Getting teachers to buy into Web 2.0

While I have found all the information on Web 2.0 fascinating I have also found that most of the staff at the school doesn't. I can email as many links to interesting web sites or on web 2.0 classes as I can come across and no one takes any interest unless there is money involved.

For example, tonight we held a workshop on Skype and Photostory. The entire lab was full. Less than half showed up to actually learn what either product was about or how to use them. I know this because I over heard people stating that they were only going to get the $25.00 stipend. While I know that these classes are offering instruction on great tools, it's hard to get the idea across to them. How to you communicate to people that with a little imagination, these tools could help engage students who other wise act out during class.

I hear on a regular basis that students only want to surf the internet or play games. Right now games are used as a reward, if you get your work done go play games. While that works for some, there are still many that could be somehow creating a game out of the homework using the internet. While I do not like students wasting their time, I feel that trying to integrate different ways to get the information across needs to be addressed.

I'm going to point out our business ed department. While I feel that this department could and should be leading the way on introducing some of the new technologies, the teachers are stuck. At every tech meeting I only hear how students need to learn how to type. Why? The students don't feel the need. One finger from each hand works great for them. They get done what needs to be done. I'm not sure if it's out of fear of the unknown or lack of knowledge, but the staff doesn't look beyond keyboarding. Is it really necessary that student have the correct posture or fingure position? Will this actually ruin their chances for a career and happy life?

I'm hoping that by taking more classes pertaining to Web 2.0 I will somehow be able to communicate to the staff that maybe there are bigger ideas to address and that something they feel is a major problem might not be.