Chapter 4

Years ago, when technology first hit the classrooms, the idea came about that educators would move from the front of the room to the "guide on the side". For the most part that didn't happen, and teachers continued to do most of their instruction in the same way they always have - teacher directed. Web 2.0 tools have the power to change that. ONe of the key components of Web 2.0 is that applications allow for far more interaction between teacher and student AND between students. Chapter 4 gave example after example of teachers using tools where students are actively involved in the process of learning. Wiki's, podcasts, blogs.... all of these are tools teachers are beginning to use in ways that require students to interact with the teacher and each other. This allows the teacher to get something started, provide framework and evaluation, but begin to be the "guide on the side" we dreamed of all those years ago. This represents a huge shift in how we teach. Good. It needs to happen. THe tools may change, but once we endorse this shift, we'll be able to adapt.

ONe of the things I really apprectiated about this chapter is the links to the teacher projects described.