Education 2.0How New Media Is Changing Education

Education is changing

Global economy demands a highly skilled and educated work force

We have the ability to gather data on a greater scale, meaning a better ability to analyze what works and what does not

Students will be expected to interact in a multimedia, hyperlinked world

New Media Can’t:

Replace the student-teacher relationship

Replace good communication

Replace the social nature of a school setting

Solve every problem

What New Media CAN do

Make communication between students, teachers and parents more efficient

Make information available 24 x 7, often available by a mouse click

Make information independent of time and space

Makes Information more accessible (universal design)

New Media Can:

allow resources to be shared

access to supplemental instruction/remediation

meet the needs of varied learners (kinestetic, visual, audio, etc.)

New Media Is About Community

It’s all about sharing knowledge and communicating, but all good communication is a two way street

You have to not only listen, but hear what students are saying

You have to be willing to ask for and accept feedback

Let’s get Beyond “Oooh, Shiny!”

It’s Not About Toys

Computers are tools, just like pencils

You can use any tools for good purposes or for bad

We need to teach kids how to use tools responsibly

Tools for Sharing Information

Social Networks

Twitter

Ning

Facebook

Google groups

Flickr

Think about public vs. non-public function

Visual And Audio Learning

Podcasts- iTunes U, MIT Open Courseware, Topical Podcasts

News clips- Red Lasso

Seesmic, ooVoo,

Infinite Possibilities for Problem Solving

Late Homework? Have students submit all assignments by posting to a wiki or as email attachments- dated and you can’t forget the work at home

Post all assignments on the web- School notes, blackboard, other services

Let kids sit in on class through video conferencing when sick, or record it via podcast

Class notes could be published on classroom wiki

Problem Solving

Virtual Homework Help

Chat rooms for questions

Study groups online (Ryerson example)

Wikis- links to articles, background research, bibliographies, samples of good work, etc.

Individualizing Education

Mentoring and Community relationships are keys for good learning

Avoiding these because of “dangers” is like never letting kids ride a bike

Never be afraid to care and communicate

A Few Questions

What is the point of these chestnuts of education:

giving the hardest assignment of the year first

Telling kids not to ask questions until the end

Not establishing a personal relationship with your students

Last thoughts

Fair and Equal are not the same- kids have different learning styles and need flexibility

Universal design of curriculum is good for everyone

Make Parents Part of the picture and solution

Emphasize the positive

It’s all about Good and Productive

Communication of Thoughts and Ideas

The Challenge- Change Begins with

YouCall a parent and report good progress or behavior

Parents- email a teacher a thank you or bring a cup of coffee for no reason at all- not on teacher’s week, either

Don’t be afraid to care and encourage even the kids who are struggling