Chapter 1:New World, New Web, New Skills

"Today's education system faces irrelevance unless we bridge the gap between how students live and how they learn."  Web 2.0 tools have the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning in order to better educate students for a 21st century, global society.  These tools will allow more creativity and collaboration and  students can be more responsible for their learning choices.    However, for that to happen will take a revolution; and  I am pessimistic for the following reason:

1)  No matter what studies have shown time and time again, our school system is entrenched in out-modeled ways:  schools still close for 10 weeks in summer so that students can help on the family farm, educational testing and labeling is legislated to the degree that standardized tests are driving the teaching/learning in schools--and in the admission to higher education.   No matter how many studies show that teenagers need more sleep and would benefit from later start times, it hasn't happened.

2) The digital divide is too large: between states, between districts, between schools and between students (and between teachers for that matter--classroom technology is inequitable except perhaps at brand new schools).

3) I read somewhere that an incredible number of teachers  are soon to retire and the worry is that there will be a huge shortage of teachers.  This might actually be the saving grace.  New teachers who are already required to demonstrate 2.0 skills in their teaching methodologies will be the ones who transform education in the classroom.   Web 2.0 in education may actually attract more people to the field of teaching....but it is the school boards and administrators who first must embrace this new future and who must not only "talk the talk" actually walk in the 2.0 world..

Unless this educational revolution happens, more and more students, parents and communities will turn away from public education.