Interview with Dr Charles Crook on Web 2.0
Over Easter I was interviewed by Dr Charles Crook from Nottingham University as part of a research project on Web 2.0 technologies for teaching and learning.
According to Paul Ayres who attended a seminar at Bristol University, over 3000 secondary school children have been surveyed and 100 teachers have been interviewed for the project so far which is designed to find out how Web2.0 tools are being used in the classroom and what outcomes they have achieved.
During the interview, I agreed to give Charles remote access to my desktop which meant he could capture everything I was describing first hand and have an audio and visual record of our conversation. This was particularly useful when discussing key blog posts.
Below is a summary of the interview which starts by me describing how I first got into Web 2.0 tools and being inspired by Ewan McIntosh's talk Blogs and Podcasts: The Learner is the Resource at The Language Show 2005.
If you are from the UK and would like to get in touch with Charles about how you are using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom, you can contact him here.
Hope you enjoy the interview.
Download Interview_with_Dr_Charles_Crook.mp3
Summary
- Getting started with Web 2.0 tools and being inspired by their potential
- networking with other MFL colleagues about blogging and podcasting
- researching Web 2.0 in the TES and on Teachers TV
- meeting Ewan and Mark at Language World 2006
- trying to nurture a 'scene'/community in England
- the importance of giving detailed instructions on getting started
- quoting the recommendations on using technology from the Dearing Review
- motivation and having an appetite for Web 2.0 ideas
- explaining my school context and our deemed strengths by Ofsted
- internet blog v walled garden
- moderating comments
- taking part in Sharon Tonner's Voices of the World project
- using Vokis to promote speaking skills
- using a blog to publish pupils' work to a real audience and to invite comment
- how blogging is engaging pupils and how it can reach out to the local community
- accessing the blog during classroom time or pupils' free time
- creating distance learning resources and creating an incentive for pupils to download audio or written resources
- creating an infrastructure to support the use of Web 2.0 tools
- creating a culture for encouraging more pupils to be more active in the process of recording and editing material
- being inspired by other language teachers' projects such as Jess McCulloch's VoxPops and bringing authentic voices into the classroom
- class time v a lunchtime club
- being honest about how time-consuming using Web 2.0 tools can be
- learning from the recording/editing process
- keeping to the 'no more than two blog posts a week' rule
- reaction of other Nodehill colleagues to Web 2.0 tools
- appearing on Radio 5 Live and announcing the news at the SSAT Annual Languages Conference
- organising the Isle of Wight Conferences to encourage face to face training and networking
- trying to find the time to support colleagues and causing a revolution!
- using a blog to promote school events such as Open Evening and European Day of languages
- student blogs v departmental blogs
- having a 'mother' blog and dealing with moderation
- using wikis in the modern foreign language classroom
- recording conference sessions from other language teachers
- encouraging a community or support network from a grass roots level
- working from the bottom up
- establishing internet safety guidelines and gaining parental permission
- shouting about Web 2.0 to achieve a tipping point
- CILT Video Case Study and getting parental support
- discovering that most pupils in Yr 7 and 8 have Bebo accounts
- encouraging pupils to be safe and use Web 2.0 tool to enhance their learning
- providing evidence of how blogs and podcasts improve attainment
- personalising learning and letting pupils work at their own pace
- seeing D/C pupils achieving C grades because of listening to podcasts
- creating a win-win situation
- using ICT to enhance traditional methodology
- a few final thoughts
Show Notes
Ewan McIntosh on MFL blogging and podcasting in England
Blogging and podcasting in Bristol
BETT 2008 - Blogs and Podcasts: ICT in your Pocket
Voices of the World Jingle Bells task
Liam makes a level 4 in speaking
Comments about Nodehill French Grammar Podcasts
TechnoLOTE interview with Jess McCulloch
The Nodehill Bloggers on Radio 5 Live
SSAT Annual Languages Conference - Blogs and Podcasts: ICT in your Pocket
Podcasting in the classroom with Podium
Breaking down the classroom walls with technology (Nodehill Twilight session)
Take the Weather with You (MetClub blog)
Open Evening 2007 and Open Evening 2006
How to learn Korean in 3 years and keep smiling
European Day of Languages Nodehill Style
Students as Contributors on Edublogs: The Quick and Easy Way
La Classe de Barbara et Mme Mc Carthy
Does blogging affect attainment? Yes!
Learn 4 Life vodcast with Leon Cych and Alex Savage
Making Use of Blogging, Podcasting and Wikis in the MFL Classroom
TES ICT Blog: Making the best use of the web in MFL lessons
Speaking with MFL blogger Alex Blagona
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Hi Joe,
I had a simliar interview over the Easter holiday and although I blogged about it, I was not sure how far I could go about giving details of the conversation...
I have really enjoyed the experience and reading your post has put me into one of my reflective moods...
Thanks for the inspiration!
Isabelle
http://isabellejones.blogspot.com
Posted by: Isabelle Jones | 04/05/2008 at 12:34
Hi Isabelle,
Thanks for your comment. I'm glad the post made you think. Taking part in this type of 'formal' interview focused my mind too and I tried to be as transparent as possible with my answers.
Posted by: Joe Dale | 04/05/2008 at 17:00
Hola Joe,
My interview with Dr Crook took place on Friday. It made me think about a lot of things. No doubt there'll be a post about it soon...
José
Posted by: José Picardo | 04/05/2008 at 19:54