Chapter9 - new schools

Since everything changes so fast in the Web 2.0 world. The real issue is what we should do with these technologies for the future of teaching and learning. In other word, we should ask ourselves a question - What should we expect from new schools?

Harnessing the collective intelligence of education data

While the technology wasn't available then, today that vision is closer to reality. In future, an electronic personal education assistant modeled on this concept could direct students to activities that would work best for them at that moment (Solomon & Schrum, 2007).

The long tail of educational materials

Since "the long tail" is a economic concept, I found this video to explain what it is.

In the future, students and teachers will make the decisions and choose from among a seemingly endless supply of online content and tools that address their needs instead of having information delivered and methods mandated that someone else has decided would work. 

The vision and the reality

It is definitely has a gap between the vision and the reality, so the hope is that professional development will fill that gap for current teachers and that new teachers will enter the profession armed with the technology skills they'll need to help students learn in new ways.

Toward a smart future

• Broadband Access in the U.S
• Net Neutrality
• Classrooms

Brainstorming about schools and web 2.0

The brainstorming tool encourages groups to talk about the next generation of schools - by considering the stake holders, the learning ecosystem, the horizontal technology layers, and the necessary supporting elements.

NETS-T(National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers)

5.Productivity and Professional Practice

Teachers use technology to enhance their productivity and professional practice. Teachers:

A. use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning.

B. continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student learning.

C. apply technology to increase productivity.

D. use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger community in order to nurture student learning.

Citations

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0, new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: Intl Society for Technology in educ.

Chapter 8 - systemic issues

Schools face challenges that are unique to their district, city, and region and must address their local constituency's concerns all the time. This chapter examines the implementation and possiblilities for not only using these tools in the curriculum, but also using the tools in ways to create opportunities for all learners in a community(G. Solomon & L. Schrum. 2007)

English language learners and English as a second language 

Web 2.0 tools might expand students' learning of English and becoming more proficient in the educational activities required in our school.

Blogging

Blogging is a wonderful way to enhance student understanding and some second-language teachers believe that blogs can be used to give students authentic language activities. (G. Solomon & L. Schrum. 2007)

Podcasting

As blogging, podcasting is also a effective way to learn a foreign language, to learn English as a second language, or to learn other subjects that may be difficult to comprehend. Students have used podcasting to listen to, memorize, and critique classical music and even to share their orighinal musical creations.

Students with special needs

Students with disabilities have a greater need for accessing technology that do their non-disabled peers. This may be especialy true for those students who need technology just to function within the school environment. 

Equity and the digital divide
The following video is about how to bridge the digital divide with web 2.0 tools, it's kind short but with a lot information.

NETS-T(National Educational Technology Standards for Teachres)

4. Assessment and Evaluation

Teachers apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies. Teachers:

a. apply techonology in assessing student learning of subject matter using a variety of assessment techniques.

b. use technology resources to collect and analyze data, interpret results, and communicate findings to improve instructional practice and maximize student learning.

c. apply multiple methods of evaluation to determine students' appropriate use of technology resources for learning, communication, and productivity.

Citations

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0, new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: Intl Society for Technology in educ.

Chapter 7 - online safety and security

Online safety and secuirity is absolutely the most important issue that every people should be noticed. So, for school, teachers and admisitrators also has the responsiblity to keeping students and data safe and secure.

 

Because of the legal requirements for school districts to protect student's privacy and saftey online. School should pay more attention on how to guide student's doing safe online work.

The first thing students should know is what is copyright?

The following video could help you to understand what is copyright and intellectual property.

 

Five Steps to Avoiding Copyright Problems

1. Create and implement a technology policy that includes a code of ethics and set of procedures.
2. Review the entire policy with your educational community: students, teachers, and parents.
3. Appoint a technology manager to conduct audits and maintain a log of licenses and registration materials.
4. Teach ethical and legal behavior for technology use.
5. Thank employees and students for supporting these steps. (n.p.)

So how to solve these problems when you face on some security problems? Here are several solutions below:

1. Awareness Programs

This program is focus on how to make students aware the importance of online safety and security. 

2. Acceptable Use Policies

The policies outline the guidlines, procedures, and responsibilities for using school technology. 

3. Ethical Behavior

4. Administrative Resrictions

5. Parental Involvement

6. Blocking

NETS-A 

(National Educational Technology Standards for Adiministrators)

VI. Social Legal, and Ethical Issues – Educational leaders understand the social, legal, and ethical issues related to technology and model responsible decision making related to these issues. Educational leaders: 

A. Ensure equity of access to technology resources that enable and empower all learns and educators. 
B. Identify communicate, model, and enforce social, legal, and ethical practices to promote responsible use of technology.

C. Promote and enforce privacy, security, and online safety related to the use of technology.

D. Promote and enforce environmentally safe and healthy practices in the use of technology.

E. Participate in the development of policies that clearly enforce copyright law and assign ownership of intellectual property developed with district resources. 

Citations

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0, new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: Intl Society for Technology in educ.

Chapter6 - leadership and new tools

Since it is very different that today's students of school are from what it was even a few years ago. Those students using instant messaging, blogging, twittering and watching video from YouTube outside of school. In order for schools to prepare students for the future, the leaders must make some changes, to help teachers make the transition to using new technologies and new methods. Such transition we named Leading in the 21st century.

The following six qualities are the element for a school district to achieve success in the 21st century.

• Individual excellence
• Organizational skills
• Courage
• Results (goal-oriented)
• Strategic skills
• Operation skills

 So what shall we do? How to do make the transition operate smoothly? Here is a good suggestion - use Web 2.0 tools. For teachers, blogs can replace e-mail as a way to communicate with students, parents, or other educators. We also have a lot of examples that teacher whose using blog to achieve their teaching goals. So let's have a look of the twelve reasons for an administrator to blog:

• Sharing news and events
• Progress monitoring
• Status alerts
• Marketing
• Public relations
• Community building
• Customer relations
• Branding
• Creating "customer evangelists"
• Thought leadership
• Advocacy
• Replacing the school Web site

 

Beside blogging, setting up the infrastructure for school or district computing is a complicated and expensive effort. "Open source is programming code that is freely available to use and to modify, upgrade, and customize."(Solomon & Schrum, 2007). As the web2.0, new tools, new school book mentioned that Linux is a free open-source software, so the source code is available to everyone. A growing number of school districts are using the Linux operating system.

Linux website: https://www.linux.com/

• OpenCD site for Windows: https://theopencd.org
• Open Source Mac for Mac OS X: https://www.opensourcemac.org

NETS-A (National Educational Technology Standards for Adiministrators)
All school administrators should be prepared to meet the following standards and performance indicators. These standards are a national consensus among educational stakeholders regarding what best indicates effective school leadership for comprehensive and appropriate use of technology in schools.
1. Leadership and Vision - Educational leaders inspire a shared vision for comperhensive integration of technology and foster an environment and culture conducive to the realization of that vision. Education leaders:
A. facilitate the shared development by all stakeholders of a vision for technology use and widely communicate that vision.
B. maintain an inclusive and cohesive process to develop, implement, and monitor a dynamic, long-range, and systemic technology plan to achieve the vision.
C. foster and nurture a culture of responsible risk taking and advocate policies promoting continuous innovation with technology.

Citations

 Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0, new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: Intl Society for Technology in educ.

Chapter 5 - professional development

In the past few decades, a transformation has occurred in American public education; now, teachers are expected and required to use educational technology in one form or another in their classrooms (Collier, Weinburgh, & Rivera, 2004). In order to accomplish this transition from teachers' teaching to technology teaching. The government published the National Educational Technology Plan (U.S. Department of Education, 2004).

The plan lists seven major steps and recommendations for implementing technology in the schools:

1. Strengthen leadership
2. Consider innovative budgeting
3. Improve teacher training
4. Support e-learning and virtual schools
5. Encourage broadband access
6. Move toward digital content
7. Integrate data systems (U.S. Department of Education, 2004, n.p.)

Beside this, communities of practice also are assisted by following suggestions in organizing and planning the way these communities are structured (Susan Taylor, 2006, n.p.).

• Establish regular times for team interaction
• Send agendas to participants beforehand
• Designate a team librarian
• Build and maintain a team archive
• Use visual forms of communication where possible
• Set formal rules for communication and/or technology use (n.p.)

Professional development and web 2.0 tools

Below is a PowerPoint of professional development and Web 2.0 tools, hope it is may give you some inspiration and help you understand this chapter.

 

Blogging

Blogs can be used to promote teachers' comfort with and understanding of Web 2.0 tools, and some teachers already use them to create their own professional and personal networks. Individuals within learning communities can determine their topics of interest, identify ways to find information, and share conversations and knowledge (Solomon & Schrum, 2007).

*Recommend website: The Fischbowl

Podcasting

Schools are starting to make professional development training sessions, lectures, and ideas available through podcasts, which leads to individualized professional development on demand (Solomon & Schrum, 2007).

* Recommend website: LearningTimes 

Wikis 

One of the most exciting opportunities for professional development is to allow all members of a community to participate in the creation of a goal, plan, or direction or to simply discuss the way a new activity is working. Wikis present the ideal manner in which to accomplish this and, at the same time, educators learn about the potential for using this tool in their classrooms (Solomon & Schrum, 2007).

* Recommend website: Wikispaces

NETS-T (National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers)

All classroom teachers should be prepared to meet the following standards and performance indicators.

3. Teaching, Learning, and the Curriculum

Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning. Teachers:

A. facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards.

B. use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students.

C. apply technology to develop students' higher-order skills and creativity.

D. manage student learning activities in a technology-enhanced environment.

Citations

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0, new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: Intl Society for Technology in educ.

Chapter 4 - new tools in schools

This chapter has presented the web 2.0 tools we mentioned before that offer new opportunities for students to learn, explore, and present their knowledge. The concrete examples of the new tools are being used or could be used in various subject areas and with learners at all age or grade levels (Solomon and Schrum, 2007).

What is the New Tech High?

The New Tech High Learning System contains curriculum, assessment rubrics, living grade books, and communication tools. Solomon and Schrum, (2007) also mentioned it is uses in-depth project and problem-based learning that involvs teamwork, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students are assessed with authentic outcomes and get real-time feedback, and technology is used to bind the collaborative learning communitiy together.

Beside the New Tech High, the Lemon Grove School District of California also support to develop this collaborative learning environment by delivering high-speed intranet connectivity between the district and students' homes.

Classroom applications: using the tools for learning 

Writing Process (Blogs)

-Tools for writing instruction

 Collaborative Writing (Wikis)

-Tools for teachers to monitor progress

Student Feedback (Podcasting)

-Tools for take risk and get feedback

Digital Storytelling (Flickr)

-Tools for create a multimedia story

Digital Diplomacy

-Tools for share everything through a digital story format

 

Classroom applications: teaching content

- English and Literature

- Media Literacy

- Social Studies

- Journalism, Broadcasting, and Video Production

- Math

- Geography

- English as a Second Language and English Language Learners

- Science

NETS·T

1. Technology Operations and Concepts
Teachers demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts. Teachers:
A. demonstrate introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology.
B. demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies. 

2. Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences

Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology: Teachers:

B. apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences.

D. plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.

Citations

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0, new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: Intl Society for Technology in educ.

Chapter3 - new tools

We already knew what is web 2.0 in chapter 1, so let's talk a little about web 2.0 tools. You can see there are so many tools in the picture below, those tools change the nature of the Web from distributed to participatory.

Web 2.0 "is not a technological revolution; it is a social revolution. It's about enabling and encouraging participation through open applications and services with rights granted to use the content in new and exciting contexts" (Solomon & Schrum, 2007. pp46).

Those tools for word, data and business processing that companies, in some degree, web 2.0 tools replace traditional application software installed on the computer desktop. As this book mentioned "the genesisi of Web 2.0 tools is the open-source movement, whose proponents believe that the source code for programs should be available for anyone else to study, use, enhance, and distribute."

What's the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0, let's take a look:

Since you learned the process from the Web to Web 2.0, I would like to give you all a tour of some useful Web 2.0 tools.

Basic web 2.0 tools: 
❀Click all the links!

❀ blogs

· Blogger (I highly recommand this one to blog begginer)

· WordPress

· Drupal

❀ Podcasts

Podcasts are portable and students are used to listenting on iPods and MP3 players.

❀ Wikis

· Wikispaces

· MediaWiki

· Pbwiki

· JotSpot

Other popular web 2.0 tools:  
❀Click all the links!

❀ Social Bookmarking

· del.icio.us

· Backflip

· Furl

❀ Photo Sharing

· Flickr 

❀ Photo Editing

· Google's Picasa

· Apple's iPhoto

· Microsoft's Photo Story

❀ Video Showcasing 

· Youtube

· Video Furnace

· Jumpcut

· Eyespot

· Grouper

· Videoegg 

    

Beside those tools I mentioned before, there still have many different tools. Such as web 2.0 versions of desktop tools (google docs & spreadsheets, zoho writer, etc), web 2.0 management tools (technorati, elgg and moodle, etc) and other web 2.0 tools for education (google earth, myspace, etc).

NETS·T
1. Technology Operations and Concepts
Teachers demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts. Teachers:
A. demonstrate introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology.
B. demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies.

Citations

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0, new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: Intl Society for Technology in educ.