“Hate the Player, Not the Game”

March 17, 2008 at 4:45 pm (Blogs, Electonic Devices, Social Bookmarking, Social Media, Web 2.0, Wikis)

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.  

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