Monday, March 2, 2009
Thing Five- Web 2.0/ Teaching and Learning in the 20th Century
In reviewing information about Web 2.0, I was astounded to make the parallel of the Web goals to my theory of adaptations needed in modern education. Web 2.0 is people based on "No Products Only Solutions" theory. The focus is made on a design that is based on customization, differentiation and simple solutions based on a problem solving approach (hmmm... same ideas I have for improving modern day education). The Web offers our students the ability to make connections based on their uniqueness as students in order to develop their skills. As educators, we need to let our students grasp this unique learning tool to help them develop skills they will need in their future careers. As a past Human Resource Consultant, I never asked a perspective employee the answer to an advanced calculus problem, but instead would look at their problem solving skills, their team work abilities, their unique knowledge base and how they could improve the internal work structure team. As educators, we need to look past the numbers and use tools like Web 2.0 to prepare our students to meet the needs of employers.
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Every school that I have been at all had a similar mission statement. It was something to the effect that their students would become life-long learners contributing to the world's society. You're so right about what perspective employers want. When my daughter graduated from college, she looked for every resource that she could find on what employers were looking for in a perpective employee. She was on her third interview and she was asked how to motivate her fellow employees. Since my daughter was a college athlete, she felt that she didn't have much to offer from her work experience. However, since she was nearly always captain of her sports teams in high school and college (she didn't get her athletic gene from me!) she explained how she worked with every type of personality. Like the prima dona, the under-achiever,etc. She told her interviewer that she felt that she have learned so much on the volleyball court. The man who was interviewing her said, "That is the best answer I have ever been given!" And then he skipped the customary 4th interview and hired her right then. My daughter said, "Mom, why did they hire me? I know that I'm as smart as many of the other people I interviewed with and my GPA can't be as high either." That was 4 years and she just made assistant vice president at her company. Your past experience as a Human Resource Consultant serves you well at a teacher!
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