RSA #3 Web 2.0 Reflective Inquiry: A Transformative Literacy Teacher Education Tool

RSA#3  Web 2.0 Reflective Inquiry:  A Transformative Literacy Teacher Education Tool

http://web.b.ebscohost.com.cucproxy.cuchicago.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e2a337c1-1437-462b-aaf5-b5286ddc5949%40sessionmgr113&vid=5&hid=120

In the past 10 years, Web access, the nature of the Web, and contexts for learning have been transformed, along with the emergence of desired technological competencies for learners, teachers, and administrators. Internet connectivity in schools, homes, neighborhoods, and communities has become increasingly pervasive according to the article Web 2.0 and Classroom Research: What Path Should We Take Now? So where do we go now?

Web 2.0 brings many possibilities to different areas of the curriculum to facilitate learning.  Author Elizabeth Years Stevens (2013) discusses about her graduate class where educators are learning how to connect literacy and digital technology.  This article had many layers embedded throughout; professional development, literacy, and technology.    Students in her class were to explore new Web 2.0 tools such as wikis, blogs, podcasts, and digital stories.  To drive every class they guided their inquiry of each genre, they asked and discussed the following questions: How is this technology used in the classroom? What are the literacies involved? What potential does this technology have to transform literacy teaching and learning? Stevens (2013) The graduate class embraced and recognized their thoughts shift towards a digital world.

Our change in education to embrace technology in the classroom can be subtle, but forceful.  Both articles embrace using Web 2.0 to facilitate learning by using blogs, wikis, photo-sharing while engaging students in promoting their works while considering works of others.  This is the world we live in and we must move in this direction, regardless of our thoughts or how uncomfortable we feel.  It is about our students and the best way to engage them in learning.

Reference

Greenhow, C., Robelia, B., Hughes, J. (2009). Web 2.0 and classroom research:  What path should we take now?  Educational Researcher Points, 38(4), 246-259. Retrieved April 12, 2014 from http://blackboard.cuchicago.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1043213-dt-content-rid-4446967_2/courses/8967.201430/Web%202.0%20and%20Class-room%20Research%20%20What%20Path%20%20Should%20We%20Take%20Now.pdf

Stevens, E. (2013, February)  Web 2.0 Reflective inquiry:  A transformative literacy teacher education tool.  Journal of Adolescence & Adult Literacy 56(5), 368.  Retrieved  April 12, 2014 from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.cucproxy.cuchicago.edu/ehost/pdf-viewer/pdfviewer?sid=e2a337c1-1437-462b-aaf5-b5286ddc5949%40session-mgr113&vid=5&hid=120