Comments on: NEWSFLASH: Web2.0 Renders Conventional Schools Obsolete

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 03:41:16 +0000

You know me well, indeed, Steve ;->

I like the analogy to WordPress — very fitting. Given the grassroots nature of Web2.0, and the “viral” transmission of ideas and tools, I am hopeful that meaningful changes will come to pass, despite the best efforts of any misguided Texas school board or legislature!

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 22:55:14 +0000

I couldn’t agree more about the imposing nature of the “big picture.” And when it’s about something like this – a major shift in the overall way that education should happen (as opposed to curricular changes in the guise of particular elements being added or dropped) – it’s even more difficult to try to tackle.

But if I know you, you’ll agree that it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. And I agree that the customized solutions are the best. I also think, though, that by providing exemplars we can also try to shape the formation of custom solutions, if not the precise content of them.

As a parallel, consider Wordpress itself. It’s intended as a Blogging tool, and comes with a decent capacity in and of itself. But its most important feature is its extensibility, allowing anyone to take it and run with it. I see Web2.0 as a macrocosm of that – the tools are there for us to use as we see fit. So instead of telling educators what to do, let’s show them some of the things the tools can do.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 01:43:42 +0000

Quite frankly, I find "the big picture" of any given formal educational scene rather daunting, and more than a little distasteful (e.g. the latest goings on in Texas. Even in a "vacuum" of ideal circumstances, it is a challenge to develop web2.0 pedagogy, but our greater challenge is to then transform society's expectations of a pre-packaged product into an acceptance of "perpetual beta." This, of course, falls within the realm of "tech integration leadership." While I am heartened to know that the likes of Sara Dexter are valiantly striving for greater good in this arena, I seriously question any systemic response to the web2.0 challenge. (I do not wish to imply that a mass solution is what Sara D. is working towards. Sara's expertise lies in technology leadership, and without making any claims about her professional or personal mission, I simply want to acknowledge her admirable efforts). There are many who seek to build bridges between "islands of excellence." I, too, should like to do the same, but only where bridges are needed. I believe in customized solutions -- may they be wide, varied, and bottom-up!

By: Steve Whitaker

Steve Whitaker — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 23:14:08 +0000

Thanks for the mention— I left you a Syndicate Voicemail about this.