Questions for Will Richardson.....

1. I am brand new to all this Web2.0 information and can't believe how far behind I am. I am a high school math teacher and have spent some time reviewing the math examples you mention in your site, especially Darren Kuropatwa's blog. Are there any other math references that you would recommend as I begin my journey? Also curious as what tool you would recommend when it comes to working with math equations and graphing functions? I have worked almost exclusively with MathType and the TI graphing calculators. What else do you recommend for math teachers to explore?

2. Teachers that are taking this class, I believe for the most part after reading your book, are sold on Web 2.0 technologies and the whole idea that it is our responsibility to get children ready for their future...even though it is a future that we can't quite predict. However, teachers don't generally get to set policy. How does a teacher or group of teachers go about educating admin. and board members? Mark

3. The answers to so many things we had to memorize as students in school is so easily found in seconds these day via the Internet. For years we had the debate at school as to whether or not students should memorize the capital of each state. I can see this as an example of information we no longer need students to memorize. However, another part of me feels there are just some things students should know. Do you have a "rule of thumb" to help educators determine what we need to let go?
Betsy Gentile


4. Will, I've been asked to lead an online discussion in December for The Ohio Writing Project. Many of the participants (k-12 teachers) might be "tech-leery." Is there a tool I should be considering that is effective but also really easy to use?
Betsy Woods


5. Any new web 2.0 tools that you've recently come across?
Betsy Woods


6. I see tons of possibilities for using all the tools in middle and high school classes, but do you have suggestions for how to use it in younger grades where they do not have as much computer experience, access, or the skills needed to use all these tools?
Thanks, Jen Young


7. At my school I co-chair the tech committee. I am very much interested in getting our staff and students to be familiar with these Web 2.0 tools. It would be very cool to run paperless classrooms. Do most schools who run a paperless program have one to one computer access for students? Right now we have one lab and two laptop carts. How do you move staff and students towards these Web 2.0 tools when computer access is somewhat limited?
Thanks Andrea

8. I was lucky enough to be part of a PLP cohort during the past school year. What's the best thing you've seen come out of this program? Has anyone taught you anything during the process? Kristen


9. I'm really interested in learning more about how cell phones can be used in the classroom. I teach in an economically diverse district with a wide digital divide -- but nearly every student has an internet connected cell phone. Can you recommend some resources for learning more? Alli

10. Any tips for dealing with the high school grade grubbers who hate collaborative work on-line? Better yet, any tips for dealing with their class-rank conscious parents who keep track of every point on their parent access page? Alli

11. I am a fourth grade teacher. I'm also interested in hearing some good classroom uses of Web 2.0 tools for younger kids. I'm especially interested in your thoughts on creating a class blog and how to ensure internet "safety" for nine and ten year old students. -- Katie Naegeli

12. I get many questions each year from parents (and other teachers) about internet safety. How do you address online safety with your students? I would really like to address this topic much more in my technology classroom this year. Thanks! Lori F.

13. I'm excited after what I've read about Wikis in your book. I'm wondering how to manage this in my classroom. Do students build these during class time or edit these from their homes? How have teachers accessed their students' work, especially since students can play various roles including contributors and editors? Judy

14. Will, which of the web tools that you talk about in your book do you feel would be most useful in the Kindergarten classroom. In our district, some children come to Kindergarten reading & most can decode by the end of the year. We also spend time in Writing Workshop & conduct author studies from which the children are encouraged to use features of a particular author's craft (labeling, bold print, speech bubbles) in their own writing. Thanks for your time & input!!
Vicky

15. Stone Age Schools
I am a 6th grade Social Studies teacher as well as on our district's technology committee. I feel that our school and education in general are behind the speed of technology. How do we encourage (but really push) administrators and teachers to move forward at a faster pace to engaging student learning through the use of technology in the classroom?

With the need for better understanding and utilization of web 2.0 technologies which requires internet access, what are your thoughts on one-to-one computing? Kerry

16. School Filters
How do we convince our administrators to loosen our Internet filter so that our students will have access to some of these social networking tools in the classroom? The "walled garden" approach is great, but sometimes we need access to the wide open Internet.
Vicky

17. Communication with students
What is the best method of communication with our students? I've tried communication via email, cell phone, text messaging, facebook & blackboard with little success. I even tried all of the above for the same message and it still left some out. It seems no matter which method I use, some students either aren't connected or don't check in a timely fashion. Communication is so easily accessible these days with so many different modes, but some students don't seem to care. Games and social interactions are what they like. Hence my attempt at facebook, but apparently all students aren't there. I'd very much like to find a vehicle that would connect all when not in class. Thanks for writing a great book about a growing trend in our society in which us educators need to get in the game.
Denny

18. Read/Write Web in the Elementary Classroom
Of all the read/write to the web tools that you discuss in your book, which one(s) do think are the most powerful for the elementary classroom? I know that I cannot tackle everything in one year, so I want to pick one or two areas to focus in on including in my classroom this year. I also want to choose what would seem to be the most successful for fourth grade students. I appreciate any and all suggestions and insights.
Thank you for writing a book that a "non-techie" person could really understand and enjoy!
Sara

19. Student/Parent Response to Web 2.0 tools in the classroom
How have students and parents responded to increasing technology use in the classroom? We use blackboard at IH (for example), and some students like it. Others lament that we're trying to do too much. What about the cost involved? For example, we want our students in FL to record with voicethreads at home or maybe make screencasts. We thought about putting a computer microphone on the supplies list, but we thought it might be too much money. I went to buy one at Staples for this class, and the cheapest they had was $20. That would be on top of other supplies and the fees they already pay for a non-AP class. I know some have built in microphones, but what about the others? How about computer speed at home? I would guess that most of our students have high-speed internet and updated programs/operating systems, but again, not everyone. I was thinking too about the cuts here in the public library budget, so the kids that don't have access have less opportunity there. Thanks in advance for your comments! Kari