Will+Questions

These are questions that we will be potentially asking Will regarding his book Wikis, Blogs, and Podacasts on the 11th. Do you feel that Web 2.0 technology will eventually lead to a universally paperless (green) environment in and outside of the classroom? Do you find that resources are not available to effectively use the technology in schools? What can we as educators do to help convince the "powers that be" to allow blogs/wikis and other technology in our classrooms? -Kerri K

Is the level of internet safety enough for using with our k-12 students?

What are some tips that you can give for encouraging administrators that are resistant to allowing new Web 2.0 technology to become part of the classroom?

Have you encountered much resistance from parents in terms of allowing students more freedom on the internet?

If you had to choose just one of the new Web 2.0 technologies to use in a classroom which would you choose?

Do you believe that eventually the "norm" in education will transition into encouraging the use of these technologies to foster students ability to collaborate, edit, respond, reason, and even think outside the box?

As advanced and helpful as the internet and its tools are...do you think we need to worry about losing the hand written language?

You've mentioned that when using a class blog students often end up journaling rather than using the blog as a tool for reflection. What techniques do you use to ensure your students use the blog as more of a tool for reflection? J.Pat

There have been a lot issues displayed in the media regarding cyberspace bullying, internet predators, etc. This really has seemed to terrify an older generation still unsure of what is happening on the internet, and unable to monitor their children as much as they would like. Do you think a course in internet etiquette and safety is necessary for students? Have you designed one, and should it be mandatory for all schools deciding to use the internet in their classrooms? Becky

Which web tool mentioned in your book do you feel is the most effective to use at the secondary level of education and why?

Big Shift #5: Know "Where" Learning...I think it is great that educators and students should move away from textbooks and "closed" sources of information. However, do you think teachers with no professional development in the areas of technology and new methods of research would be open-minded to this? Students are already familiar with these methods. What types of resources would be effective in informing teachers of the many benefits of "open" sources of information? Heather

what site, slog, spozcast etc. can you give us right now that best illustrates the things you talk about in your book? The one that will convince those of us still scratching our heads going, "yeah, but..."

I am convinced that a weblog can be very useful in the classroom, but I am still unsure about the usefullness of a wiki. I have read the chapter on wikis in the book and I am still wondering how I can use a wiki in the classroom. Other than Wikipedia can you point out a good wiki that would inspire students to get excited about using a wiki?

While there are some teachers out there who have created websites and are starting to experiment with the web as a resource. There still are teachers who are resistant to change and still learning how to use a computer, never mind blogs,wikis, and other 2.0 tools. What do you say to those teachers? Do you think that we should make it mandatory for teachers to participate in technology workshops as part of their professional development?

I understand that technology is becoming increasingly important in today's world, especially to the younger generations. I have a few students that have trouble with their multiplication tables. Is there a way to create a fun, animated math game using one of the web 2.0 tools and if so, which one do you think would be best and do you have any suggestions on how to begin the process of creating it? Alicia

How can I as a secondary special education teacher, implement blogging, podcasting, and wikis effectively with our current curriculum? Also, how can I really make sure that students are safe? Barbara

How can you ensure parents that their children will be safe using these tools in the classroom?

With all of these new web 2.0 tools available to teachers it can be overwhelming. What is the best way for a teacher to sift through these tools to find the best one that works for their classroom?

Organizationally, do you create a new wiki space for each class? or do you just keep adding to the same wiki? Do you find that students are more engaged by blogging or using wikis?

How can we convince the teachers who critize change, rather than embrace it, to use these Web 2.0 tools in thier classroom? S.Mesiti

Many old fashioned teachers (paper work) are reluctant to make changes, even small, to their classroom routine. What can we do to convince these teachers to change the teaching practice they have been using for decades, for one that integrate technology? Antonia

With our society relying **so** much on technology why do you believe that many school districts have not embaced this and incorporate technology into the classroom such as GLEs are incorporated now? Everything that has been learned within your book only makes learning easier, richer and more diverse. After reading your book **NO** one can use the excuse that they are not familiar with any such educational technology. Bill V.

I was just wondering at what age do you think it is most beneficial to incorporate technology into the classroom? Mary C.

As school district budgets keep getting cut and technology keeps growing, how and what would you suggest for K-12 teachers to increase student awareness and use of technology in the classroom, and to keep students in touch with real time information and tech. skills?

I would love to use technology in my future classroom but, I'm concerned about internet safety. Do you have any suggestions on how we can keep our young students safe on-line?

What type of technology did you find most student friendly and what technology was most parent friendly?

How would I explain to my student's parents about my webblog and how to go about using it? I believed some parents doesn't know or even heard of Blogging.

As a parent and teacher at what age do you recommend this type of technology be introduced?

After seeing the changes that have come about in the past few years in technology, what do you predict are some of the changes to come in the next few years? -Ashley Joyal

I'm thinking about teaching the lower grades and I know that it is possible to educate using a blog and wikispaces becuase we saw a video on a 1st grade canadian class doing it, but my question is how realistic is this really?

I recently went to a conference for pre-service teachers and one of the workshop choices was on Cyber Bullying. I was not able to attend that one, but I was wondering if you think that it is necessary to make the students attend a workshop/seminar on the idea of internet etiquette/safety before they enter the class or before they start using digital technology. I was wondering also how you would introduce such a delicate subject to the children in the younger grades.

Do you see a technology fundamentals being taught as a direct part of the nation wide curriculum as a specific subject at the elementary or secondary level//,// rather than as a possible supplement or accomodation to the current curriculum? Tom E

In this age of technology within the education field, why have some educators been so slow to embrace this tool? I haven't been exposed to any class wikis, blogs or podcasts at any of the schools that I have done observations in...Kerrie B

How can we get money for technology tools in the classroom?

which web tool do u consider to be the most powerful and appropriate to integrate in the education system, the wikis, blogs, or podcasting?

[|elterhan] In the chapter on Wikis, it seems you believe the collaborative effort of the contributing group is enough to insure the wiki content is correct and up to date. Is that true? Mr. Richardson, Early in your book you state that childrens' prolonged exposure/use of computers is causing a shift in their cognitive processing. You write, "they have hypertext minds." This phrase refers to how children who have grown up with computers constantly multi task and have shorter attention spans. What do you think are the implications for education of this presumed shift? Acknowledging the necessity of teaching computer literacy, do you feel it is important to still find ways to teach students to have the patience and depth of analysis which is required to think critically?(even though this approach seems to be in opposition to how kids absorb information now.) And if so, how? Thanks, Chris