teotwawki - looking to the future

I came across this great lesson idea on FactCheckED.org and had to share it. 

http://factchecked.org/LessonPlanDetails.aspx?myId=19

This lesson has students examine wikipedia to determine if it can be a reliable source of information. 

As teachers, how do we feel about allowing students to use wikipedia for research?  Many teachers will not allow it’s use and will give students failing grades for citing it.  I’m confused by this.  Isn’t the point of research to collect information and data from a variety of sources?  As long as students do not use just wikipedia then I don’t see the problem.  If what they read on a wikipedia site matches information read elsewhere, why can’t it not be used?  As educators we need to be more open-minded when students want to use web 2.0 tools in school.  Instead of denying their use, embrace them and make them work for you and your students.  Teach students how to determine the reliability of any website, whether it is a wiki or any other site. 

I just read a very interesting editorial in this month’s T.H.E. Journal.  Jeff Weinstock explains how “for new technologies to be successfully integrated into schools, we must first fix the users, not the tools”.  After reading his editorial, it became clear.  In education, we are so quick to ban the tools instead of doing what we are meant to do, teach the user. 

I am in the midst of taking an online course on Web 2.0 tools.  Many of the class participants are expressing frustration with many schools blocking tools for instruction, such  as wikis, blogs and social bookmarking sites.  Educators are afraid of misuse and misconduct while using any type of tool where the slightest bit of control is taken away.  Unfortunately, in the 21st Century, more and more options are readily available with electronic devices and online technologies that maintaining control is almost impossible.  If you block one aspect, students are smart enough to go around the block and find another way in.  Instead of just teaching and modeling appropriate behaviors, we are taunting the technologically savvy student to find a way around the system.  We are entering into a new realm where technology leads the way.  Educators need to focus more on teaching what is socially acceptable instead of the quick fix, which is to ban the tool.