 days to get my students to be proficient in it.

I believe teachers can speed up the learning that goes on in collaborative efforts by focusing on the entry level skills which are necessary for collaborative success. Foremost, teachers must teach listening skills, as well as, polite ways to ask for someone to clarify what he/she means.

I'm sure there are other requisite skills, but I'm also sure that the ones mentioned here are essential for time-effective collaboration.

PS. As a reader of this post, do you have the skill to ask politely for clarification if you do not understand what I am trying to express?

TOOT

TOOT = there's only one tool.

You know that at the onset of this the Web 2.0 course it was overwhelming to think of how to use so many tools to improve instruction.

As we are wrapping up the course, however, I don't feel overwhelmed. This sure isn't because I have mastered all of the web 2.0 applications. It is because I see that there is only one tool I need to concentrate on and master. That tool is called collaborate-create-share. I'm serious. By mastering this tool, I am 100% convinced that my end results will be worthwhile.

Now, of course, we have learned that there are about a million ways to apply this tool, but understanding the tool makes it a lot easier to choose what to apply it with.

Isn't summer over, yet.

Twit and Shout

First let me begin by saying... by golly gee wiz, Twitter is addictive!  I am learning so many new things from so many new people! Every teacher should be taking advantage of the wealth of knowledge that is a click away on Twitter.  I highly recommend joining in on some of the scheduled chats as well. I prefer #edchat on Tuesdays.  I also feel it's noteworthy to mention all the great sites for photo-editing.  I am learning about Adobe Photoshop in my Media Design class and I have found super, fun, and affordable tools through the web 2.0 class that do the same or close to the same job for a whole lot less coinage!  I really enjoyed playing with BeFunky, Picassa, and Flickr.  However I think the grand prize went too Pixlr, because it mirrors Adobe to a T and did I mention it FREE!?!

Google Galore and Other Terrific Tools

I really enjoyed learning more about GoogleEarth and how to arrange the tours.  The only thing I'd like to learn more about is narrating the tours.  I would like to explore that idea in the future.  I think that would allow me to have the students participate in some self guided tours.
I feel really confident with Storybird and would be more than willing to help anyone who wanted to create a classroom account and get up and running with it.  My students LOVE storybird.
I was also intrigued by scribblemaps and have embedded an example of one in my wiki for class.

Blogs Wikis, Podcasts ~ Thoughts

As I reviewed the posts to our discussion about Will Richardson's book and look forward to our Skype session with him on Wed. I thought I'd review your posts and begin a list of questions and thoughts that your posts elicited.
~ How does blogging work with very young students? Ideas for getting young students to blog would be helpful.
~ Class Recorder - Could the notes be a form of blogging? A daily class posting of big ideas?
~ Quality over quantity for blogging - start small - but start and continue till you feel comfortable using the tool daily.
~ Updating all online content ~ It is only as good as the last post. People will return and look for new materials. If none are found ~ you will lose your audience.
~ If more of us posted and uploaded content as teachers ~ Don't you think parents and concerned guardians would be more likely to get involved? We must advertise our work and find ways of propagating what our students are doing!
~ RSS - To me is one of the most underused tools out there. BE creative, BE innovative, BE authentic and find ways to use RSS to gain back the one thing many claim technology takes away! (TIME!) *Would this work for your class: Have all the students blog about the big idea of the day and then you (the teacher) RSS all of there blogs so you can look in one place for all the responses.
~ Twitter: For me, this is the KILLER app that is least used (appropriately) - What more can I say than: Personal Learning Network: Follow the good ones, block inappropriate ones, and friends that post, "it's time to walk the dog" -- well, you decide. Use this in moderation -- it is like a drug of amazing stuff that you have to use as your schedule permits. On a personal note: I see Twitter more as a teacher resource than a student one. Could someone respond with ideas for appropriate instructional use?
~ DIIGO is the social web's most under used resource that could impact instruction and learning. How will you use it in your classroom?
~ Flicker and other image storing sites will become more accessible as tech directors become comfortable with how teachers use them with the instructional delivery of curriculum. We have to show them why and what we can do with these types of sites and in good faith, how could they continue to block them. Imagery as an instructional tool is vital.
~ Edmodo - Google+ - Ning - Facebook - Most important lesson I feel we are missing here is ethics and appropriate use of the tools. How do we get students to use them correctly if we don't model? What you post is ALWAYS going to be there - There are no ultimate DELETE buttons to remove it once you post it! How about a Parents BootCamp on Social Networking for every parent?

To sum up our learning: I have to agree with all the great posts and ideas!! Always keep in mind, what is good instruction, how do I best get students engaged, am I tying my instruction to the standards, using the best pedagogy and what I'm doing, does it have instructional value while engaging students and bringing them into a global learning environment prepared for life?

I felt your understanding of the book was right on the mark. Your posts reflect your understanding of Will's ideas and our conversation on Wed. should be enlightening.