Possible Titles:
- Harnessing the New Shape of Information
- An Educator’s Guide to Web 2.0
We are surrounded by new technologies. They are emerging in almost every shape and color, and with a dizzying array of functions and capabilities, many of which have almost no practicality at all. One mark of good educators and educated people is the quality of skepticism — to always ask, “Why!”
Largely due to technology, one shift has occurred over the past decade and a half that we, as educators, simply can not ignore. It is the degree and character to which the very nature of information has changed. Information has become increasingly networked, digital, and overwhelming — and each of these qualities impacts directly on what it means to be literate in the 21st century.
During recent months, shifts in the quality of content have continued and even accelerated. Blogs, wikis, and social media are redefining how information flows through the networks, connects and reconnects, and brings people together, based not on their geography, but on their ideas — and they are reshaping commerce and scholarship. The new shape of information is redefining basic skills.
Learn about the new Web from blogger, podcaster, Web 2.0 programmer, and 30+ year educator David Warlick. See how information now travels on many different levels, and how educators are seeking out new connections, shaping new and valuable learning products, and creating customized roadmaps on the Information highway. This session is guaranteed to have teachers on the edges of their seats.
Alternative Description:
The nature of information has changed dramatically since the advent of the World Wide Web. However, that change has accelerated during the past few years, thanks to a family of web tools that are so changing the way that we think about information that it is increasingly called, Web 2.0. This enlightening presentation will help educators to understand how the Web is emerging as a platform for collaboration, knowledge building, and problem solving that is affecting our world, and it is guaranteed to have teachers on the edges of their seats.Topics include: weblogs, podcasting, RSS, wikis, social bookmarks, photo and other content environments, and more.
Advanced Version:
What is Web 2.0? Why is it different from Web version 1? What are the foundational concepts that allow people to connect through the content, to create dynamic and adaptive networks for learning. This presentation, designed for tech-savvy educators, will introduce the basics of Web 2.0 technologies, a sampling of its tools, and its relevance to learning environments. Participants will explore together some potent opportunities for implementing these new tools for teacher staff development, digital resource production, and school management. This session is often podcasted for later reference.
