The Socially Networked Classroom

Kist chronicles his journey in both the classroom and online, as well as that of many other teachers navigating these new spaces with their students. He writes as a learner should, sharing what he discovers along the way. I appreciate the notes from the road, and I suspect educators will find much to take back to their classrooms. I like even more that he asks important questions while capturing how he and several other master teachers have attempted to ask and answer them with their own students. You will, too. -- Bud Hunt, Blogger at Bud the Teacher 20090715 The innovative classroom activities in this engaging book will inspire teachers to help students acquire digital-media literacies for collaborating on and sharing their work-literacies essential for participation in a networked world. -- Richard Beach, Professor of English Education 20090625 A veritable smorgasbord of ideas and suggestions. This text grabbed me right away, and I started flagging all sorts of ideas even in the earliest chapters. It is as if Bill Kist met me in the hallway, took me by the hand, and simply said, 'Come here, I want to show you something.' -- Sheila M. Gragg, Technology Integration Coach 20090526 This book marks our place in the whirlwind transformation of Internet technology that launched users in a surprisingly sudden (and often unnoticed) leap from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0. Kist shows educators both a mirror and a map, explaining where we are and where we might go in this vastly rich frontier of knowledge and learning. The paths he shows us spill into layered networks of inter-crossing connections and intersections-a true 'web' of knowledge-replacing old, tired, and narrow paths. -- Sharon Elin, Instructional Technology Integrator 20090526 I loved this book. I learned a great deal about 'texts' and about how to teach 'texts' to students in the digital age. But what was so compelling about this book was the genuineness of the author; he cares passionately about his students and passionately about the subject matter. As Dewey points out, effective education must have an emotional component; indeed, the book's credibility and authority derives from its core emotional energy. -- Elliot Soloway, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor 20090526 This book is totally compelling and geared to a slice of the teaching profession that is in desperate need of the kind of guidance and insight that Kist offers. By sharing his creative teaching methods, he points out the openings in teachers' practice where shift can happen. -- Sue Collins, Integration Technology Specialist 20090526