Ch. 8 Systemic Issues

Every school district in the country faces issues on a daily basis.  Many of the pressing issues are in regards to providing an equitable education to all students regardless of their background or upbringing.  One way schools are trying to alleviate inequity is by using technology to help every student gain the most from their education.

According to chapter 8 in Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools Limited English proficient students are the fast growing demographic in schools today.  By the year 2025 1 out of 4 students will be considered LEP.  Students that need to acquire a second language learn through meaningful interactions with the language in comparison to grammatical mastering.  In order to provide students with those meaningful interactions cooperative learning experiences are being set up using Web 2.0 tools.  A great resource for LEP students is an interactive CD game where they can listen, read, play games, work in pairs, and write on the computer in a safe environment. 

Podcasting was another big issue discussed in the chapter.  If teachers made their content available through podcasts students could access the content whenever they needed it or for further review and study.  In fact, it would be very neat to have a library full of compressed audio and video files for students to check out to aid in their learning. 

I would incorporate podcasting into my classroom by taping my lectures and posting them to the school website for students to download and listen to whenever it is convenient.  I also think authentic assignments are great and I would like to incorporate business simulation games for students to collaborate together on. 

Most of the business world is focused on teamwork and utilizing technology so it is important to emphasize those through simulations and podcasts in the classroom.  Our students learn best when we authentic our learning and provide the most current tools to aid our students.