The Dynamic 2-0

It is quite amazing what teachers are doing with our new digital technology.  After viewing the website we were assigned to observe about the 1st graders use of technology I was left with quite a nice impression about the tools that 2.0 offers.  Students, even 1st graders were taking part in class discussion.  Our students are starting early (if their districts have the resources).  They had their own "online community" that their teacher (a wiz) coordinated.  And that is one of the traits of 2.o.  It requires "guided mentoring" that the educator teaches, and then allows the students to facilitate their own learning.  

The way students have access to interactive media has changed.  They participate in blogs, wiki, and other online communities that emphasize learning.  Interactive video games are also what our students like.  If fact interactive is a big part of 2.0.  Our net generation is more social than prior generations; they like sharing information through the various forms of media available to us now.  Finding ways to make learning "authentic" or transforming methods in the class with the way kids learn at home should be priority of new teachers.