Journal #5 - Internet-Based Technology Resources

As a graduate student finishing a degree in instructional technology it's hard not to be enthusiastic about the potential of emerging web-based technologies and their possible impacts on learning in the classroom. Yet however great the potential, as a future instructional technologist I'm often faced with a recurring and appropriate question of "hype or hypermedia?"

Recently I was reminded of this question while reading a course textbook, E-Learning and Social Networking by Robin Mason and Frank Rennie. In a chapter titled Constraints on Course Design, Mason and Rennie comment on the possible "overblown" claims of the effects of web-based information and communication tools to mediate student learning:

"... most of these 'potentialities' are perfectly accurate. The more relevant issue is whether or not any are being actualised! There is no guarantee that these tools are wanted or desirable or without other insuperable barriers...".

A few paragraphs later, however, they counter their own argument with the following:

"Whether it is new, different, merely evolutionary, what the web was originally meant to be, or all of these, the fact is that it is a force to be reckoned with in education. This requires research, experimentation, and an open mind but not a gung-ho attitude." (Rennie & Mason, 2008, pp. 133-34)

While I might take personal exception to dispassionately pursuing these questions, I am in complete agreement with Mason and Rennie that successful implementation of technology in the classroom requires research, experimentation, and an open mind. And what better resource to turn to than the Internet and the World Wide Web to gain perspective on who, what, where, and how technology is being used to enrich and improve students' learning experience in the classroom.

Throughout my graduate studies I've come across a wide variety of web-based technology resources that provide both insightful and quality information for instructors seeking to improve their knowledge of technology use in the classroom. Some of these resources focus specifically on current pedagogy and instructional practices. Others offer news on the latest technology and links to open source software. Yet others provide research and studies based on current practices in K-12 and higher education. In addition to topic specific web sites, there are vast numbers of web sites that share the accumulated experience of teachers working "in the trenches" through freely available open resources such as technology related lesson plans, assessments, and grading rubrics. With the growing prominence of social networking, newer web sites are popping up that provide similar opportunities for professional educators to pool their communal knowledge, practical field experience, and peer review emerging technologies and their implementation in the classroom.

As is often the case with searching the Web the greatest difficulty lies in not in finding technology related resources for teachers, but sorting through and evaluating the vast number of web sites to identify those of high quality. A small sample of high quality FREE resources I've been able to find, or have been introduced to through the course of my studies, are listed below:

• Web 2.0 that Works is a web site devoted to Marzanno's framework for effective teaching and applied to technology tools; specifically with regard to how technology can facilitate current pedagogy and instructional practices. This web site lists an impressive number of Web 2.0 technology tools and categorizes them by instructional strategies. A similar site that features  research-based instructional practices for implementing technology in the classroom is the Focus on Effectiveness web site. Both of these websites offer excellent information and should be at the top of the list of any teacher interested in introducing technology into their classroom.

• Classroom 2.0 is a free community based social networking site devoted to anyone interested in Web 2.0 and Social Media in education. However, the discussions are far from limited to just Social Media. There are 30 pages of groups devoted to almost every aspect of technology use in education. This site is an excellent example of the power of social networking applied to the informal professional development of educators spread across the country and ranging from K-12 teachers to faculty in higher education.

• PBS Teachers offers a wealth of high quality technology related resources for K-12 teachers. The web site is organized around free technology lesson plans for the classroom (categorized by grade and subject), discussion groups, and professional development. In addition, PBS Teachers presents ongoing webinars (and an archive of webinars) featuring educational technology experts and PBS producers who share resources and strategies for creating rich technology experiences to improve student engagement and learning in the classroom. A similar type web site that offers an truly astounding number of resources for K-12 teachers, and often considered the online "bible" of technology related resources, is Kathy Schrock's web site.

• Faculty Focus web site is dedicated to providing current research and articles on "effective teaching strategies for the college classroom". As a future educational technologist desiring to work in higher education this is one of my favorite web sites. I particularly enjoy the articles that focus on current practices in delivering online courses and how to squeeze the most out of often limited course management systems using innovative instructional practices. Of course the topics are not limited to online course delivery alone and range from academic leadership to trends in higher education. This is an outstanding resource for anyone interested in online course development and delivery in higher education. A similar site that provides information for K-12 is THE Journal: Technological Horizons in Education.

• C4LPT: Center for Learning and Performance Technology is web site based in the UK that provides an extensive list of productivity and learning technologies tools. The tools are reviewed by technology users worldwide and each year a list of the top 100 technology tools is published. Although many of the tools require payment, enough FREE tools are listed to make searching through the lists worth while. Another nice feature is the comparison charts of popular tool platforms. For example, the current comparison is between twitter, Facebook, Ning, and Elgg. This is a great site to use when conducting research into specific technology tools within a particular category. A similar site that offers links to Web 2.0 technology tools is the Cool Tools for Schools web site.