3Cs Follow-up Question 2

[NPAECT]

During his presentation at the Opening Session of the npaect3Cs Conference, Wattsburg Superintendent spoke of schools "thinking inside the box". He shared several ideas about changes that can be made to help schools to address the needs of learners. Terms such as "School 2.0" and "Learning 2.0" are being used to categorize the "new education". What would your "Classroom 2.0" look like based on some of the sessions and discussions held during the day?

[Ken Pruitt]

Hybrid classroom are the future of public school. A delicate balance of web interaction and face to face meetings can ensure that higher order thinking skills are being addressed. Personally, my class would place an emphasis on the students using the web to mutually gain some understanding of the content we are discussing. Using message boards, discussion forums, chats, and collaborative documents the students would come to class prepared to participate in an educated discussion.

The major stumbling point most have with hybrid learning is that 7 periods a day, all with online elements, would be too much for a child. In my opinion, a teacher does not need to see the students everyday. If the web portion is designed effectively the students and the teacher will have ample time to cover even more than the current model allows. The key is the design. Hybrid classrooms will have teachers thinking more about learning theory and differentiation than ever before. Would that be so bad?

[Kathleen Stevens]

I have heard of "hybrid classrooms" as proposed for the college classroom. With that age level, they can probably handle it better than younger children. The idea put forth was to have regular classes, Monday and Wednesday, with Friday's class being an extensive online assignment, at whatever time the student finds convenient, to be completed before class on the next Monday.
Students sometimes ask me whether my lectures are available in electronic format, just as the superintendent mentioned for a DVD of the lectures from Penn State. So far, mine are not, partly because my teaching is more demonstration than lecture.
I personally teach because I like the face to face interaction with the students at the college level. I would need to have at least the small discussion groups in seminar format.
One drawback to totally online courses is that you never get to meet your students face to face. The issue of authenticity always comes up....how do you know whether the person enrolled in the course actually did the work?
As far as online resources go, I know that some school districts have stopped purchasing hard copies of textbooks. Students are expected to use the online version of it. The textbook I currently use has the option of purchasing the online version for 150 days for about half the price of the hardcopy. Students appreciate the savings.

[Susan L. Pusbach]

I presently find it hard to imagine hybrid learning in my once a week elementary music class. Performing together is an emotional as well as intellectual group experience. My students presently use the Internet for skill practice and exploration. They are not using the Internet weekly.

[Vicki L.]

I am not opposed to the idea of "2.0" style classrooms, although I have a hard time believing that full technology integration in teaching curriculum will be available to all students in the near future. We still have too many economically disadvantaged students who do not have the same tools available to them as others - and the availability of technology only seems to widen the gap. Cell phones, PDA's and computers are prevalent, but not a given. I have many students who still do not have Internet access at home. So can I imagine myself creating online lectures, blogs, podcasts and webinars to impart information to my kids? - yes! But can I see them becoming a stand-alone method for classrooms in the near future? - I'm still working on that!

[Diane Johnson]

I envision libraries and librarians to continue to provide services to the students and teachers. I currently have requests come from teachers for books and other materials needed in their classrooms. Students are pushing the envelope in the elementary school to find materials they need or are interested in on a personal level. It is necessary for librarians to continually learn about new products and services so that we can provide for the needs of our patrons. If we are not listening to podcasts and using social booktags to help us keep our "finds" in some type of order, we cannot refer our teachers and students to that great new website or product that will carry them through the next step in their road to greater knowledge.

[Mary Morosky]

The "class" that I teach meets once per week for about 35 minutes for one semester. Students are required to learn a skill during this time, so collaborative mechanisms aren't really a priorty at all for me in this setting. However, I can envision how the use of 2.0 tools could open pathways for extended learning opportunities. We're always looking for ways to reach out to the parents...... and to include the parents in their children's learning experiences. Since I teach younger students, I can envision the use of such tools as a means to engage the parents/family of the students by giving access to our learning and projects from home.

I recently completed an online certification (about 24 credits). It was the most engaging and motivating experience of my professional development life. The professional network that I encounterd along with the continued dialogue and discussions were awesome. The depth and breadth of new learning and applied research was incredible.

One needs to be self-directed and self-disciplined to thrive in this environment, but I can see why students would choose alternatives to the traditional school environment. [NOT what you want to hear, but I am being honest]. Master teachers, however, engage the students in multiple ways. Too much of technology can be just as mundane as too much paper and pencil. It's how we implement and utilize the myriad of tools at our disposal that will truly engage our young learners.

[Pamela Mackowski]

Mary--I, too, am taking an online course and love it as well. I took one in the fall and the second one now. It allows me to be connected through discussion posts, yet do as much or as little work as I would like each day. With the cost of gasoline these days, it's so much more economical to take classes online!

[Bonnie Edge]

The ideal Classroom 2.0 would be working on the same curriculum and skills but using different technologies and forums. It would definitely include computers.

[Pamela Mackowski]

I loved the challenge of thinking "inside the box" -- but for me, it means stepping "outside the box" to get an objective view of what is in the box, then look for ways to enhance what is in the box. I believe that what we are teaching in schools today has value, but the ways we teach need help. When one looks at the 21st Century skills and tries to match them up with the traditional classroom, it's clear that there is a wide disconnect.

While Web 2.0 tools may not be appropriate for every classroom for every lesson, there are certainly many opportunities available to make any classroom dynamic. I would love to see more interaction between classes in different parts of the state, country, or continent with the use of videoconferencing. I think Web 2.0 tools are a brilliant way for students to collaborate and communicate. Yes, it's true that many homes still do not have computers or internet access--but libraries do . . . and neighbors, aunts and uncles, and friends do. While one wouldn't want to have to go next door every night to complete an assignment, there are ways for students to do what needs to be done.

That being said, teachers need to step up, as well, to infuse their lessons with technology when and where it's appropriate. It's not really the "classroom of the future" we're hearing about--it's the "classroom of today".

[Jody Donovan]

Ideally, if money and space were no object and were available to math specialists, like myself, a 2.0 Classroom would definitely benefit my students. In reality, that's not the case with my program. The time spent with my students is limited. For example, I teach K-6 students, twice a week, from anywhere between 30-50 minutes each session. Within the short amount of time that I have with them, I'd love to have access to the internet for all of my students. As of now, I share one computer with another teacher. Due to scheduling and space, I'm only able to take one of my classes to the computer lab during one of their weekly sessions for review and practice purposes. The importance of implementing a 2.0 classroom is crucial for my students in not only the technology world of today, but their future as well. I hope to integrate a few ideas learned from the sessions into my teaching. Thank you for a great conference!

[Brenda Gregory]

My Classroom 2.0 would have notebook computers for each student! Well even though that is probably not likely in the near future, I am still planning on the following activities for next school year. We would use technology and internet resources to help them answer the essential questions in mathematics and social studies. In math students could investigate solutions to real life math problems or use interactive programs to develop higher level skills. In Social Studies they could acquire an understanding of how the geography of countries affects the life of people through online interactive discussions with other classrooms around the world, or collaborative research projects.