K12 Learning 2.0

I have been reading blogs for a while now, even contributing to one for the state media organization. 
Two characteristics I’ve noticed about blogs:
1. Blogs are multimedia in nature, incorporating links, pictures, movies, etc.
    This was unexpected – I thought blogging was “writing” so to have all these other forms of media was a pleasant surprise.  I think it contributes to blogging’s appeal – all types of learners can connect to the writing through these media formats.
2.  Blogs have no established writing style.  Every blog is different.  Some follow the more traditional writing style; others incorporate a variety of styles/fonts to grab your attention and make a point.  Others incorporate “shorthand” techniques  – not as much concern about spelling, grammar with abbreviated sentences/structure.
But all are readable and I find myself really reading for content.

Being able to read not only the blog post but the variety of comments from other readers expands the original idea posted and often offers a more “rounded” picture of the specific topic. Comments can force the reader to see more sides of an issue; they can help give perspective to the topic being discussed and they can connect the reader to individuals who can become part of a learning network – sharing ideas and thoughts and even collaborating on projects.

Blogging opens up a new way to learn.  I’ve heard Will Richardson say he has learned more from blogging than all the formal, traditional courses he’s taken. And he discusses how today’s student views reading online compared to how older learners read online. 
No matter our age, we all learn from reading blogs and the posts to these blogs – hopefully, being exposed to blogs emboldens us to contribute and begin a new learning experience.

I’m fortunate that I work in a school district that has vision.  Our goal in every thing we do is to increase student achievement.  Our district leaders realized quite early in the Web 2.0 culture the impact these tools could have in the classroom and with students today.  Because of that, our Instructional Technology Department has been training staff on a number of Web 2.0 tools as well as providing the equipment needed in the classrooms as students utilize these tools.  A typical day in the school/classroom isn’t quite what David Warlick describes in his article A Day in the Life of Web 2.0 but more and more classrooms are incorporating these tools – and the impact on students has been a joy to see.  Web 2.0 does engage students; it is “where they’re at” and it revitalizes teachers as they work with their curricular standards.

I’m a “reader” by nature and career………..the printed word is sacred to me.  I love to read the newspaper, books, magazines – I still prefer a print copy to reading on the computer screen.  So accepting Web 2.0 and its tools took me a little longer. The read/write web – I understood the reading part - but the interactivity of the writing part….who was going to care what I had to say?  But I have learned how wonderful it is to be able to access “experts” from all over the county to hear what they have to say, to view presentations from conferences I couldn’t attend, to communicate with fellow instructional partners and to share with a wide audience of professionals knowledge that improves what I do and supports our district’s vision – student achievement.

I’ve been able to utilize a wiki with the work I do with a group of media specialists in North GA where everyone is contributing “Best Practices” as well as ideas for other media topics.  I’m a guest blogger for the state media organization, contributing once a month.  del.icio.us has become a favorite tool.  Listening to podcasts as I’m walking - I promised myself to relax during this time but sometimes you use every opportunity you have to catch up on those job-related tasks.  All of these definitely have changed how I learn as well as how I share what I’ve learned.  My interaction with today’s students is limited but I do work with the professionals who work with today’s learners and I hope their exposure to these tools through my professional work with them is beneficial.

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn,”
                     Alvin Toffler

This was the first time I had read the 7 1/2 Habits related to Effective Lifelong Learning. Because of my job responsibilities, I had been incorporating several of them.  Working with technology forces you to “learn” daily so accepting responsibility for my own learning, viewing problems as challenges and using technology to my advantage are part of a normal work day.  At a conference I just attended this past week, one of the sessions focused on creating your own peronal learning network – using Web 2.0 tools such as del.icio.us, blogs, iGoogle and the people you meet through these tools – and it resonated with me as Habits 5 and 6 speak directly to this.  By using the tools available to us through Web 2.0, you can create your own personal learning toolbox as well as use technology to your advantage.  Having the myriad of information come to me through aggragators instead of having to access journals, web sites and blogs individually is both time-saving as well as effective.

The hardest habits for me during this online course will be to have confidence in myself as an effective learner and to begin with an end in mind.  I always feel it takes me longer to grasp new concepts and incorporate them as opposed to others.  I always say it’s being older and not being a “native” .  I always get there in my own time but slower than others which impacts my confidence.  As with others, there’s never enough time for all we want to do – often, I’m reacting to a task from my boss, a class assignment.  I need to learn to “play” more with all these wonderful tools.

As this class continues, I need to incorporate Habit 7:  Teach and mentor others.  I have a natural platform in that I work with all the media specialists in our district as well as work with a media consortium in North Georgia.  Both provide opportunities to share and teach what I’ll be learning in this course.  A number of the media specialists are already strong Web 2.0 users – working on advanced degrees, using these tools with their patrons.  But others want the exposure and understanding of thes tools and how they can use them effectively.  I hope I can be a part of their growth as they work with these tools.