What should students learn in ELA Classrooms?

What should students learn in ELA classrooms? Well if you listen to Will Richardson's recent podcast you might have an idea. The men in the podcast discuss a program called "Second Life" this program, which I haven't had a chance to resarch yet, is going to be changing teaching and learning in the United States. Because of something called an online presence, you can represent yourself in any way that you want. This takes away perceptions that are present in verbal communication. Non-verbal communication in this case has quite an impact.

Social technologies are changing the world that we live in. There is very social learning going on most everywhere except in schools. We have citizen journalism with blogs, podcasts, and youtube. Politics is being changed by social technologies as well. People can converse about ideas on political blogs. Recently, canidacies were announced on youtube. Now politicians have to be even more careful, they are being watched and people can voice opinions on the internet to very large audiences.

Blogs allow conversations to go on after the class or conference has ended. Every area outside of school is using social technology. These sites are going to change what we know about schools and learning. Our students need to be using these sites as much in school as they do at home. These sites will help students connect with others and even engage each other in learning. Students should be writing, reading, and connected with others through social technologies. This is where the ELA classroom comes in. Students don't want to hear their teacher drone on about Macbeth. They would rather read and then be able to blog with each other about what is going on in the play. Social technologies should be working their way more and more into the ELA classrooms.