Lesson #2: To Web or Not to Web

The "Digital Library Collection"

First, this concept pre-supposes a couple of things: that everyone has access to up-to-date computers; that internet connections are fast and reliable; that people have their own personal devices (cell phones, iPads etc, ebook readers). 

Teaching at a First Nations school in an isolated area means you cannot assume the above, meaning that there are limitations to how the internet can be used as a teaching tool and as an information source and interactive learning tool.

The families of our school are often poor, and I would say that most have no home internet access or computers. Our internet is not always accessible, and it is often slow, so that downloading can also be slow. We do not have cell phone reception everywhere, so accessing the internet via cell phones is not always possible. Families probably cannot afford ebook readers. The overall literacy rate is low, and basic literacy is not modeled in many homes. Many families have little education, thus modeling internet use would be limited.

How strong are your biases for or against digital media? 

Well, I am one of your "middle-aged" colleagues. Though I am not against digital media, I am of the philosophy that the simplest solution is often the best. Digital media is complicated, and requires access to the various modes of accessing internet information. I have one laptop computer which meets all my personal needs. I don't need/want a cell phone, ebook reader (I go to the library where books are FREE and virtually unlimited), or whatever the latest "i" thingy happens to be.

I do value the resources and the various web 2.0 applications I have used personally, and for kids, including blogs and wikis, digital photos, online book review sites, TeacherTube and YouTube videos, etc.

Reflection: How have you provided ongoing support for digital media including Internet sites, school or library websites, online encyclopedias and reference materials, social networks such as "Facebook", blogs, etc.?

Currently, students do their computer work in the computer lab. It is almost always fully booked for "computer" classes. I only have two computers in the library, and students generally do AR reading quizzes there. I realize that I should be helping students learn how to find information in the library AND access relevant information on the internet, but would have to have more computers in the library in order to do both. This is surely the future of information. For younger students, however, I think books are still the best choice, rather than the internet.

I do have plans to create some sort of website (blog/wiki/delicious) to communicate info to kids about websites etc. that I find that are applicable to their classes, and so they can reply back to me. Navigating the internet can be a trying experience, because there is so much information out there, even for an experienced reader. It helps to weed out the wheat from the chaff for young learners. 

Facebook is blocked in our school. 

Currently, our library has no subscriptions to digital databases. Literacy is generally so low, and research projects so minimal, that they would be wasted on our student population.