How does teaching change in the networked classroom?

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(The following is from last October but I think still relevent to this topic)
I have an interesting week coming up. Monday I am giving a 45 minute presentation to our high school students on Internet Safety. Of course with HS students you can't call it Internet Safety...so I've decided to take a positive approach and call it "Creating your online profile". We're going to take 45 minutes and look at how what you post online does in fact create your digital profile. Whether it is facebook, youtube, or search history. Anything and everything you do on the internet is kept some where....and students just don't get that.

After the 45 minute presentation I then spend the rest of Monday and Tuesday going class by class and talking with students on a more intimate level. I'm struggling with how do you talk to students in their world? You know they are going to be looking at me going "Yeah, we know this Jeff!".....could be my toughest crowd to date.

In my research for the presentation though I did come across some great stuff about what is happening out there in the "real world." How universities are using Facebook and Myspace and doing Google Searches on incoming students. Here are some links if you are interested.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22093513-26040,00.html
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2006-03-08-athletes-websites_x.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/TakeControlOfYourLife/Story?id=3171218&page=1
http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSN0224087420070806

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So what does all of this have to do with teaching in a new network space?

The last two weeks you have seen a glimpse of how I think teaching changes in the classroom. I hope you have enjoyed reviewing some of the material created over the last two years at the K12onlineconference.org. You have been a learner in a network space. Over 40 people from every corner of the world coming together to create digital content. Digital content that will forever be available to people connected to the Internet.

In a networked world, anyone and everyone becomes teachers. You no longer need to know it all, you just need to know where to go to find the information you need to teach. Are teachers doing this? Are teachers learning to use the networked information to teach in their classrooms? Why or why not?

As I prepare for Monday's presentation for the students I can't help to think that what if teachers were teaching how to use the space. If students were learning that adding content to the Internet can and is a good thing. That using information from the Internet is a good thing...but that "With great power, comes great responsibility." ~Spiderman (My favorite line for students)

Podcasts and frustrations

Many of you have experienced frustrations with creating and uploading a podcast assignment. Let me say that all I expect is that before this class finishes that you have a podcast linked to your blog so you have time to try and figure it out.

And figure it out you must. :) I gave very little direction for how to create a podcast...and I did it on purpose (I know I'm mean!). What I want to do is push you to learn something new. To work on your searching and acquire new skills on your own. Sure I could have created a video for you, could have given you all the information and walked you through step by step on how to do it. But what would you have learned? How to follow directions?

Teaching in a networked environment means allowing people to create their own knowledge. Allowing them to find the information they need and create meaning from it. Creating a podcast isn't easy and it takes time to learn all the little steps needed to create and publish a podcast. But once you learn it...it becomes a powerful tool.

• Siemens: Pages 115-122
• Google Reader
• K12online conference presentations

Assignment

• Blog Topics
• Teaching in a new networked world
• Your choice

Looking long term: Mark your calendar

I ask that you work on your collaborative wiki project just one more week. I don't even know what you are doing or where you are doing it at...but I'm excited to see what you have created. Can someone post the link here: http://etwb.wetpaint.com/

Second Life:
Sunday May 18th at 8pm EST a tour of Second Life
We'll spend about 90 minutes touring Second Life. Please make sure you have downloaded the program and created a free account at secondlife.com before this time. There are loads of tutorials all around the web to help you get started. Don't worry about walking or flying...we'll learn that when we get there. Make sure you add me as a friend my SL name is Utes Torok.

Live Final Podcast via Skype
Saturday May 24th at 8pm EST a live Podcast on On Deck (be online on Skype at 7:30 for set up and pre-show)
Instead of having a guess speaker for the class this time, I thought I'd try something new (always trying something new) I thought we could do a live podcast on my On Deck network www.thethinkingstick.com/ondeck I think this will be a great way to wind up the class, have one last meeting via Skype as a whole class and discuss what's ever on your mind. We'll have a live audience so it should be interesting. We'll go for about an hour or until we run out of things to say (which I never do as my wife always reminds me :) ) Don't worry I'll do all the recording and stuff from my end...you just need to be on Skype and ready to go!

If anyone has issues with these dates please let me know soon so we can make sure everyone is there. Thanks!