Steve Hargadon interviews Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach on 21st Century Learning

Steve Hargadon is a leader in the discussion of Web 2.0 Just before Christmas he interviewed Sheryl-Nussbaum-Beach posted to a podcast. Her insights are most useful for those of us interested in moving schools forward with the use of the read/write web as a necessary tool for student learning. You can follow this link to a list of podcasts related to some of the newest technology being used. Click on Sheryl's podcast of Decemeber 21st to hear the interview.

http://edtechlive.wikispaces.com/Recordings+List

Steve Hargadon does a great job of summarizing the key points of their interview:

* Sheryl is a technology and education consultant and adjunct
instructor in the School of Education at The College of William and
Mary.
* Right now, Sheryl believes, we are in a place where computing in
the classroom is really going to take off.
* She feels that it is a moral responsibility of teacher-leaders
in the school to figure out how to access the tools of the web and
help students to learn to use them in a safe environment. (Again, I'm
fascinated with the contrast of Larry Cuban's views here, and also
with the apparent difficulties that grass-roots technology efforts
face in school decision-making.)
* "You can't give away what you don't own." Until school
administrators are experiencing the benefits of the new technologies,
there cannot be more widespread adoption of them. (This touches on the
point above.)
* The students of today don't have a choice as to whether or not
they will master the skills of the read/write web (and being
collaborative and self-driven)--if they don't, they will be left
behind in the work world.
* The magic of Web 2.0 in schools is individual growth toward the
sense of being "self-actualized:" students can be transformed by being
able to write things that others are interested in reading, and by
being able to collaborate with others.
* The "Golden Question" right now is: can tie these new tools to
student achievement? She believes it they can be, but it's very hard
to measure because of all the other variables.
* Sheryl points out the need for balance: when you use any
pervasive educational strategy (not just the new computer
technologies), you need to make sure that there is a marriage between
the passion that is generated with a rigorous education. This should
be a deepening of learning, and be challenging. "Rigor and passion."
* Many students are going to be coming to school already well
versed in the read/write or participatory web. Her experience has been
that they are often motivated learners from these experiences.
* Sheryl talks about moving from the "Information Age" to the "Age
of Conceptualization." I'm not sure I know what the "Age of
Conceptualization" is...
* The most gifted students are good at the way school is played
right now, and they can have the hardest time adjusting to a learning
environment that is cooperative and self-directed. It is the kids who
have struggled previously that really benefit the most by being able
to use these technologies. (This goes along with Sheryl's desire to
bring computing resources to homeless youth, and her belief in how
important this will be for them. See below.)
* She sees more of the writing tools being used in the
classroom--blogs and wikis--but not as much podcasting.
* The real skill needed by teachers and students will be the
ability to be our own "digital age librarian," knowing how to access,
select, and synthesize all of the available information. We need to
tap into the power of "self-directed interest."
* On homeless or transient children: she is a living example of
breaking the cycle of generational poverty. If we don't empower these
children with the same technologies that the affluent child will get
at home, then we are trapping them in their poverty. Homeless children
move around a lot, and often the teachers are unaware of the true
situation at home. After the interview, Sheryl and I talked at length
about creating a program for teacher mentoring to homeless children,
and the providing of computing resources at homeless shelters (see
www.PublicWebStations.com).
* Her blog is 21stcenturylearning.typepad.com.
To join in a discussion of "School 2.0," please visit www.School20.net.

Steve has an excellent blog that can be found at:
Stevehargadon@blogspot.com