Thursday, August 2, 2007

Help for a Presentation

I have been asked by my executive director at my school Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School to do a 45 minute presentation on Web 2.0 in the classroom. Right now very few of our teachers are blogging and using Web 2.0 tools in their classes, and we are starting a huge technology program. With this type of audience I don't know were to start. I could really use some suggestions and help with this presentation. Any comments/resources from the experts would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Jonathan Orr

3 comments:

Christian Long said...

No matter what, start with THEIR passions as educators. Then, and only then, launch into how they could be served by Web 2.0 technology.

In an ideal setting, you'll offer a provocative piece (try any of Karl Fisch's videos) to prime the pump...but then return to the core of who THEY are, what THEY want to accomplish with their kids/classes, and then begin to think about blogging, podcasting, and the like.

OR, you could do a whiz-bang 45 min 'lecture' on Web 2.0...and lose 99% of them by the end.

(he smiles)

Good luck!
Cheers,
Christian

Mr. Lauer said...

I agree with Christian. It is not about 2.X, it is about what some of these tools will allow your teachers to do. Approach it from the classroom experience and then the 2.x tools will fall into place. That being said, you could easily fill 45 minutes with Google Earth/Maps... Everything from figuring the area of the playground to genocide in Darfur...
Best wishes,
Tim Lauer

DRS said...

Here's some good resources that could initiate some good discussion.
http://movingforward.wikispaces.com/

Along with Tim and Christian, the goal might be:
1. Why do we need to change?
2. What is one thing you could do to begin changing.

My experience is I've often rushed into "here's some cool stuff you can do" before they really see why they should use them.

I've said many times, just because something's easy does mean folks will do it. They have to see a need. 45 minutes is only enough time to stir their thinking. Show them some stuff that might:
-get them thinking
-get them mad
-scare them
-inspire them

Tough to do but you've got to start with something that challenges pedagogy....that's what web 2.0 is largely about.