Web 2.0 Diary journey – Facebook

Since I took upon myself to get familiar with web 2.0 tools, the journey has been uplifting and learning never-ending.

 

First Lesson– cyber language; I mean, how else can you describe Twittering, delicious, Mxit, or blogging if they didn’t just pop out a recipe book?

Second Lesson – Cyber socializing e.g. Myspace and Facebook. My 6 year old daughter recently indicated to us that we don’t need to worry- as although her sister doesn’t read as many books as we wished her to, she still “reads Facebook”. Yeah, what a relief.

So I have started this journey “conducting undercover work” in Facebook, finding myself in the process throwing sheep’s at family and friends, being poked by strangers, and receiving growing gifts. On the other hand there was a lot of learning taking place too, joining groups of shared interest, such as addicted to quotes and the philosophy of science. I now virtually meet and have discussions with people all over the world (byproduct learning; this world is flat!). As well as joining causes that have special place in my heart and getting connected with family and friends all over.

Third lesson – I think that my biggest learning was about this medium of socializing and its implication and repercussions. Cyber bullying, internet safety, web etiquette and the importance of privacy, things I had to establish myself and convey to my daughters. (By the way, FB has groups you can join and have open discussions regards internet and the safety of kids as they go online)

To sum up my initial lessons in this journey – starting with social network is a good way to start exploring Web 2.0 tools. And if you are in education or just a parent it can give you a glimpse into the world of the “digital native”.

 

From the desk of a digital immigrant diary

When working with teachers in rural areas, township schools or private schools we often reflect on best practices in teaching and how do we get it across the schools. As well as best Math system, the role of resources in Science, Technology and Mathematics, integration of the subject of Technology ensuring it aligned to the SA curriculum, all these issues and others arise when evaluating our projects. Reading Mark Prensky article about the students of today and how fundamentally they are different from the students of the past raise serious questions in our knowledge about “how kids learn”.

 Mark Prency in his article “Digital Natives, Digital immigrants” has defined today’s students – K through college – as “Digital Natives” – who were born and grown with digital technologies “Today‟s average college grads have spent less than 5,000 hours of their lives reading, but over 10,000 hours playing video games (not to mention 20,000 hours watching TV). Computer games, email, the Internet, cell phones and instant messaging are integral parts of their lives” this leads to students who THINK AND PROCESS INFORMATION DIFFERENTLY!
This leaves the rest of us as the “Digital Immigrant”, those who were not born into the digital world and have adopted many of the new technologies on a later stage.

I recommend you read the article (click the links above) as this article calls on educators to shift old methods and find ways to communicate in the language and style of their students.

In my blog I am hoping to share my experiences and learning as we work with teachers to find “new ways to do the old staff”.

As English is my second language, I am used to carry an accent,  I sure do expect that while I try and adopt the new “digitally” language I will bear an accent as well, but for that I have my daughters or my “digital natives” to help me out. (I just hope they will have the patience for me…)