Thing #5

I am going to go a bit against the proverbial grain concerning the advent of the technology associated with web 2.0 and the praises touted about it in these articles.  I freely admit that we are in an age of almost unlimited information sharing and that as a resource for information, web 2.0 is unmatched in human history.  There remains one critical aspect of this ever-expanding resource that has yet to be addressed and that is the difference between accumulated and applied knowledge. 

                I believe whole heartedly that technology is changing and will continue to change the way that we teachers operate in the classroom, but probably not in the way that most of us would consider.  You see, regardless of the quantity of information that is available, the ability to refine, shape, and apply this knowledge in an effective manner, usable on a daily basis in practical situations, will be the cornerstone on which effective teaching will be built.  It is no secret that children today are much more adept at assimilating and using current technology, they are born into it and it serves as a virtual extension of their own environment.  How then do we teachers supplement the data provided by web 2.0 tools and beyond?  It is simple, we teach by example, by experience, and by a demonstrated proficiency of application.  In the old days we called this by two words; experience and wisdom. 

                I am not fighting the advent of web 2.0, but simply raising a caution flag.  What is the use of a child learning about a chemical reaction if he or she is not allowed to conduct a hands-on experiment and then learn how these processes affect our lives and the lives of others on a daily basis?  There are numerous websites dedicated to forestry and conservation, with countless facts and statistics available to commit to memory for an exam, but what good do they do for the child who has never been in the woods?   The study of music history or theory is fantastic, but hand out some recorders, triangles and tambourines to a classroom of 3^rd graders and watch the magic happen.