For those of us who didn’t grow up in the world of Web 2.0, incorporating technology into our lessons can seem daunting if not impossible. Do any of these thoughts seem familiar? . . .
"Where will I find the time?”
“The students know more about it than I do!”
"What if I get stuck?”
"I just don’t know where to start.”
“I have too many other things to teach!”
There’s good news! The small time commitment on the front end is worth it. While the students may know more about technology in general (which may mean they can help you if you get stuck!), they don’t know how to use it properly without guidance (which is where you come in). Technology does not have to be “one more thing,” and it may even make some of those “one more things” seem a little simpler. Use the lessons you already have, and start small! Rome wasn’t built in a day, and this doesn’t have to be an overnight transition.
Tips for the beginner . . .
- Make sure you have permission from parents and administrators.
- Make sure your students and their parents have read and signed a technology use agreement. (These can be found online, and your district or school may already have one that you can use.)
- Explain online etiquette to students. (Respect other people’s opinions. Don’t use all caps. Use appropriate language. Etc.)
- Explain copyright law/fair use to students. (If you are uncomfortable with this, get your librarian to help you. Also, a good rule of thumb is, “If you didn’t create it and you can’t easily find a Creative Commons license on it, don’t use it.” To see what the Creative Commons license symbols mean, follow this link: http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses/.)
- Make sure any accounts that you set up online allow you to monitor and approve posts/uploads before they go public. (There will be a setting for this that you can see.)
- Make sure any accounts that you set up online allow you to password protect access so that you have the option of sharing student work only with families and school personnel. (There will be a setting for this that you can see.)
- Check with your technology coordinator to make sure the Web 2.0 sites you wish to use are not blocked in your school. (Keep in mind that many sites have educational versions that are free and “school safe.”)
- Set up an account and commit an hour to playing with the new Web 2.0 tool. There’s nothing like using it to learn it; and once you know it, you’ll have that tool forever!
Here are two books that I found helpful when getting started with Web 2.0. Click on them to find them on Amazon.com:- Using Web 2.0 Tools in the K-12 Classroom by Beverley E. Crane (published in 2009 by Neal-Schuman Publishers)
- Grown Up Digital: How the net generation is changing your world by Don Tapscott (published in 2009 by McGraw-Hill)
Angela CMG
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