Week 6 Assignment #2

Reader Response:

Middle School Science Teachers’ Confidence and Pedagogical Practice of New Literacies:

I found the article fascinating, yet I wonder if the study were re-done today if it would be the same as in the original article 7 years ago. I went to middle school 30 years ago, before all the new technologies , so I am thrilled to see the push to inculcate new literacies and technologies into our main curriculum. The authors are correct in being critical of the lack of access students have to the new technologies in order to take advantage of them. It is a natural next step in our educational evolution. It is inevitable. 


Using Social Networking Sites to Enhance Teaching and Learning in the Science Classroom 

Social learning theories are as old as, well, Lev Vygotsky and his ZPD theory. Technology allows social interactions and in addition tear down conventional social barriers, shyness, timid, introvert by nature etc.... Though this is not what the article brings to light much, it does however talk a lot about the ease of collaboration! Google Docs, Emodo, and such tools are fantastic ways to collaborate and use social networking sites to help students further their education and understanding!