Thing 5: Web 2.what?

Initial reaction to web 2.0: Wow! The sheer numbers of ways a "techie-teacher" can use this new web to engage, empower and challenge students is amazing. But, the problem is, I am far from a "techie." I look at all of the applications, endless websites, and information overload on the web and it is overwhelming. I consider myself an average web user, probably in the old-fashioned information retrieval ways of the past. But using wikis, blogs, podcasts, or other things not even invented yet in daily instruction seems like a long way off for me personally. I worry about not being the "expert" ready to facilitate every lesson with complete confidence and knowledge. How do I keep kids from getting lost in the big www and stay on-task?

After a little thought: I am on facebook, that is a start, right? I have used YouTube to show students concepts and instuctional videos. I just got my first graphics tablet for school. I am taking this class. So, I guess I can do this "techie" stuff. I think the key for me is to take one application and get to know it well, so it doesn't take away from the essence of the lesson. Then move on to the next, slowly building up my own confidence and expertise. Then I can do what we all hope to do: Teacher 21 century kids using 21 century methods. I do feel that Web 2.0 is an important tool to "grow kids brains." It lends itself to that constuctivist model I was told was the way to teach from all my college professors (so, it must be right).