Article Response 2

Response to Will Richardson's "The Educators Guide to the Read/Write Web"

This article is all about the influence that new technologies are having on education. Tools like blogs, wikis, and podcasts are revolutionizing the ways in which we can communicate. This past summer I read an article about a new theory of education called "Connectivism". Connectivism is a theory that states that education is being more and more driven by aspects of communication and chaos. I didn't really understand the chaos part of the article, but the communication part really hit me. In this day and age we have so many resources at our disposal because of technology. Students can use the internet to connect the knowledge of the class and the teacher to different groups of knowledge around the world. These days we have great networks. Students can pen pal with other students across the globe. Students can write questions to a network of other people and receive answers. A lot of academic research can take place online. A group in Alaska can pose a problem or question on a forum that other groups around the world can then analyze and respond to. In education we need to make a shift from individual based learning and learning outcomes, to a networked system where students are allowed to learn as a community.

The next time that I have a classroom of my own, I plan to create a Myspace page for MR. ASPER. I disagree with the principle of restricting kids from technology at school. Rather than telling students they can't use myspace we could have a myspace page for every class that facilitates for communication. Teachers could post assignments and materials, and students could use the technology to stay current with the class (even if they went on a family trip and missed two weeks!).

Teachers who incorporate technology into their curriculum are ahead of the curve. Those who are resisting are behind... it's that simple. We are moving into a new era of education.