Creating+School+2.0

=Educating the Digital Generation (Keynote)=

We live in unprecedented times. Technology is transforming every aspect of human endeavour, yet our schools --- the very institutions charged with preparing children for the future --- remain fiercely resistant to change.

This presentation invites educators to imagine a school that has been transformed by the power of the new web 2.0 technologies. A school where students use real-world tools to collaborate on meaningful projects as a part of the global community. A school where the power of the web is harnessed, rather than blocked.

The tools required to make this shift are now readily available and, in many cases, free. All that is needed is the will to make it happen. This seminar will discuss strategies for winning hearts and minds in the endeavour to build 'school 2.0'.

Presentation Slides
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Did You Know?
The "Shift Happens" video is available from [|the Fischbowl] (and may be used without permission under a Creative Commons licence)

Tectonic Shifts

 * The entire sum of human knowledge available to every human being on the planet.
 * A generation of authors
 * A stage for every performer

We are living in the greatest ‘teachable moment’ in human history. //Are we taking advantage of it?//

Why Web 2.0 Matters

 * [|The World is Flat] by Thomas Friedman
 * What can be done by computers will be done by computers
 * More than we ever imagine will be done by computers
 * What can be sent offshore will be sent offshore
 * The saviours? Innovation and Education

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

 * The current generation learns differently to us
 * The gap between ‘us and them’ is big and getting bigger
 * More and more students view school as irrelevant
 * See [|Marc Prensky's work]

21st century skills

 * enGauge's summary of [|21st century skills]
 * How to search
 * Save the Endangered [|Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus!]
 * “Never memorise anything you can look up”
 * Imagination is more important than knowledge.

What Might a 21st Century Classroom Look Like?
//'Authentic work for Authentic Audiences'//
 * Engagement and motivation
 * Global citizenship
 * Reflecting on learning
 * Critical awareness
 * Window on the classroom
 * One vision of School 2.0: [|School2-0.org]

What are these 'Web 2.0' tools?

 * Blogs: On-line journal, with feedback
 * Wiki: Collaborative website, any-one can edit
 * Podcast: Audio / video published to audience’s MP3 players

Multiple Challenges

 * Ignorance
 * Self-doubt
 * Cost
 * Fear