Wesch Response

I loved the two YouTube videos! Thank you for sharing these!

Beside the "Vision" video, I saw one for K-12 students.  It was really good as well.  These videos, these ideas are exactly why I am taking this class.  Along with each new technology, TV, radio, film, computers, even the Internet, there has been the idea that it will "revolutionize education." I believe Web 2.0 and digital tek really will! The students are so engaged outside of the classroom! They will not let us (education) drop the ball on this one.  The students are inspiring change and teaching us...I love it!

While I notice all of these possibilities, unfortunately I see the barriers that have kept other technologies from reaching their full potential in education.  Barriers such as funding, lack of knowledge in administration, poor planning.  It was only two years ago that my entire school system had a very restrictive Web filter - there were more sites blocked than unblocked. Parts of the ASU site was blocked, CNN too! Definitely no FB or YouTube.  I like to think of this as a success story - our teachers stood up and demanded explanation.  We made our point heard and eventually, our central office opened up the floodgates! Teachers and students now have access to just about anywhere (I can't open the Tropical Teacher blog for our professor).  There are so many ways to "fix" these barriers, yet this doesn't happen a lot. 

Another issue that I have come to realize is the very deep divide between the "haves" and "have-nots." Some of our students do not have computers in their homes.  Some have computers but no Internet.  There is a digital revolution sweeping through about 60% of the high school where I teach.  The other 40% don't have access to participate on a regular basis in this digital revolution.  They do not have the tools necessary to be players in this online world.  I'm not sure how to fix this...grants?  business and community support?  I have heard success stories - PBS did a documentary called Growing Up Online and later followed with Digital Nation (both of which you can watch in entirety online). One of the success stories was about a failing school. By giving each student a laptop, their scores, attendance, and issues in general improved. We have to be careful and not place our faith in the tek alone - it still takes teachers, good teachers, to implement this Education 2.0 revolution.