K12 Online Conference - Thriving in a Collaborative Web 2.0 Classroom: The "Great Debate" and "Student News Action Network"

Just got done watching Tom Daccord's December 16, 2009 K12 Online Conference presentation, Thriving in a Collaborative Web 2.0 Classsroom: "The Great Debate" and "Student News Action Network". It was really interesting. Daccord points out that youth are "online all the time", that "kids are immersed in technology at an earlier and earlier age", and that their goals are to be part of a social and participatory culture. They also expect a "low threshold to express themselves artistically" and cites YouTube as an example. He also points out that since 2005, youth are writing more online than offline.

Daccord states that for students to be engaged in their learning, the work must be meaningful to them, authentic (having a wider audience than just their teacher), and has to have a social aspect. He used an assignment called "The Great Debate of 2008" to engage students in the issues of the 2008 Presidential Election through the use of a Wiki and Ning. He viewed his role as ensuring quality and keeping bias out of the content. Daccord also pointed out that 21 out of 23 conversations on Ning were student initiated, that students spontaneously inserted videos on Ning, and that students were asking to write more than they were assigned for the Wiki.

Daccord's students also participate in the "Student News Action Network", which is entirely student produced by students in at least 5 different countries. As with the above assignment, all of the work looked professionally produced, which speaks to the students' abilities to artistically express themselves. This project again illustrates that when students have ownership over the content, have opportunities to be social and connected, and have an authentic assignment, they are capable of learning a great deal and producing high quality work. He also suggests that by co-opting the social networks for academic reasons, teachers are able to meet their students where they are in a way that is relevant to them.

He finally points out that in order for teachers to overcome the isolation they often work in and to practice what they are trying to impart to their students, teachers might consider joining or forming an academic community.

Tom Daccord's style was engaging and interesting. His knowledge of youth and what motivates them was impressive, as was his knowledge and application of what is available on the read-write web. It is a bit daunting to think of myself setting up Wiki's, Ning, Voicethread, etc. for my students. I better get this stuff if I want to engage students.