[LM_NET] GEN: Web 2.0 discussion

[Deborah Stafford <deborah.stafford@T-ONLINE.DE>]

I am posting in response to this set of quotes.

Laura Brooks wrote:

>Perhaps, we need to remind our administrators of tech standards; in MI,
>fifth graders are expected to know blogging and soon, we'll be testing
>them on their tech skills.

Toni Buzzeo wrote.
I'm fascinated!  How many of you have technology standards that reflect
expectations about Web 2.0 skills?  Anyone else seeing them tested?

Like Literacy, here's another educational focus/movement we must be a part
of--or be left behind!

My thoughts;

This distresses me. I am afraid that once again we are making technology the
point not the tool. Why should 5th graders be required to know blogging as
the "standard"? The skills incorporated in a good literature discussion,
online or not, would be one thing, but to say they should know blogging?

My district used to have a set of standards for library, called the Apple
book, done in the mid 80s. The guide outlined my grade level skills such as;
making a transparency, making a felt board, using the card catalog. Some
were good transferable skills but many were focused on a form of technology
that dies LONG before the standards book died.

Last summer I helped facilitate a class on web 2.0 applications and we are
hoping to repeat the class this March. So far, my district has not blocked
all the blogs, wikis, podcasts and have allowed teachers to use the tools.
(Social networking is another story). But the focus should be on how web 2.0
helps teachers teach the content standards not on making web 2.0 tools the
standard itself.

Off my soapbox now.

Deborah Stafford
Gen. H.H. Arnold High School
Wiesbaden, Germany
deborah.stafford@t-online.de

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