Blog #2 Read Write Web

There is no doubt that classrooms are moving “toward the future”. More and more teachers are finding ways to incorporate computers as learning tools in their classroom. They are using programs that help students collaborate, read, and write.
As Will Richardson explains in The Educator’s Guide to the Read/Write Web “thousands of teachers and students use the web to publish their work, collaborate on projects, and engage in online conversations.” That is only part of the transformation; teachers are learning more and more ways to use the Read/Write technology to educate their students.
Richardson explains how posting on blogs help students collaborate, how wikis help students exchange ideas and definitions, and how social bookmarking (RSS) helps students collect and sort information. After reading over the last few months about all of these innovations Richardson brought up a question I never really thought about; how should the curriculum change because of these new tools?
How should Math, Social Studies, English, and Science curriculums change to incorporate these new ideas? The question is a very complex one. If we choose to incorporate these technologies on a broad scope then something must be sacrificed in order to add a new element. What would each sacrifice? Teachers should be implementing these tools on an individual basis. As they feel fit, they should find ways to incorporate blogging, and wikis and RSS at their own pace. If we start trying to main stream these tools teachers will be forced and that almost never leads to positive results. I have begun using a form of blogging in my class so that students can exchange ideas about formulas and problem solving techniques. I believe that slow and steady is going to win the race, we will stake one step at a time and build on each success that we have!