Web 2.0 New Tools New Schools Chapter 9

New Schools Chapter 9 wow we aren't kidding when we say that things are changing so fast, what is here today may be gone tomorrow. I have trouble seeing the vision presented in this chapter. I can see the positive impacts of utilizing Web 2.0 tools in the classroom to help bridge the gap in the students learning styles. Trying to use the same tools in the classroom that students use at home on a daily basis trying to utilize social networking in an educational setting.
This concept of "harnessing the collective intelligence of educational data" Solomon pg 178, is a good one and many of these tools could assist teachers and students to create educational tracks that would meet their needs. Web-based software used to provide feedback and suggest direction and resources based on what has worked with other students does make sense.
David Warlick vision of a middle school using blogs where they write everything from homework assignments to reflections on course topics posted each Monday, with the principal posting week at a glance and the district administrator viewing and posting as well. Students utilizing team wikis to communicate and post their work all seems like a good vision but logistics need some work.
Using open source software provides lots of opportunities and challenges but it seems like a viable option for many teachers to enhance their classrooms. Utilizing wikis for collaborative classroom writing provides another tool for teachers and students to communicate quickly and effectively and provide immediate feedback.
The idea of open-source educational applications is interesting, Bob Tinkier (2006) believes that we can change the paradigm used for software development to open-source. If this is going to work these applications need to be embedded in an educational platform that can deliver complete learning activities online and then assess student progress as the students work through these activities. With teachers and educators able to adjust the curriculum and customize activities and assessments. I don't know how this would work as an open-source broad based community application but it is interesting to think about. Having students work on projects that interest them and are available to other students and parents and teachers to view presents other interesting applications.
I think the weakness with all of the web 2.0 applications is the majority of our teachers fear technology and the loss of control of their direction of the education. We must continue to educated and train and communicate with each other to provide assistance to teachers technology needs. Another problem is access to the computer to be able to complete the assigned online work. Many students lack internet access at home or even a computer. Schools are also limited with computer access an availability for classroom use. I see this as a major obstacle in implementing more use of the web 2.0 tools in the classroom.
To increase the use of Web 2.0 in the classroom, communication is key here to communicate what works and what doesn't, share good lessons and good techniques and practices. Continue to move forward and help each other along the way.