In reading the study by Gila Kurtz et als I was struck by the questions they asked more so than the study. Not only is it essential for teachers to use 2.0 technology in courses to encourage creatively as a way to improve knowledge building and diversity, but teachers have to be mindful of new technologies as they develop.
It seems as though educators might be a step behind the expectations of their students. For instance, Facebook is now thought to be the preferred social media platform for those 30 and over. As the youth gravitate towards innovation and the next new thing, the question posed in the article is how can educators keep up?
While the practicality might be lacking, the direction might be for students to select their application (keeping with creativity and having responsibility for their education and cognitive processes) for assignments. The meta-cognition practices are then embedded in assignments as students by selection of their applications dictate how they would best like to demonstrate their learning. It may not be as burdensome on instructors as one might think to have a range of applications they must maneuver as essentially, the functionality of most are similar.
That is the dilemma of Web 2.0 and technology itself – how to keep up! On the other hand, as practitioners we might agree as to what is our true role I the learning process. I believe, as the late Rita Pearson did, that we are the champions of our learners. In that light, no matter what comes our way, we simply ask ourselves, “How does this help me act as a champion on behalf of my learners?” Not every app or gadget does that.
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