Module 10

Before I commenced this Web 2.0 course, my understanding of web tools was very piece-meal. I can't say that I am fully proficient, but I feel I have a good understanding of the purpose and practical elements of most of these tools. It gives me great confidence to be able to think about how lessons for my Year 10 class could be repackaged to make better use of their laptops - which was my original aim for enrolling in the course.

During the course I had a go at making my own Wiki (http://hsiecasimir.pbworks.com/). I used this to present information, work samples, student interviews and syllabus and career information on the range of subjects that are offered in HSIE at my school. This information was targeted to Year 10 as they contemplate their subject choices for next year. This became a far more effective way of communicating opportunities for students who were keen to do more research using their preferred methods which included the laptop. It was also ideal to be able to check on comments and questions that students could raise about specific subjects. I will be putting together more wiki's in my classes, but I see it as a window to reach the students when I don't have them in front of me. They also seem interested in opening that window to have a look, more often than not.

Where do I go from here? Well firstly, I intend to make use of the Web 2.0 tools that I have learned to start redesigning my lessons for my Year 10 laptop class. There is potential to promote higher order thinking in the classroom and at home but only now that I have a good understanding of the tools they are using and being asked to use. Yes there is also potential for students to let time slip away by misusing their computers, but time wasting has been standard practice forever, any you have a better chance of engaging the students if they can also exercise some perceived control over their learning. Over time, I can see that a classroom culture could be developed that might not only increase engagement, but may also be used to increase accountability for individual and collaborative learning.

Secondly, as I consolidate my own learning, I would like to start to share my learnings from this course with my faculty staff. Some are more proficient than others, but there is a culture of "having a go" which I would like to capitalise on. It helps by having students who are usually generous with their appreciation when staff try to be inventive for benefit of more effective learning.

My thanks to Helen and Diane for their efforts in putting the this Web 2.0 course together. It has been an interesting journey that, on mass, is likely to make a real difference in bringing teachers up to speed with Web 2.0 and make a positive impact on learning in Catholic schools.