Mar 11 2009
Learning with Web 2.0
My 7 year old daughter recently started a blog Science Girl Em. Since signing up for the Miss W’s Blogging Challenge, she has been getting some attention & comments which certainly helps her motivation for continuing her efforts. My wife and I are amazed at how such a young child, only beginning to build literacy skills, can be so interested in blogging. Right now, I think she enjoys reading the blogs of others as much or more than working on her own blog.
At the last parent/teacher conference I had a chance to briefly describe what she is doing to her teacher, and while I sensed some interest, I also noted some hesitation because of a lack of available class time that could be used to try it. I wonder if at her age, a simple focus on reading other blogs might be the best approach. When she tries to do her own typing, it is tedious for her and she can lose interest pretty quickly. But it has been amazing to watch her write out what she wants to say in a journal, then try to type it into her blog.
One of my own first blog posts was entitled: “Web 2.0 should be taught”. It was about how teacher education programs ought to include Web 2.0 technologies as a regular part of the curriculum. When I wrote it, I was operating from a position of blind faith. I had read a few blogs, I was starting to understand the power of the read/write web and how it could be a useful tool for learning.
Interestingly, that early post of mine is still getting occasional attention and comments; some new comments were even added within the past week. Now that I have been at this for almost a year, I have to say I’m even more convinced, especially after seeing my daughter working with the technology. Teachers really need to 1) learn how to use Web 2.0 themselves, and also 2) how to incorporate its use into classroom instruction. I feel like I’m starting to get a handle on part 1, and only now starting to consider how to make part 2 work.
I have to say that I’m very fortunate that the person who started me on this journey is Michael Wesch. He was kind enough to meet with me shortly after his YouTube video was gaining attention. (Wow, it’s over 8 million views now!) I have been watching his blog and the projects he has his students do. Hopefully, I’ll even be in his class as his student next year.
Wesch started me thinking, then attending SXSW last year really opened my eyes. People were making a living at blogging & I thought it was merely an ego trip. I decided it was time to really start paying attention, and not long after I created the TechIntersect blog. After only a year, I am still learning, but I feel like I have also learned so much as well. Thanks to everyone who has made it an interesting journey.
4 responses so far
Create a free edublog to get your own comment avatar (and more!)
It is interesting how students love to publish their work on their blogs. It has an instant appeal – I think because it is for a wider audience than their school room walls. Your daughter is an inspiration and obviously loves learning.
I agree with you about teachers needing to learn about web 2.0 for themselves and equally importantly how to make it part of the curriculum instead of an add on. This is exactly the problem that some of the staff at my school are struggling with. For some it is still an extra thing to do instead of part of what they do.
Bill,
When my daughter was blogging she would type out any posts that were “short” and I typed out the long ones for her–she dictated the words to me. That seemed to help with the tedious problem.
Mr. B,
That is pretty much the same approach we use. Not so workable in a 1st grade school environment, but it works well at home.
Bill, thanks for your comments on my blog….very interesting site here—I think you have a new fan. I have a 7-year-old as well and she is always “wasting” paper with her musings. Never thought of starting her off with a blog of her own. I will have to think about that one.