Craig+Ladd

Frontline Digital Nation The demand for Wikis in classrooms and greater interactivity is a reflection of the changing culture of our nation. Our digital nation is changing our educational instruction and educational objectives. Digital Nation is a warning of the implications of are ever present online existence.

Is multi-taking killing our creativity? Anaylitic reasoning demands concentration and single thought.

Wiki in Plain English

It does explain the concept well and Wiki are a simple idea. How to execute that in class with quality and direction is difficult.

21st century education Eventhough I am a digital native and have grown up with computers I am very wary of implementing technology in education. When I first started teaching I tried to use every tech tool available. Now I realize that technology without sound educational methods are not worth much. While I agree we need to move students to suceed in the new world, I truly think the fundementals of writing and reading are essential to critical thinking.

Footprints in the digital age. This is another call for teachers to engage students in the new digital age. We need to create students who can create and comprehend a complicated online world. Just becasue students are natives to the digital age does not mean they will have a postive outcome. They need to be problem solvers and creative thinkers with the use of technology. A sophistocated student.

Read/Write Web It is important to create professional development for teachers, however I this really does not apply to me. I truly have lived the digital life since I was a kid.

Increasing technology might have diminishing return.

What do you think about allowing students to use Wikipedia in their research?

Students should be able to use Wikipedia in their research. First, Wikipedia is a great model of the "collaborative construction of truth.” a skill students need to experience and create to be successful in the modern age. Wikipedia is current and studies have shown it to be as accurate or more than accurate then traditional encyclopedias. Also it is a common misconception that anyone can edit a Wikipedia page. The articles were out of date and currently Wikipedia has an even more rigid editorial system and software to minimize abuse. Wikipedia does have its problems of disconnected writing and student abuse, but with proper instructional methods Wikipedia can be a successful tool. Since the creation of wiki’s and social sites information has become fluid and not held to former rigorous standards. Students are inept at discerning authentic information compared to information readily found on the internet. Research must be valid and quantitative. With collaborative websites becoming the “authority” on everything students need the tools to find valid information and weed out flawed information. Teach students how to verify and critically think about the Wikipedia entry. Teach the logic skills to deeply analyze information. Encourage students to dig past the entry and find the primary sources. Wikipedia is great starting point and information depository. Wikipedia like all media will have bias and misinformation; still ‘We need to be teaching pupils to critically assess the internet". The computer is a tool and without proper methods a student is not guaranteed to learn. Methods not technology should drive the curriculum. Technology is an enabler to increase the effectiveness of methods. Wikipedia if used correctly can be a great benefit to student’s research.