Professional Development 2.0

By now people have realized that if you want to label something as new and innovative (especially anything old that uses interactive Internet tools) you just add "2.0" to the end. This is thanks to the development and growth of Web 2.0, the current era in Internet technology that is all about interactivity, connectivity, and accessibility. Finally, someone is talking about how these tools can be used to enhance teacher professional development.

Actually, it's been talked about a lot. I've even harped on it in an earlier-now-defunct version of this blog. Anything that involves education and Web 2.0 is a hot topic on the ed-tech blogosphere.

What I'm talking about is David Warlick's recent post about utilizing blogs, social networks (yes, even Facebook), and wikis to help develop teacher knowledge. Using these resources is a way for strapped districts to help their teachers develop pedagogy, methodology, and their use of technology. If you haven't read his post, go here and read it now.

It also reminds me of a colleague's idea to create websites that simply compile RSS feeds of anything education related and selling the service to school districts. Of course, he saw the ethical dilemma and chose not to try his idea out, but the thought is a good one. Why don't schools do this for themselves?

My idea has always been to create a network of blogs within a school building (or even a Ning) and require the staff to register for RSS readers. This would get them talking about teaching practices, curriculum ideas, etc. on their own time without requiring boring after-school PD sessions. Maybe I'll get a chance to try that out someday.

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In other edtech blog news...

Will Richardson posted the following statistic at his blog Webblog-ed:

Fewer than 25 percent of educators feel comfortable teaching students how to protect themselves from online predators, cyberbullies and identity thieves, says a new study from the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and Educational Technology, Policy Research and Outreach (ET PRO).

He pulled this stat from an article on District Administration.

It's interesting because we spend so much time teaching students about other dangers and ethics. Why not teach them of the dangers online?

This will have to change.