In May this year, I was shown this video. It inspired me so much, and led me on the “Web 2.0″ part of my journey. I am eager to show it to the rest of the staff at my school this term in a hope to inspire another one or two like minded people.
Thanks to Roger Pryor for his gentle push and enthusiasm.
The video is by Mark Prensky and can be found in May viseosharing websites. It’s name is Pay Attention.
These holidays have led me down a path I was not expecting. Unexpected professional development has me understanding more than I thought I could about Web 2.0 and reinforced the absolute importenace of the integration of it into every single lesson I stand in.
As we go back to school for Term 3, I can’t help but wonder how to help other teachers to understand everything I have learnt. That blogging/pb wikis/IWB/sharepoint and podcasting are not difficult, just like getting used to a new textbook brought in by your faculty HT. I hesitate to ‘voice me opininon’, knowing that it will be returned with a “Once they get my portal/printer/school network working, then I might try it..”, or “How am I meant to do that when I don’t have access to a computer in my classroom?…”
I know you can’t demand, or force upon people a change in their pedagogical ideals, but I am beginning to really think that we are doing our students a disservice if we do not integrate some part of Web 2.0 into our daily work.
I guess it comes down to being a leader and leading through example, showing the results, using student voice, and chipping away at those who show a flash of interest.
I take a big deep breath, focus on the path ahead, and go forward.
A great link about using student voice to help staff understand the need for technology in teaching.
http://www.edutopia.org/ikid-digital-learner-technology-2008
Very though provoking………again……….
An idea more for myself really but I am going to try developing a blog for reporting and discussiong bullying inside my school………
Need stand alone blog, and students need to be able to add information….
On blog add information on Cyber Bullying and links to reach out! etc websites….
In my world, teaching Japanese is not about temples and kimonos, it is about teaching students to tolerate difference and similarities in cultures across the world, while integrating the skills that allow them to communicate across the 2 languages of English and Japanese.
My Stage 4 classroom teaches about Pop Culture, and continually maskes students ask “Am I really that different to Japanese teenager?”, do we like the same things, do we have the same challenges? By the end of the year, students are de-mystified, and show a real understanding of cross-cultural communication.
Of course, when teaching about things such as Japanese fashion, Manga, Anime, Fast Food, Pop Music and Theme Parks, you really do need to integrate technology into you teaching. There is no point in teaching about a modern culture with chalk and a hand-out. I love to use live internet in Japanese, show Japanese TV, play Japanese Pop videos and trhow a few online Manga into my teaching programs.
In this section of my blog I hope to show the different websites, and activities I use.
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