Thoughts about Web 2.0 - Activity 2

Reflections from my past

A slide rule, if you have not seen one!
by Roger Mclassus derivative work Beao

I am showing my age, but when I was in college one of the chemistry professors for his introductory chemistry class taught his students how to use a slide rule and made them use it in class.  He thought it was very important and an invaluable tool, even though he was a young professor (20's) and his students had used a hand held calculator since high school (OK - it was 1975! and I first owned a TI SR 10 in high school).

Reflections from today

Sometimes, unfortunately, teachers are behind in bringing the tools of the day to the classroom, including myself.  Web 2.0 is a valuable set of tools that both our students and ourselves already use.  It must be part of our ever changing classroom.  Personally, I use the web to get my news, interact on message boards, see pictures of friends and family on Facebook, follow french basketball, check twitter and tweet.  My students likely do even much more.

My current and future use of Web 2.0 in the classroom

I have already taken advantage of some of the Web 2.0 tools in the classroom.  My students have: made their own Animoto videos, shared research projects on Weebly web sites, and used Google documents to collaborate on lab reports.  I have a school web page with assignments, targets, and handouts. However, I believe there is so much more available.  I have tried to envision some of what could happen in the classroom (I like to picture the end goals in mind! - see activity 1 reflection).  What might that look like?  Here was some of my initial brainstorming of what I may want to add to my classroom.  I expect the list will change as I continue in this course.

• Have more "find it on the internet" assignments - as our text
• Students and myself create videos for each target
• Critique other groups lab reports on Google documents before submitting
• Flip some class time (video concepts online - more lab time in class)
• Class blog or web site with get to know you section
• Online study groups
• Students assigned to keep - what we did this week section with references
• Skype other scientists - what careers are available
• Journal research
• Format quizzes online for students to check their own understanding
• Access equipment remotely online - like scanning electron microscope

To support my learning

I expect that my own learning will continue to be more and more Web based.  I have found that when I have a new interest or curiosity, I go to the Web to learn.  This school year I followed my favorite Northwestern basketball player as he graduated and then was signed by a team in Strasbourg, France.  The internet allowed me to follow games, watch video, relearn French with an interactive web program, find Facebook pages, read message posts and follow new people on Twitter.  It has been quite fun and I learned a lot along the way.  I always want to keep learning - school stuff too!