Staff Development in Web 2.0

I have known since sometime in early December that come February 15, I would be teaching 3-75 minute sessions (the same thing three times) to the GMHS staff. My assigned topic in early December was Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts.

I spent the better part of six weeks wondering just what the heck I was going to do. The topic is too broad, the staff skill levels are all over the place. What to do.

Finally this week, I put a lot of things into place. With the help of a couple of other teachers who are in the Web 2.0 class I'm enrolled in. They gave me a lot of good ideas.

I decided I was right the topic was too broad. My solution? I made it even broader. I tried to encompass as much of Web 2.0 as possible
I made a web page on my web server, and put a link on the home page, that has an agenda for the class session. It also contains a list of Web 2.0 Tools & Technologies. I plan on introducing the terms, and tool names, then giving all of the teachers time to choose one tool, play with it, then leave an audio comment on a voicethread.
I also made a GMHS Web 2.0 wiki this week. As well as a Sandbox Wiki for those who may want to just play around a little.
Today, I also made a GMHS Ning. Not sure what to do with that one yet, but hey, I've got until Friday to pull that together, what's the hurry?

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Comment by Ellen Pham on February 10, 2008 at 8:55pm: As a motivator, esp for those staff that are brand new to read/write web, have you considered putting them on tumblr? ( http://www.tumblr.com/ )Within an hour they should have their own "mini" blog up and running, and have something they can show their friends. It doesn't cover all you can do, of course, but it is the easiest access point I have come across to web 2.0 technology- plus, it's fun! My own first tumble is at
http://ellenpham.tumblr.com/
Pretty silly, but done start to finish in an hour or so, including learning how to use the program, on my home computer.

Comment by Mari Hobkirk on February 11, 2008 at 2:41am: Ellen, thanks for the suggestion. I just tried it. I'll be updating my webpage when I get to school tomorrow!

Comment by J Black on April 5, 2008 at 11:04am: Mari -
How did your GMHS Ning turn out? I want to make one for a couple of classes at my school, but when we go to any nings, no images are displayed (it looks pretty tacky). Did your images come through alright or did you have issue with this as well? Do you think we should contact Murdock and see if he can allow all images to come thru -- I notice at work that there are no images on Classroom 2.0, either.