Memorable+Moments.

by Chris Harbeck
 * Some thoughts about January's Blog Club

How did you get started using Web 2.0?** I was first introduced to Web 2.0 by Darren Kuropatwa doing one of his OLE Tango inservices for our school division. I have been hooked ever since.
 * Were you a reluctant beginner, or were you eager to jump on board?** The minute I saw Darren's workshop in action I was hooked. I have been actively blogging ever since. Now I am branching out into wiki's and podcasting.
 * What was the first Web 2.0 tool that you used?** I started out using blogs. Most of my students are now very familiar with them. I am now going to introduce them to wiki's and webcasting.
 * Are you isolated in your use of Web 2.0, or are there others in your school who are excited about this as well?** I feel that I am isolated using these tools at my school. Some people are thinkng about jumping on board but it will take the rest of the year to get them aclimatized.
 * What have you done to increase educator awareness of Web 2.0? What was the response?** I have started to create student online portfolios for my grade 8 team. This will allow the other teachers on my team to see the benifits of 2.0. I also have a supportive administrator that will help me everystep of the way. I should get her blogging. Hmmm that is an idea!
 * Have you tried any of Graham's** suggestions? I have emailed the "Did You Know" and Karl's other videos to members of staff. I have also shown Darren's remake of the video to my admin. Another thing that I have done is to find like minded individuals in the school and continually mention the benifits of 2.0. I think that I will have a few more converts by the end of the year.
 * Are you a** [|flea]? I do not think that I am a flea.
 * What can we do as a group to increase educator awareness of Web 2.0?**As a group we need to continue to use these tools and have our students learn in new and wonderful ways. the connectiveness of 2.0 will create the engine that will bring more people on board. Those who do not want to hop onboard will be the ones who do not want to be seen. These teachers do not want to have transparent walls in theri classroom. For all the others it will be one teacher at a time. It is like the shampoo commercial...... and they told two friends and so on and so on and so on.


 * I will share my thoughts about Graham's presentation now.**

Web 2.0 allows us to contribute to the web instead of consumimg information. Web 1.0 was hard to do but web 2.0 is easier. This is so true. Graham also states that many teachers are in a 1.0 frame of mind. This means that these teachers think that this technology is beyond them. Most teachers I know want a "tech"expert to do the work for them. They need to change this frame of mind.

Some ideas from **Doug Noon** > //I have found that when students know that there is an audience that they will work harder. I feel that they need to comment on other blogs to help out the blogosphere. Last year my students did not comment on other blogs often. This year my students comment on other blogs from outside their school site. This allows them to be part of the audience for other blogs. When more students know that there are people watching them they will work harder also.//
 * 2.0 is important because of what it means to the kids.
 * It helps them understand the world.
 * Adults need to learn with the kids.
 * 2.0 provides real writing for real people.
 * kids work harder.
 * Kids think of themselves a real authors
 * Show an audience. (clustermaps)
 * When Doug showed his staff what his kids were doing the responce was ..... can we to this too!

//This is the true power of 2.0 in my opinion. When students engage in projects and conversations with real children from all over the globe they will love to learn. This is the carrot and tool that has to be used to convince the masses about the potential of 2.0.//
 * Jo Mcleay**
 * Connections and interactions engage students.

> //I agree that the interactivness of 2.0 provides students with tools to be better writers. I am a math teacher. There are so many things ne can do when we use 2.0 tools. I use [|studentblogwikitools]// t//o give new applications that can be used on their classroom blogs. The more tools I can throw at them the more they use. Many of my students used paint to illustrate math concepts.... now they use bubbleshare and gliffy to// //**really illustrate topics.**//
 * Jedd Bartlett**
 * mashups and the relationships between students and teachers.


 * Al Upton**
 * Here is the real fear for teachers.....There is a **reverse culture.**
 * students are the pricipal users of this technology. We now need to be more accountable as teachers.

//Most teachers need to be in control of their classroom. Theyare unwilling to let go of this when it comes to learning new tools. Once they start learning these tools they need to allow the students to help them get better at them. When the student sees that they are helping the teacher and teaching they will become better learners. They will see that it is hard to teach and have experiences about teaching that they haven't had before. You might create more compasionate learners. Hmm what an idea!


 * Filters Filters Filters

This is the largest obstacle for educators. The powers that be and their paranoia about the "what if" ruins most access to very important sites. Something needs to be done..... I have most of my work done by students at home. I encourage parents to do work with their students. This is one way around the filters.**//