dw10cw

After 10 years of teaching I think motivation is the key factor in education. I taught in a classroom in Kenya over the summer which had no electric never mind computers. Yet the children continued to learn and perhaps more successfully than my own students in Belfast. In my view it was for the simple reason that they wanted to learn. In the African context, the desire to escape poverty seems to bolster any intrinsic motivation. In the UK, the research seems to suggest that ICT bolsters motivation (particularly among boys). While not as strong a motivating force as poverty and starvation, perhaps ICT can help redress the lack of motivation among students that many teachers experience on a daily basis. There is also a question of whether Web 2.0 tools will have a particular motivating effect because of their social dimension. Thanks for the post, I hope more join in the conversation! DW

joeythibault

I thought it was a great paper. I'm grappling with educational research and how it seems how we're all looking at a silver bullet to let us and our students succeed completely and I'm not sure web2.0 is the answer. As you said, even Edison thought that motion pictures would revolutionize what will happen in education and he turned out (by and large wrong). Great conversation piece, I wrote a review on my blog: http://aregularjoe.wordpress.com/2009...

dw10cw

I think there is a lack of awareness and there will be some resistance from some teachers. However, many have embraced other technologies such as interactive whiteboards. I think the most serious barrier is the education system itself. Constant examinations and the competition between schools, which is especially strong in Northern Ireland with a rapidly falling school roll,are not conducive to pedagogical experimentation

kapil1312

Classic - This is Jane Austen of web 2.0 in education. I wont be surprised if this paper becomes part of "essential reading" list for all PGCE and IICT courses in UK and the world. "Web 2.0 in school - is lack of awareness , or a more fundamental resistance to transformation" ..was my key take away. I am still thinking. Thanks sir.

dw10cw

I would really appreciate some feedback on my paper...good or bad!