Secondary+Education

__ I. Some Rules about using technology and Web 2.0 sites in your lessons: __

 * 1) Find tools that are compatible and complementary to your lessons and curriculum.
 * 2) Apply the technology to your lesson, NOT vice versa!!! Technology is a tool, just like a pencil. You may use a pencil for a class activity, but you would never base your entire lesson plan on a pencil.
 * 3) Make sure you test the site, tool, or resource in your classroom, not just at home.
 * 4) Embrace change.

__II. Why is technology becoming so important in education?__

 * 1) Our students are "**[|Digital Natives]**."
 * 2) Like it or not, computers have **[|changed how and what we teach]**.
 * 3) We should help teach our students how to **[|safely]** and **[|responsibly]** use the internet.
 * 4) Some students who sit on the sidelines can become more included and **[|engaged]** when technology is incorporated into their classes.
 * 5) Some states, like Pennsylvania, have made technology a core component of **[|educational reform]**.
 * 6) Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 tools can help you **[|restructure and reinvent your classroom]** without moving a single piece of furniture.
 * 7) **[|Basic computer skills]** are dramatically changing the expectations in the **[|job market]**.

__V. Common Concerns:__
> //A. Most of the Web 2.0 sites allow the author/moderator to control what personal is needed for visitors to access and interact on the site.// > //A. Most of the Web 2.0 sites allow the author/moderator to control what is posted on the site. This can typically be set for varying degrees of control.// > //A. Many of these tools are free. Some sites do have registration fees; but, if you think the site would be invaluable, you could talk to your department or your administrators to see if there is some funding available. Most of these sites are significantly cheaper than licenses for software.// > //A. In most cases, all you need is a computer. For sites that involve creating and publishing media content, the internal microphone and/or a webcam can be more than sufficient to create a podcast or vodcast.// > //A. Sure it could, but technology that is selected to enhance your lesson plans can generate excitement and engagement. Like it or not, Web 2.0 sites and a myriad of electronic gadgets are a significant part of our students' lives. We can embrace them as teaching tools, or simply be plagued by them. Would you rather be on top of the bucking bronco, or under it???// > //A. This is why it is ESSENTIAL to select a resource for the lesson, and not base the entire lesson on the technology. And, since most of these resources are publicly available, students can use them in and out of the building.// > //A.// //Web 2.0 is, in some respects, a digital manifestation of survival of the fittest. And// //certainly, many of these sites are "Betas" and could be there one day, and gone the next. However, for any type of site, tool, or resource, there are usually several different versions that basically// //do// //the same thing.//
 * 1) **Q. How can I keep my students' identities safe and secure?**
 * 1) **Q. How can I ensure that nothing inappropriate ends up on my blog, wiki, etc.?**
 * 1) **Q. How expensive are these tools?**
 * 1) **Q. What special equipment do I need to use these tools?**
 * 1) **Q. Couldn't all this technology be a distraction from the actual course content?**
 * 1) **Q. What if, on the day of the activity, the particular site, or the Internet is slow or down?**
 * 1) **Q. Can I rely on these "Beta" sites, or could they disappear as quickly as they appear?**

__VII. Helpful Resources__

 * Jim Gates Tipline
 * THE Journal
 * Edutopia
 * [|Go 2 Web 2.0]
 * Resources for Social Studies Teachers


 * EXAMPLE - SHS Inauguration Project
 * EXAMPLE - Springfield HS Music Gallery
 * EXAMPLE - SHS Sculpture Blog
 * EXAMPLE - SHS Constitution Day Blog

dave.jurkiewicz@gmail.com jurkidav@ssd.k12.pa.us
 * If you have any questions...**