Journal #1: “Do Web 2.0 Right” (NETS-T I-IV)

Light, D. (2011). Do the web 2.0 right. Learning and Leading with Technology, 38(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Feature_Article_Do_Web_2_0_Right.aspx

Summary: In the article, Do the Web 2.0 Right, author, Daniel Light, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using Web 2.0 tools (blogs and wikis) within the classroom. Light interviewed 39 educators, within 22 different schools, and wanted to learn from them what was successfully working.  According to Light, there are three areas that affect the success of Web 2.0 tools in the classroom, these include; instituting daily practice, carefully considering the audience, and teaching and enforcing appropriate behavior.

The teachers interviewed found that classroom blogs are a great tool to jump start communication. Therefore, daily practice is crucial in maintaining open communication. Blogs were also especially effective for the shy students that normally withdrawal themselves from “actual classroom” discussions. However, some students are fearful of their peers viewing their work and misinterpreting or judging it. So educators must carefully decide who the intended audience will be. Lastly, educators must enforce and require appropriate behavior from their students at all times, even when using Web 2.0 tools. Students should learn to take responsibility of their comments and should be advised that collaboration, as well as mutual respect for one another, is a must.

Question 1:  How do I see myself using this technology in a Spanish classroom setting?

Web 2.0 tools can be very beneficial in a Spanish classroom setting. Allowing students to surf the Internet to find useful information regarding Spanish speaking countries and cultures, and then sharing their findings on a class blog would promote collaboration and insight.

Question 2:  How can I respect/protect my students’ privacy while still using blogs as a teaching tool?

According to Light’s research, blogs typically fell into two categories, individual and classroom. While classrooms blogs are a great way to jump start communication, individual blogs worked best when used primarily as a means of communication between individual students and their teachers. Individual blogs give students the freedom to express themselves, without the fear of having others read and judge their work.