Today I had the honor of going into a class of seniors and showing them how to use the private social network I had set up for them at ning.com. I was assisted by a teacher who is really excited about integrating technology, and that was a big help.
The students are really excited about having their own private network. They kept talking about how cool it was. They are planning to use it to help each other with homework (no cheating allowed), plan events, give each other advice about college and financial aid, and all kinds of cool things to help them with current and future academics.
I wish more teachers would allow me to teach web 2.0 tools like Ning in their classes. I wish teachers could see that it's not a matter of adding something new. (Everyone says they're already too busy). It's a matter of teaching the same things, but in a newer, more engaging way.
I get a lot of tech calls--my printer doesn't work, the gradebook says invalid school day, someone stole my mouse, and on and on. But I don't get many calls for what really matters--instruction with technology integration; instruction that engages and excites the students. We have to change the way we do school. We have to. And my job is to help.
1 comment:
This is so great! I would love to take a look at how it goes. Can I have an invite? I agree with you; I have been buried in technical issues this morning from projectors to NOCTI testing to ESL testing. I haven't had anytime to do what really matters.
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