The Future of Education

Conversations on Teaching and Learning in a Networked World

Web 2.0 for Education Outreach to Low-Income and Minority Students

I've been asked to help facilitate an event at the end of March with educational and government representatives on the topic of using the new technologies of the Web specifically to help low-income and minority students--and in particular to open greater opportunities for higher education to them. If all goes as we're planning right now, I'll be broadcasting the event live as a part of the interview series here and for anyone with an interest in this topic.

My job for that day will be to lay out the vision and possibilities for this angle on Web 2.0, as I've told them that I don't have any particular expertise directly here, but want to be a part of helping to bring the dialog forth.

I'm interested in what ideas you, dear network members, have on this topic, and if there is anyone you think I should particularly look to for thought leadership here. I'm also interested in involving some students in the discussion.

Thank you for any help.

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Hi, Haywood. So glad to have you here. Can you give us a link or any information on your program?

Steve
Haywood, you might look at some of the organizations that already do eMentoring for some ideas. I have links to a few of those on my web site.
Hi Steve, i'm slightly bias by I think the level of education collaboration and discussion going on on the site I run is quite unique. Peer to peer support in education I think is going to become increasingly vital as more education moves out of the classroom and in the UK the student room is where that support is happening on a massive scale at all levels of education.
This is the study help areas of the site: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=11

Students come to the site and stay on it because its not just education, its everything thats of interest to them. The wiki on the site provides further tools for collaboration and we're looking to build on this. 1.9million unique users a month use the site. If you want any input in your talk from me let me know :)

all the best
So, I'm feeling all sheepish now, having emailed you BEFORE checking out all the great suggestions that have already been made.

I do still think that some of the folks to check in with are those who have worked the longest and hardest to make college accessibility a reality for underserved students... most familiar with NJ Seeds, the Bonner Scholars program, and the Center for Student Opportunity.

I know there are many many more, and I look forward to listening to this conversation unfold... I feel like I've been waiting and waiting for the college counseling community to wake up and smell the Web 2.0 coffee!
Steve,
This might serve as a good ice-breaker/ visual aide. I found it very helpful. Good Luck!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDfew0YcDTo

Jason (EducationDynamics)
As a mathematics educator, and I see an alarming trend of math lagging behind in web 2.0 in general. With populations that are traditionally endangered for math learning, the situation is more dangerous.

Mathematics presents several particular challenges, both social and technological. Socially, in many communities it's not a cool thing to do, the effect somewhat amplified if censorship and classroom pressures to actually engage in math are relaxed or removed in web 2.0 communities. Typing even simple formulas is a chore, and more complex formulas more or less require programming, so texting about math is a challenge in itself.

Math authoring by kids for kids, or by novices for that matter, is hard to find. Kid communities like Club Penguin invite authoring in many ways, but rarely in mathematics. Maybe math authoring communities require particular social software to support them? What would "Flickr for sharing math" look like? Some programming environments have math-sharing communities, such as Scratch.

Whatever you do, please extend some love toward "Math 2.0" Let me know if I can help in any way.
How can the Web be used to enhance reading literacy in primary children? Let's just begin with that. How can we utilize technologies for this purpose with young children? How about teaching them, a parent volunteer, and/or their teacher to podcast them reading. I do that now with 1st graders reading their take home books. Most reading series have those. They are working so hard this year because they know their voice is heard by their parents - I upload to a podcast and have a widget on their class page. This class is already reading in a series beyond any other class. If this little bit of reinforcement helps that much, for what are we waiting? I bought my own hardware and use free software. My biggest challenge is finding child sized headsets - the kids are shy of the desktop mics. How much would it cost to implement this per class? Could cellphones + Gabcast be a cheaper alternative?
2nd grade + 3rd grade - how much would it cost to download audio books to Ipods with earphones for this kids to enjoy? I was trained by a 2nd grade teacher who had a listening center. Same idea, same curriculum, just cheaper, updated technology. Wouldn't this make these opportunities accessible for low income schools?
Greetings,
I am especially interested in this topic on two levels. In my work world we have just launched a technology immersion project in 3 low income schools. This is the second week of training. We are introducing the teachers to the Web 2.0 world and for most it is very new. We will also be working with the students in using many of the same tools introduced to the teacher.
On a personal and professional level, I have just started dissertation work and this world of infusing Web 2.0 tools with education for teacher growth and change is my interest and focus. I'm very interested in where this conversation goes.
(1) Schools Without Broadband Access

Whatever happened to the Broadband Revolution? "Although the U.S. once led the world in Internet deployment and innovation, our nation continues to plummet in international rankings in terms of broadband adoption, speeds and costs. As a result, there is growing support for an affirmative national broadband policy to promote more affordable and ubiquitous access to high-bandwidth connectivity."


American youth trail in Internet use: survey


(2)Schools with Broadband Access

Broadband access is one thing. What we do with it is quite another.

Today, being truly “wired” means more than simply having access to infrastructure, hardware and software. It also means having access to the latest digital tools – those that define what is today termed the Web 2.0 world – to create, produce, collaborate, and participate in shared learning and citizenship in local-to-global contexts. The mastery of these Web 2.0 tools and those of the future – the tools of innovation – is key.

Our schools are way behind the curve. A 2007 study from Grunwald Associates LLC conducted in cooperation with the National School Boards Association found:

• More than six in 10 districts have rules against participating in bulletin boards or blogs; six in 10 also prohibit sending and receiving e-mail in schools.

• More than eight in 10 districts have rules against online chatting (84%) and instant messaging (81%) in school.

• More than half of all districts (52%) specifically prohibit any use of social networking sites in school, however secure.

(3) Would like to know when your broadcast will be. Thanks.
Here at Chelsea High School (Boston, MA) we have a serious issue regarding the drop out rate of students and I have been asked to contribute any suggestions on how I can incorporate the use of technology to help solve the problem. We are a low income school community and 88% of my student base are first and second generation Latino's. I would be very interested in hearing or discussing ideas anyone has or you are able to talk to regarding this problem. MLaBranche@aol.com Thank you. Matt
As you plan don't forget minority educators who sometimes will need additional support to prepare them to work with minority and low income students

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