Wow what a week it has been for Research, RND and Blockage! I have been checking out so many cool blogs and discovering fantastic tools and discussions along the way. Make a few new twitter friends as well as provided me with so many new leads and ideas for using  web 2.0 in the classroom.

Firstly, I would like to thank Anne Mirtschin for directing me via her fabulous blog, to Classroom 2.0 a social network for educators. Like facebook, Classroom 2.0 allows you to create profiles and amass like minded friends, create groups, add music, video, and  photos to share. However, Classroom 2.0 goes even further allowing its members to join and create forum topics, blogs and even has it own wiki space for members to participate in.

Secondly, Twitter! When Kynan Robinson (friend, colleague and fellow ICT co-ordinator) mentioned Twitter at the beginning of the year I thought what’s the point in only using 140 characters to get your message across. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to follow me and my inane life doing everyday inane things ‘At the Tin Pot drinking coffee’ and I’m clearly not witty enough to carry a one line comedy act as a source of comic relief.  So why bother? After meeting with Heather Blakey a couple of weeks ago she discussed the use of Twitter and its power in being able to share ideas, URL’s, technical advice and other pedagogical questions. Kynan also suggested that twitter would be a great way to announce your blog updates. I argument was clear I had to give it a try. Verdict? With in two weeks of using Twitter (http://twitter.com/willie42) I am following some great educators from around the world. I have ‘pimped’ up my blog with ‘apture‘ and ‘snap‘ (see previous post). I have discovered a fantastic Literacy unit that involves the use of Video Games and read some amazing blogs packed full of edtech ideas. Four and a half stars!

Full of enthusiasm, I jump on at school to check my Classroom 2.0  and Twitter profiles only to discover that they are blocked!! WHY!!! I do a little research and discover that our school ISP blocks all ‘ning’ based sites! At North Fitzroy Primary School we are lucky enough to contract a tech service company Studytech who have set up a STO (Standard Operating System) on our entire network. So I have to log a job on and wait for it to either be fixed remotely or when a tech arrives on site . Eventually a few days the problem is solved (thanks Damo you’re a genius) but not with out its difficulties. It seems that this is becoming a constant issue now that we are entering the world of web 2.0. Next year is going to be a pivotal year for ICT at NFPS we are going to invest a lot of time and energy in implementing and using web 2.0 in our curriculum. The last thing we need as a teachers and drivers of these fantastic learning tools is for it to stall or be blocked.

Providing a safe and secure learning environment for our students is essential. Hence, the need for moderation and education in appropriate use and etiquette of the Internet for our students. However, is there a persuasive argument for (at least) having open access for teachers, facilitating research and development into an ever broadening world of information, computers and technology?