The challenge of becoming network-wise

Although I consider myself to be quite computer literate, terms such as blogs, facebook, wikis or myspace were never in my speaking vocabulary. I did not need it – or so I thought – to function effectively in this present world as a teacher or parent. I have prided myself on being able to deliver an effective curriculum without having to become ‘network-wise’ apart from being able to surf the net to glean information for specific content areas or curriculum planning.

This was until the Masters Degree in Reading plummetted me headfirst into an ICT Course with its daunting yet explosive connective online technologies. Suddenly my teaching world as I knew it shifted into high gear. As a senior teacher, I must now shape up or ship out. Literacy 2.0 is here and whether we as senior teachers realize it or not, computers are becoming a more present feature of the school’s resources in Trinidad and Tobago and it is not just in the Science areas. I fully agree with Will Richardson as he puts forward the view that ‘learning is no longer primarily fixed in time and space; it can happen anytime, anywhere…we are connected in a virtual, asynchronous classroom.’

Will Richardson,(2006) Blogs, wikis, Podcasts and other powerful tools for the classrooms. Corwin Press