I have been working with some brand new right out of college teachers the last couple of weeks. I am really enjoying their energy, work ethics, and eagerness to learn. But, I am surprised at their lack of Web 2.0 skills. They can text, use My Space and Facebook, download music and images, and IM, but they don’t know what a wiki is or don’t have a blog.
The schools of education in this area have done a great job of making sure the new teachers can write lesson plans with goals and objectives, but not how to incorporate Web 2.0 tools in the curriculum. When I introduce the concept of a wiki or Google Doc to a new teacher they get excited, but often just want to make the wiki another way for the students to do their homework, which is a certain way to kill the wiki. I am reminded of Michael Wesch’s “A Portal to Media Literacy” where he reports that the way education is structured students only want to know what is on the test and how do I get an A.
I am encouraged that by working with new young teachers it is possible to get them to start thinking differently and not repeat their educational experience.
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