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Web 2.0 Classroom, Transforming the Culture Webinar

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This was a webinar about how you can use the web to not only enhance learning but also shift the control of learning to the student. Presenter Alan November was at the bottom line level selling a product but he had some good ideas which can lead to a shift in the learning culture to a more information based, student led one. Here are some of his observations and recommendations:
  • don't focus on technology focus is the information flowing through that technology - education is the only field that hasn't change their approach to match the advancement of technology
  • change the "tech planning committee" to the "learning results committee", it brings a different mind set
  • students, teachers, administrators are trying to make decisions without enough information
  • regardless of how incredible a presenter you are, any misconceptions in their heads that are trumping your great teaching and they won't remember what you said.
  • students need to become information contributors - this requires a shift in the power base from you to them, but it prepares them for the global economy they have to function in
  • switch homework and classwork - do problem solving in the classroom, do homework at school, together - and do information delivery home to prepare for the next day. studies show students make the same mistake in class they made in their homework - they're hours or days from making the mistake and it becomes implanted in their minds- correct misconceptions immediately but making them in class
Steven Halper from Rye Neck Union Free School District with several thousand students uses their system Some features include:
  • an educational video library and web resources - teachers submit youTube videos that get cataloged and shared. Both students and teachers like this.
  • social networking - each student has a wall, teachers setup discussion groups and boards. Students wanted integration with Skype and Twitter and 3rd party games.
  • collaboration - wikis, assigned groups, events and resources posted. Teachers liked the organized structure and students liked knowing where to pickup and drop assignments
The archive is here if you want more. http://www.media.qualitytech.com/client/new_bay/2010_0322/191432/launch.htm
It was sponsored by Lightspeed systems whose buzz words areFilter Secure Monitor Archive and Optimize. Sounds like they're like Classroom Pack and they encourage productive web searching and retrieval for learning.

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